Saturday 21 February 2026, 7pm, ITV1
Britain’s Got Talent returns this Saturday for its nineteenth series, and ITV has pulled one of its bigger surprises in years. KSI — YouTuber, boxer, musician, entrepreneur and owner of one of the largest online followings in Britain — takes a permanent seat on the judging panel, replacing Bruno Tonioli. It is the most significant shake-up the show has seen since David Walliams departed after Series 15.
The rest of the furniture remains reassuringly familiar. Simon Cowell occupies the centre seat. Amanda Holden brings the glamour from his left. Alesha Dixon continues to be the panel’s most musically credentialed voice. And Ant & Dec, now returning for their nineteenth series as hosts, provide the glue that holds the entire operation together. But it is the new arrival who will define whether Series 19 can reverse a worrying ratings slide.
When Does Britain’s Got Talent 2026 Start?
Series 19 premieres on Saturday 21 February 2026 at 7pm on ITV1, with episodes also available to stream live and on catch-up through ITVX (and STV Player in Scotland). The show occupies its established Saturday evening slot, running weekly through to the live final expected in late May or early June.
Two scheduled breaks have already been confirmed: 14 March 2026 (ITV’s live coverage of the Six Nations Championship final weekend) and around 16 May 2026 (accommodating the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final).
For everything else on that opening night — including The Walsh Sisters on BBC One, the Six Nations, and The Great Icelandic Swim — see our Saturday 21 February 2026 TV guide.
Who Are the Britain’s Got Talent 2026 Judges?
Simon Cowell needs no introduction. The man who created the Got Talent franchise in 2007, discovered Susan Boyle (sort of — she discovered herself, he just had the good sense to say yes), and has spent nearly two decades perfecting the art of the withering put-down from behind a desk. His instinct for what sells remains the show’s compass, even as the definition of “talent” has stretched well beyond anything he might have imagined in Series 1.
Amanda Holden has been there since the very first audition, making her the only judge to appear in all nineteen series. Her role has evolved from wide-eyed enthusiasm to something more like the show’s emotional anchor — the judge most likely to cry, most likely to see the best in an act, and most likely to press that Golden Buzzer on pure instinct.
Alesha Dixon joined the panel in 2012 and has brought genuine musical authority ever since. A MOBO Award winner with Mis-Teeq and a Strictly champion, she is arguably the only judge who could credibly critique both a dance troupe and a vocalist. Her rapport with Amanda remains one of the show’s quieter pleasures.
KSI is the wildcard, and that is entirely the point. Born Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, the 32-year-old from Watford has built an empire that spans YouTube (over 40 million subscribers across his channels), professional boxing, chart-topping music, and Prime Hydration, the drinks brand he co-founded with Logan Paul. He first appeared as a guest judge in Series 18 and proved popular enough to earn the permanent role when Bruno Tonioli stepped down.
Why Did Bruno Tonioli Leave Britain’s Got Talent?
Bruno Tonioli departed after three series (16 through 18) due to a scheduling clash with his role as a judge on Dancing with the Stars in the United States. Despite Simon Cowell reportedly making considerable efforts to persuade him to stay, Tonioli chose his American commitments. His theatrical reactions and unfiltered enthusiasm made him a distinctive presence on the panel, but three series was enough to suggest the chemistry never quite matched what David Walliams had built over his decade-long stint.
Who Is KSI? The New Britain’s Got Talent Judge
If you are over 35, you may need a briefing. KSI is one of the most-followed British personalities online, with a combined social media reach exceeding 50 million. He is a founding member of the Sidemen, a content creator collective that regularly sells out stadiums. He has had multiple Top 10 singles. He has fought — and won — professional boxing matches. He co-owns a drinks brand that turned over hundreds of millions within its first two years.
ITV’s calculation is transparent: BGT’s audience is ageing, and KSI brings a demographic the show desperately needs. The Series 18 finale drew just 4.1 million viewers, a record low and a long way from the 17.3 million who watched the Series 3 final in 2009 during the Susan Boyle phenomenon. Whether KSI’s fanbase will follow him to linear television on a Saturday evening is the gamble that could determine the show’s future.
His audition-day debut was eventful. On the first day of filming at Birmingham Hippodrome in October 2025, Simon Cowell was absent after falling down a flight of steps and suffering a head injury. Stacey Solomon stepped in as a guest judge — and impressed enough that Cowell later said he would “love” to have her back for the live shows.
How to Watch Britain’s Got Talent 2026 on Freeview, Sky and ITVX
Freeview: ITV1 is channel 3. The show airs live at 7pm every Saturday during the run.
Sky: ITV1 is channel 103 in HD.
ITVX: Stream live or catch up on demand. ITVX is free — you just need an account. The companion show Britain’s Got More Talent Unseen typically airs on ITV2 the following day, offering extended audition clips and behind-the-scenes content.
STV Player: Viewers in Scotland can watch live and on catch-up via STV Player.
For a full rundown of what else is on Freeview and Sky this weekend, check our TV guide for Saturday 21 February 2026.
What Is the Britain’s Got Talent 2026 Prize?
The winner receives £250,000 and a coveted performance slot at the Royal Variety Performance. The prize money has been at this level since Series 7 in 2013, having started at £100,000 in 2007 — which means, adjusted for inflation, the reward has actually shrunk over the years. But the Royal Variety slot and the exposure that comes with winning remain genuinely career-changing for the right act.
The Golden Buzzer returns, allowing each judge and the hosts one opportunity during the auditions to send an act straight through to the live semi-finals. It has become one of the show’s most reliable emotional set-pieces, though cynics might note that Golden Buzzer acts have a decidedly mixed record in the finals.
Britain’s Got Talent Series 19: What to Expect
ITV has trailed the series as “bigger, bolder and weirder” than ever — a tagline that suggests the producers are leaning into variety and spectacle rather than another year of singers and sob stories. Auditions were filmed across two venues: Birmingham Hippodrome and the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, a return to a two-city format after Series 18 used Blackpool exclusively. Live shows move to the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.
The show enters its nineteenth year with something to prove. Viewing figures have fallen steadily since the 2009 peak, and the Saturday night entertainment landscape has changed beyond recognition. Streaming services, social media, and a fragmenting audience have made the kind of mass-viewership numbers BGT once commanded virtually impossible. But the format remains durable: ordinary people, extraordinary (and sometimes bewildering) talents, four judges with varying tolerance thresholds, and Ant & Dec smoothing over the chaos.
Every Britain’s Got Talent Winner
For context on the show’s remarkable run, here is every winner from Series 1 through 18:
| Series | Year | Winner | Act |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007 | Paul Potts | Opera singer |
| 2 | 2008 | George Sampson | Street dancer |
| 3 | 2009 | Diversity | Dance troupe |
| 4 | 2010 | Spelbound | Gymnastics troupe |
| 5 | 2011 | Jai McDowall | Singer |
| 6 | 2012 | Ashleigh and Pudsey | Dog act |
| 7 | 2013 | Attraction | Shadow theatre |
| 8 | 2014 | Collabro | Musical theatre singers |
| 9 | 2015 | Jules O’Dwyer and Matisse | Dog act |
| 10 | 2016 | Richard Jones | Magician |
| 11 | 2017 | Tokio Myers | Pianist |
| 12 | 2018 | Lost Voice Guy | Comedian |
| 13 | 2019 | Colin Thackery | Singer |
| 14 | 2020 | Jon Courtenay | Comedic pianist |
| 15 | 2022 | Axel Blake | Comedian |
| 16 | 2023 | Viggo Venn | Comedian |
| 17 | 2024 | Sydnie Christmas | Singer |
| 18 | 2025 | Harry Moulding | Magician |
No series aired in 2021 due to COVID-19.
Should You Watch Britain’s Got Talent 2026?
The honest answer: it depends what you are looking for. If you want polished, prestige television, BGT has never been that and is not about to start. But if you want Saturday night entertainment that occasionally surprises you — a voice that comes from nowhere, a comedian who makes the whole family laugh, an act so bizarre you cannot look away — then Britain’s Got Talent still delivers that better than almost anything else on the schedule.
The KSI appointment is a genuine point of intrigue. He is not a safe choice in the way Bruno Tonioli was, and that unpredictability might be exactly what the show needs. His chemistry with Cowell during his Series 18 guest appearance was surprisingly sharp, and he brings an energy that could either revitalise the panel or prove that some internet phenomena do not translate to mainstream television. Either way, it will be worth watching to find out.
Nineteen series. Eighteen winners. One new judge with 50 million followers. The stage is set.
Britain’s Got Talent Series 19 premieres Saturday 21 February 2026 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Britain’s Got Talent 2026 start?
Britain’s Got Talent Series 19 premieres on Saturday 21 February 2026 at 7pm on ITV1. Episodes are also available to stream live and on demand via ITVX.
Who are the judges on Britain’s Got Talent 2026?
The Series 19 judging panel is Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI. KSI replaces Bruno Tonioli, who left after three series.
Why did Bruno Tonioli leave Britain’s Got Talent?
Bruno Tonioli stepped down due to a scheduling clash with his role as a judge on Dancing with the Stars in the United States. He appeared in Series 16 through 18.
What channel is BGT on Freeview?
Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV1, which is channel 3 on Freeview. You can also stream it on ITVX with a free account.
What is the Britain’s Got Talent 2026 prize?
The winner receives £250,000 and a performance slot at the Royal Variety Performance.
Who is KSI on Britain’s Got Talent?
KSI (Olajide Olatunji) is a 32-year-old British YouTuber, musician, professional boxer and entrepreneur. He co-founded Prime Hydration with Logan Paul and first appeared as a guest judge on BGT Series 18 before being confirmed as a permanent judge for Series 19.
Related: TV Guide UK Tonight: Saturday 21 February 2026 | Britain’s Got Talent on ITVX
