The long-awaited return of Britain's Got Talent is finally upon us as the hit ITV competition prepares to launch its 19th series this weekend. Fans across the nation are eagerly anticipating the new season, which promises to deliver the usual mix of extraordinary talent, emotional moments, and dramatic golden buzzer decisions.
When Does Britain's Got Talent Series 19 Start?
Britain's Got Talent series 19 will make its grand return to television screens on Saturday, February 21. The show will be broadcast simultaneously on ITV1 and the streaming platform ITVX, ensuring viewers can watch through their preferred method. For audiences in Scotland, the programme will air on STV and STV Player at the same time.
Episode Length and Schedule Details
The launch episode represents a substantial viewing commitment for fans, with the opening installment scheduled to run for an impressive one hour and twenty-five minutes. The broadcast will commence at 7:00 PM and conclude at 8:25 PM, providing ample time to showcase the first round of auditions from this year's hopeful contestants.
Following the main show, dedicated viewers can continue their Britain's Got Talent experience with Britain's Got Talent: Unseen, which will be available immediately on ITVX after the initial episode concludes. This supplementary content will also receive a television broadcast on ITV2 every Sunday, offering additional behind-the-scenes footage and unaired performances.
What to Expect from the New Series
The 2026 season welcomes back familiar faces alongside one significant change to the judging panel. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon all return to their judging roles, while KSI joins the team as a permanent replacement for Bruno Tonioli. The popular presenting duo Ant and Dec will once again helm the proceedings as hosts.
Hundreds of contestants will take to the stage throughout the series, hoping to impress both the judges and the voting public. The ultimate prize remains unchanged: a life-altering £250,000 cash award plus the coveted opportunity to perform at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance.
Audition Highlights and Judge Reactions
The majority of this season's auditions were filmed in Blackpool, where judge Amanda Holden described the atmosphere as particularly energetic. "They were wild, I'm going to say feral but in the best way possible!" she exclaimed when discussing the filming experience. "Oh my God, people were running down the aisles, we were doing non-stop selfies every day."
Holden contrasted the Blackpool audience behavior with more restrained London crowds, noting: "That kind of thing never happens in London, everyone follows the rules and sits in their seats. But in Blackpool everyone just went absolutely nuts. Screaming, booing if we didn't press the golden buzzer."
The golden buzzer mechanism returns this series, allowing each judge and the hosts to send their favorite acts directly to the live semi-finals with a single press. This power has created some of the show's most memorable moments in previous seasons and is expected to generate similar excitement this year.
Following in Previous Winners' Footsteps
Contestants competing in series 19 will be hoping to emulate the success of last year's champion, magician Harry Moulding. The show continues its tradition of discovering remarkable talent from across the United Kingdom, with performers spanning all ages and disciplines vying for the top spot.
Simon Cowell, who has served as a judge since the show's inception in 2007, returns despite missing the first two days of filming for the new series. His acerbic critiques and occasional moments of generosity have become integral to the Britain's Got Talent formula that has captivated audiences for nearly two decades.
The combination of fresh talent, experienced judges, and the ever-present possibility of golden buzzer moments ensures that Britain's Got Talent series 19 will maintain the programme's reputation as one of British television's most enduring and popular entertainment formats.
