Amanda Holden: Britain's Got Talent 2021 still under discussion

Amanda Holden has said Britain’s Got Talent 2021 is still under discussion - but admitted she doesn’t think the show can work without a live audience.

The 49-year-old judge on the ITV talent show was asked by her Heart Radio Breakfast show co-host Ashley Roberts to comment on reports BGT has been axed for this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Holden said: “I personally think that we shouldn’t do it without the fifth judge which is you guys.

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“We need the people behind us, it’s the one show where it does kind of suffer and I’ll be honest, we've been told it’s on hold, but then we’ve been told something different so I think it’s fluid.

“I think there are still discussions going on because it’s a big old show and there are a lot of people who are employed behind the scenes so it’s one that needs to be discussed a bit more in length.”

Fellow DJ Jamie Theakston added: “It's impossible to make a decision in an evolving situation, because we don’t know what the world is going to look like in six months.”

Holden added: “Exactly and I think the producers are very keen not to let anyone down, so I think it’s still under discussion let’s say that.”

It was announced earlier this month that Britain’s Got Talent - which normally airs between April and June - was being postponed until the autumn, due to COVID-19 and the subsequent national lockdown.

An ITV spokesman said: “With the announcement of the latest Government health guidelines and with our priority of safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved in our programmes we, together with the production teams at Thames and Syco, have taken the decision to move the record and broadcast of the forthcoming series.”

The entertainment contest is open to the public and involves a series of auditions held around the country in order for the judging panel to choose their favourite acts to perform live on TV, in order for the public to vote for a winner.

BGT 2020 was able to go ahead as the audition stages had already been filmed before the first national lockdown.

Read more: Amanda Holden confirms Simon Cowell will return to BGT

The elimination shows were pre-recorded under social distancing restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and aired in September, with only final being broadcast live.

Musical comedy act Jon Courtenay was crowned the winner of the latest series, scooping £250,000 and a slot at the coveted Royal Variety Performance.

Ashley Banjo joined Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams on the judging panel as Simon Cowell was recovering from breaking his back in an electric bicycle injury.

Watch: Amanda Holden get hot under the collar on BGT