Britain’s Got Talent has revealed a new change to this year’s live shows.
The show’s live semi-final stages will be ditching its TV studio for the first time in 2018.
Instead, the series’ final stages will air live from the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
BGT had originally aired from Fountain Studios in Wembley up until 2016, when those premises were demolished.
The show last year moved to Elstree Studios – where Strictly Come Dancing is filmed – but won’t return for 2018.
Simon Cowell said of the new change: “It has to be in a theatre and I’ll tell you why. We go into a studio and make it look like a theatre, it’s like buying a Mini and trying to make it look like a Rolls Royce!
“There’s something about the theatre element. So whenever we do the live shows in a studio, something, that gloss, glow, whatever you want to call it, is missing for me. So I’m thrilled because this year I have got my own way…again.”
Simon added: “I want unpredictability and people stepping up their game, and I think being in a different venue this year is exciting.”
Alesha Dixon also praised the move, saying: “I’m actually looking forward to us going to the Hammersmith Apollo. I’m looking forward to the fact we’re doing the live shows in a theatre. I think it’s going to create a different atmosphere.
“And, I’m not just saying this, we’ve been spoilt for talent this year. There comes a moment at the end of every audition tour where we turn to one another and ask if we’ve found enough good people. We get a bit scared and it’s not until the lives when you get that reassuring moment that it’s all good. But this year, I don’t want to jinx it too much but it just feels good.”
Britain’s Got Talent live shows air from 7:30PM Monday.
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