Entertainment
Britain’s Got Talent auditions resume after Liam Payne’s death but without Simon Cowell-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro
Britain’s Got Talent auditions start again after Liam Payne’s death but without Simon Cowell (Picture: Splash/Getty)
Britain’s Got Talent began filming again after the auditions had been previously cancelled.
The ITV series took a break following the tragic news of Liam Payne’s death aged 31.
The judging panel has returned to their jobs, but without Simon Cowell, who has stepped away to grieve.
Bruno Tonioli has stepped in to cover, who was pictured arriving at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. He appeared sombre but waved to fans and photographers.
Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and guest judge KSI, who was hired as a temporary replacement for Tonioli, will also continue with the programme.
Cowell, 65, was a mentor for Payne on The X Factor in 2010. Alongside his One Direction bandmates Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, they finished in third position.
Bruno arrived at the auditions (Picture: Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)
Bruno was sombre but waved to fans (Picture: Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)
The boyband was then signed by Cowell’s label, Syco Entertainment.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Payne had died after falling off a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The following day, Britain’s Got Talent auditions were cancelled. In a statement, Applause Store, who organised the tickets for filming, announced: ‘Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.’ The series began filming earlier this week.
Cowell worked with One Direction (Picture: Dave M. Benett/WireImage)
Cowell and Payne first met in 2008, when Payne auditioned as a solo artist aged 14.
He progressed to the judges’ house stage, but Cowell didn’t take him through to live shows. Instead, Cowell advised he take two years away and then return.
Payne followed that advice and was placed into a group alongside the four other solo artists. They went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in history, with hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Night Changes, and Steal My Girl.
The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, as the singers all embarked on successful solo careers.
Cowell called Payne ‘kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused’ (Picture: REUTERS)
Cowell recently shared a tribute for Payne on Instagram, in which he admitted to ‘feeling’ empty while processing the devastating news.
‘You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,’ he wrote.
‘Liam, I am 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 into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like?
‘And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.’
The statement was posted on Instagram (Picture: Instagram)
‘I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.’
Cowell added that they’d recently met up to reminisce about fun times they’d shared. He also said his seven-year-old son, Bear had a ‘twinkle in his eye that you have’.
He concluded: ‘Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.’
Cheryl and Payne were together for two years (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music)
Payne previously gave Cowell some credit for helping his relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, begin. The pair dated for two years from 2016, and welcomed Bear into the world together.
‘I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was. Simon was like, “I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!’ he said on the Straight Talking with Ant Middleton podcast.
‘Then I was in a bar and Niall came in and told me that Cheryl liked me. I was like “Cheryl? Cheryl?” Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went red and left.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Britain’s Got Talent auditions start again after Liam Payne’s death but without Simon Cowell (Picture: Splash/Getty)
Britain’s Got Talent began filming again after the auditions had been previously cancelled.
The ITV series took a break following the tragic news of Liam Payne’s death aged 31.
The judging panel has returned to their jobs, but without Simon Cowell, who has stepped away to grieve.
Bruno Tonioli has stepped in to cover, who was pictured arriving at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. He appeared sombre but waved to fans and photographers.
Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and guest judge KSI, who was hired as a temporary replacement for Tonioli, will also continue with the programme.
Cowell, 65, was a mentor for Payne on The X Factor in 2010. Alongside his One Direction bandmates Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, they finished in third position.
Bruno arrived at the auditions (Picture: Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)
Bruno was sombre but waved to fans (Picture: Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)
The boyband was then signed by Cowell’s label, Syco Entertainment.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Payne had died after falling off a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The following day, Britain’s Got Talent auditions were cancelled. In a statement, Applause Store, who organised the tickets for filming, announced: ‘Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.’ The series began filming earlier this week.
Cowell worked with One Direction (Picture: Dave M. Benett/WireImage)
Cowell and Payne first met in 2008, when Payne auditioned as a solo artist aged 14.
He progressed to the judges’ house stage, but Cowell didn’t take him through to live shows. Instead, Cowell advised he take two years away and then return.
Payne followed that advice and was placed into a group alongside the four other solo artists. They went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in history, with hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Night Changes, and Steal My Girl.
The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, as the singers all embarked on successful solo careers.
Cowell called Payne ‘kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused’ (Picture: REUTERS)
Cowell recently shared a tribute for Payne on Instagram, in which he admitted to ‘feeling’ empty while processing the devastating news.
‘You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,’ he wrote.
‘Liam, I am 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 into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together. I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like?
‘And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.’
The statement was posted on Instagram (Picture: Instagram)
‘I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.’
Cowell added that they’d recently met up to reminisce about fun times they’d shared. He also said his seven-year-old son, Bear had a ‘twinkle in his eye that you have’.
He concluded: ‘Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.’
Cheryl and Payne were together for two years (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music)
Payne previously gave Cowell some credit for helping his relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, begin. The pair dated for two years from 2016, and welcomed Bear into the world together.
‘I went to Simon’s house, and made a joke about how hot Cheryl was. Simon was like, “I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!’ he said on the Straight Talking with Ant Middleton podcast.
‘Then I was in a bar and Niall came in and told me that Cheryl liked me. I was like “Cheryl? Cheryl?” Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went red and left.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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