BRITAIN'S Got Talent has been confirmed in a major schedule shake-up as the show goes live in a brand new timeslot – and it's less than a month away.
However, despite the new format, the live shows will remain at Eventim Apollo.
It has been confirmed that will go live on Saturday 26th April for five weeks of semi-finals and the live final will then take place on Saturday 31st May.
ITV have also extended its contract with the show's producers Fremantle for a further series.
Sources have suggested the new deal is for three series through to 2028, though this has not been confirmed by ITV.
However, a call for acts for the 2026 season has already gone out, with auditions expected to be soon.
A TV insider said: “BGT has been on since 2007 and viewing numbers are higher than ever — it’s just fans are watching it differently.
In all, BGT’s last series was viewed 660million times across , , , , and .
The 2024 winner audition was viewed 54million times in six weeks.
The insider added: “BGT has often, unfairly, been criticised for including a mix of British and foreign acts. But these can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere in the world.
“Compare that to Strictly whose stars are mostly known only to British audiences.”;
The current series is the last in the existing contract, and the new deals will begin next year with its nineteenth series.
Ant & Dec will once again lead viewers through a series of auditions featuring a wonderful array of talent, who’ll be performing to secure a spot in the finals by impressing the four judges.
The current line-up of judges are , , , and special guest judge KSI.
However, fans of the after discovering one magic act, Alexandra Burgio, had already found fame on a sister series.
Viewers of the ITV show were left doing a double take after they recognised the female star, who arrived on stage with her mouth taped up as part of her quirky routine.
And despite their amazement of her act some fans were quick to expose her reality TV past.
With 4,000 followers, she was first spotted on ‘s Got Talent – a show on which she has featured twice.
Just last year, she reached the semi final stage of BGT's sister show.
Alex has also found further fame as part of celebrated magician duo Penn and Teller's US TV series Fool Us, two years ago.
One fan was quick to take to to call out a “fix” as one put “so obviously rigged”.
Another moaned: “Nothing against the woman, BUT this act has already been on Got Talent TWICE... once as an assistant and 2nd was on her own.
“Far as I know she got as far as the semi finals. She’s also been on Penn & Teller’s show.”
One then ranted: “Such a poor magic act and NOT ORIGINAL,” as another referenced her Penn and Teller skit and said: “Does she do anything else?”
A fan then mused: “Knew I’d seen her before. She did the exact same act on Penn and Teller's Fool Us.”
Britain's Got Talent continues on ITV on Saturday and is available to stream on .
