IN recent years Britain’s Got Talent has embraced acts from all over the world – but Simon Cowell has his sights set much further afield.
The talent show judge refuses to give up hope of one day sending his winning act into space.
The head honcho revealed Richard Branson still “owes” the ITV talent show a ride on Virgin Galactic as talks on an old sponsorship deal continue.
Chatting ahead of BGT’s return on Saturday, Simon said: “I swear to god he said we’ll sponsor the show and the first act will appear in the space so I’m thinking ‘perfect’.
“I kept calling him saying when’s the space craft ready? Never heard another word.
“I saw him and I mentioned it and he kind of just brushed me off.
“So, he owes me an act in space because that was the deal!”
Virgin Galactic made its first commercial space flight on June 29, 2023 and has now completed eleven missions.
It would be a huge leap in the show’s format as it launches its seventeenth series.
But technological advances have still been made elsewhere.
The launch episode sees a troop of AI performers use computer wizardry to transform Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli into The Greatest Showman cast for a big singalong.
Simon said: “I think it’s another example of somebody doing something different, you know.
“We had no idea what was going on.”
Simon has also shaken up his infamously dull wardrobe – appearing in a tight, black top which he confesses is a piece of thermal underwear.
He revealed: “It was basically underwear. They are like if you go skiing, it’s thermal and it’s so cold in the theatre I thought I’m just going to wear thermals this year.
“I turned up in it cos it was cold and someone said ‘that looks good’ and I said ok fine I’ll wear it.”
Britain’s Got Talent returns on Saturday at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
