Simon Cowell will miss the early auditions of the upcoming season of Britain’s Got Talent as he recovers from back surgery. The 66-year-old media executive underwent the procedure earlier this month in Los Angeles, leading to his withdrawal from filming scheduled for next month. Cowell will be absent from the initial Blackpool auditions at the Winter Gardens, where he normally serves as head judge alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI.

Fremantle, the production company behind the show, is adjusting its filming schedule by moving approximately half of the six days of auditions to January to accommodate Cowell’s recovery, allowing him to rejoin the panel later in the process. Meanwhile, a guest judge—including a potential male comedian—is being considered to stand in during Cowell’s absence, although final decisions are still pending. Sources indicate that the late change has created challenges in securing available talent, as many potential replacements already have commitments during that period.

This is not the first time Cowell has had to step back from filming due to health concerns. Following a serious electric bike accident in 2020 that fractured his back, Cowell underwent extensive surgery lasting six hours. The injuries forced him to miss that year’s Britain’s Got Talent auditions, with former winner Ashley Banjo filling in. Cowell has since spoken about the severity of his injuries, describing long-term nerve damage and crediting the COVID-19 lockdown with providing valuable time for recovery and rehabilitation.

In 2022, Cowell also missed auditions after a fall, with Stacey Solomon stepping in as a guest judge. Speaking about Solomon at that time, Cowell praised her as a longtime friend and admired her career development since first seeing her audition on The X Factor.

The next series of Britain’s Got Talent is slated to air on ITV in spring 2027. Fremantle has not issued an official statement regarding the recent changes to the judging lineup.