ITV show Britain's Got Talent's new series air date has been announced – and the show will return in a matter of days. The popular ITV talent show has announced its launch date for the 18th series of the programme, which will return to our screens on Saturday February 22. The first episode will air at 7pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX, the broadcaster has confirmed. Ant and Dec are set to return as the show's hosts while Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli will make their comeback as the competition's judges. Meanwhile, YouTuber and boxer KSI will also make an appearance on the series as a guest judge.
The official teaser shows exciting highlights from the upcoming series and shows the incredible acts set to grace the stage and audition. As the teaser begins Declan Donnelly can be heard saying: "Please take your seats, the show is about to start.". Acts in the teaser include a dummer who is seen with paint splashing on their drum set while the symbols are on fire, a dance act performing a huge flip, a pole dancer dressed as a seagull and a magician with his hand set on fire – along with a woman standing on stilts while flicking plates onto her head. The teaser ends with Ant McPartlin announcing: "It's showtime.".
The series return comes after the programme's audition process faced delays in October, following Liam Payne's tragic death. A week before Liam's shock death, the judges gathered in Blackpool Winter Gardens to mark the new series getting underway. However, the show later confirmed they postponed the auditions following his death. The One Direction singer died at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Local police said the dad-of-one fell from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel before medics confirmed his death. Fremantle UK - Britain's Got Talent's production company - confirmed the cancellation to the Mirror at the time, with a spokesperson saying: "Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and all who loved him.".
Auditions resumed later in October as the judges returned to Blackpool. Simon shared a heartbreaking tribute to Liam, who the music mogul had met at the age of 14 when he auditioned for The X Factor. Taking to Instagram, Simon said: "You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.
"This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.".
The music boss continued: "I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn't your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn't. You came back and within months the whole world know Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared. You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a Dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago.
"I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it. I always thought the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were. And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon. Rest in peace my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family. Simon X.".
