Simon Cowell will reportedly not appear at all in the finals of Britain’s Got Talent. The entertainment mogul, 60, broke his back earlier this month after falling from his new Swind EB-01 bike at his Malibu home.
Although it had been hoped that he might be able to appear via video call for the already delayed shows, it now appears that he will not be seen at all.
A source told The Mirror: ‘It was decided that the idea of having him judge the BGT finalists via a link was just not feasible – nor sensible.
‘Everything is fixed, he just needs healing time. Flying halfway across the world is not part of the plan and he has agreed to put his health first.’
TV bosses are now said to be trying to find a replacement for Simon in time for the shows which start filming in two weeks, with Piers Morgan being one suggestion.
However a source said that would have been ‘impossible’ due to his ‘spat’ with another of the BGT judges, David Walliams.
Now instead of live shows, the episodes will be pre-recorded and shown in what would have been the X Factor’s prime-time Saturday night slot.
Simon broke his back after falling from his new bike and underwent six hours of surgery to insert a metal rod into his spine after the freak accident.