Future of Britain’s Got Talent could surprise fans after concerns it could be axed

Britain’s Got Talent ratings have so far taken a dip from previous series (Picture: ITV)

Britain’s Got Talent has shaken things up for its 19th series on ITV, introducing a new judge in the fourth seat as Bruno Tonioli exited to make way for KSI.

But the show’s play for the YouTuber’s following hasn’t quite had the juggernaut effect they likely hoped for, since ratings have slumped so far this series.

The average audience for recent seasons of the show has been over 5million, with a steady decline since the series four peak, which is in line with a wider TV audience shrink over the years.

But this series launch episode was the lowest ever, with just 3m tuning in. The second instalment fared even worse, with 100,000 fewer viewers and a total viewership that was surpassed by Michael McIntyre’s Big Show over on the BBC. 

The ratings have prompted questions over the future of the long-running TV staple, which has so far managed to outlive many of its contemporaries (The X Factor, Dancing on Ice, etc).

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We decided to get the bookies over at Paddy Power on the blower for their odds on whether this will be Britain’s Got Talent’s final season – and given all doomsday prognosticating elsewhere, the answer might surprise you.

KSI officially joined the judging panel full-time this series (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images)

The first episode included Simon Cowell’s spectacular Golden Buzzer act (Picture: ITV)

According to the bookmakers, the odds that this will be the final series of BGT are 7/4, while the likelihood that the ITV stalwart returns is 2/5.

A spokesperson for Paddy Power told Metro: ‘Our number crunchers think there’s life yet in BGT with the odds heavily suggesting Simon Cowell and his gang of judges will be back on our screens again for a 20th series, despite the slow start to the 2026 show.

‘We’ve got faith there’s still plenty of folks out there with enough talent to fill a show!’

‘We’ve got faith there’s still plenty of folks out there with enough talent to fill a show!’ (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)

It comes after the show’s longest-running judge, Amanda Holden, shed light on how Britain’s Got Talent has managed to outlive so many other competition shows of its ilk. 

‘I think it’s because it is a strong format, and it brings different things,’ said Holden, speaking to Metro and other publications ahead of the series 19 launch.

‘I think as long as you’ve got that variety element to a big show like this and a family audience, you’re onto a winner.’

The radio presenter went on to single out the judging panel’s chemistry as another strong suit, saying: ‘When that hasn’t happened on other shows, those fall down slightly.’

Metro contacted Britain’s Got Talent for comment.

Britain’s Got Talent series 19 continues on ITV.

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