It’s almost time for the new series of Britain’s Got Talent, where judge Simon Cowell will be making his return for the 18th series of the show.
Throughout the years, the star has built up the persona of “Mr Nasty” but things reportedly went to new heights during this season’s auditions.
As the ITV team come to edit the footage from the auditions at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, it’s been reported that the recorded was filled with boos and heckles towards the father of one.
According to The Sun, there were were yells of, “You old fart” when the judge criticised any of the performers. However, it looks like the music mogul saw the funny side.
“Simon isn’t vain in that way and found the heckling absolutely hilarious — even when they were calling him an old fart,” a source told the publication.
They continued to say that he “loves” the Blackpool crowd and knows he “might be on the receiving end” of their jibes. “He even encourages them to misbehave, even if sometimes the misbehaviour can cause a headache for the production team,” the source continued. Although they assured that the producers also had a “good laugh” at Simon’s expense.
The Mirror have contacted Britain’s Got Talent for comment.
Last week, it was announced the show would be returning to screens on February 22. Alongside Simon, regular judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli will be back on the judging table. YouTuber KSI will also be making his debut as a guest judge on the panel, stepping in for Bruno while he had commitments elsewhere. Ant and Dec will also be back to host the show.
The return comes after the the programme’s audition process faced delays in October, following Liam Payne’s tragic death. A week before the One Direction star’s 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.
Following the star’s tragic death, Simon, who mentored the boys during their time on X-Factor in 2010, penned: “Liam, I am truly 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 in words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together.” He then went on to say how much love the star “genuinely had for his fans.”
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