Amanda Holden, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and the return of Simon Cowell have all been mentioned to replace Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff
This year's X Factor revamp might not have gone completely according to plan, but that hasn't deterred Britain's Got Talent from following suit. After Michael McIntyre resigned his role as a judge in September, it emerged earlier this week that David Hasselhoff has now also been relieved of his position. To his credit, he took the news gracefully – if a little loudly – but it means that Amanda Holden is now the sole remaining judge on Britain's Got Talent 2012.
And since nature abhors a vacuum – especially in the world of vaguely low-rent Opportunity Knocks rip-offs – the topic of replacements has inevitably arisen. Although it seems slightly absurd to refer to anything that featured Piers Morgan as a golden age, it's undeniable that Britain's Got Talent has lost its sheen since he and Simon Cowell packed up and ventured stateside before this year's series.
Neither McIntyre or Hasselhoff were particularly good fits for the show – not least Hasselhoff, who seemed to mistake "saying the word Hoff a lot" and "pretending that people still care about Knight Rider" for anything even approaching constructive criticism – and the show suffered as a result. Their replacements, whoever they are, are bound to be an improvement.
But who could they be? Inevitably, a number of Cowell associates have found themselves emerging as frontrunners. Dannii Minogue's name has been flung around a little, although there's a chance that she might be a bit too similar to Amanda Holden in that they'd both be there to keep the dads happy. Much better would be Louis Walsh – he was a stand-in judge on one episode of this year's show, and he did a wonderful job. In fact, it's fair to say that nodding at breakdancing dogs might even be his calling.
Also, let's not ignore Sharon Osbourne, either. As a judge on America's Got Talent she's been unstoppable – as noisy and scabrous and troublesome as she ever was on the X Factor. Provided she's not on them for too long, she'd be a welcome presence on our screens.
Another option would be to draft in old contestants to judge the new series. The X Factor dipped its toe into these waters a little when it hired former Popstars: The Rivals winner Cheryl Cole. Would Britain's Got Talent be wise to book Susan Boyle or Ashley Banjo or that weird piano lady from this year as a judge? Obviously not, no, but they'd still probably be a step up from David Hasselhoff.
Then, of course, there's Simon Cowell himself. ITV insiders seem to think that he'll return for next year's show – although that isn't saying a lot given how much he messed ITV around over his participation in this year's the X Factor. But his return would undoubtedly boost audience figures, however harrowing he finds the idea of sitting through endless street dance and singing toddler auditions.
The source that tipped Cowell to make a comeback also suggested that Barbara Windsor is currently his favoured co-judge. She's less of a sure bet. She might be a national treasure, but anyone who can remember Jane McDonald's Star For A Night will know how toothless Windsor can be as a judge. She loved everybody on Star For A Night. Everybody. Her judging technique basically involved a shouting a handful of the blandest platitudes imaginable and then giggling. That approach might be a bit too one-note, even for something like Britain's Got Talent.
So who would you like to see judge the next series of Britain's Got Talent. Leave your comments below, and remember that I'll judge anyone who says Piers Morgan quite heavily.
