Britain's Got Talent Panel Welcomes Stacey Solomon with Rave Reviews
The judges of Britain's Got Talent have unanimously praised Stacey Solomon following her debut as a guest panellist on the ITV talent competition. The former X Factor contestant, who first rose to fame in 2009, joined regular judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and YouTube sensation KSI for a special episode, stepping in while Simon Cowell was absent.
Warm and Empathetic Judging Style Earns Acclaim
Stacey Solomon, known for hosting Sort Your Life Out, being a Loose Women panellist, and starring in her own reality series Stacey & Joe, received glowing feedback from her fellow judges and hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. They described her as warm, funny, and down to earth, highlighting her natural empathy with contestants.
Alesha Dixon, 47, remarked, 'Stacey was adorable. She's so sweet and very natural. I liked how she spoke to contestants, always coming from a good place. She knows what it's like to be on stage auditioning, so she had that empathy. I thought she did a great job!'
Ant McPartlin, 50, echoed this sentiment, noting, 'Stacey knows exactly what it's like to stand on this stage and be judged. It was nice for her to sit in the judge's chair and put herself in the shoes of every auditionee. She had a lot of empathy with them.'
Declan Donnelly, 50, added, 'She was a really handy addition to the judges' panel. She was quite insightful in her critiques, so she did a really good job.'
Amanda Holden's Uncomfortable Stint as Head Judge
While Stacey's debut was celebrated, Amanda Holden, 55, who temporarily took over as head judge in Simon Cowell's absence, admitted she hated the experience. She expressed feeling outcast in Simon's seat and frustrated by the lack of support from her team.
Amanda explained, 'I must admit I hated sitting in that seat! I've been on the show the longest, so I understand why I probably need to sit there, but I felt very outcast on the end. My team all decided to eat my snacks and sit in the dressing room, paying no attention to the show or me whatsoever.'
She continued, 'Simon said to me, "You must have loved it. Did you feel powerful?" I said I hated it because I had to keep leaning in to be part of the conversation. I never want to sit in that seat again! I'm juicy in the middle, it's such a good spot.'
Behind-the-Scenes Pranks and Panel Chemistry
The episode also revealed playful antics behind the scenes, with producers giving judges a big talking to after discovering Simon Cowell had bought stink bombs from a local joke shop during filming in Blackpool. Amanda Holden recounted how word got round, leading to a stern warning from production staff.
Alesha Dixon described the series as packed with 'bonkers' moments, including a fierce competition over golden buzzers. She recalled diving across the table to beat Simon to it, injuring herself in the process, and being asked to recreate the scene for viewers.
KSI, the newest judge, backed up the chaotic atmosphere, admitting he caused havoc on set during one golden buzzer act. He said, 'I'm quite a loud, expressive person and I'm happy to get on stage and jump around. I don't mind being the bad guy. I'm going to tell it how it is.'
Despite their different personalities, KSI noted the panel has built a brilliant chemistry, learning to read Simon's moods and predict golden buzzer moments. 'Considering we haven't known each other properly for very long, we've all become close in a short space of time,' he added.
Britain's Got Talent continues to entertain with its mix of heartfelt judging and behind-the-scenes fun, airing Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
