BGT judges welcome Stacey Solomon to panel for 2026 series

KSI is joning the judging panel permanently this year, but he is not the only new face coming to the new BGT series <i>(Image: Thames/ITV)</i>
KSI is joning the judging panel permanently this year, but he is not the only new face coming to the new BGT series (Image: Thames/ITV)
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Britain's Got Talent (BGT) is back for its 19th year, as performers from across the UK showcase their skills for the chance to win a huge cash prize and a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Ant and Dec will return to host the latest series of the ITV show, with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon all returning to the judges' panel.

Social media star KSI, who featured as a guest judge last year, is joining the judges full-time, replacing Bruno Tonioli, who has left due to filming clashes with the US show Dancing with the Stars.

However, another new judge will make an appearance in the upcoming series, and they are no stranger to TV talent shows.

BGT judges welcome Stacey Solomon to panel for 2026 series

Lat October, it was revealed that Stacey, 36, would be filling in for head judge Simon for some of the auditions after he missed the first few days of filming due to a fall.

A BGT spokesperson said at the time that the first day of auditions was postponed "due to unforeseen circumstances".

Stacey, who lives in Essex with husband Joe Swash and her family, was then drafted in to fill in during Simon's absence.

She shared an Instagram story at the time regarding her excitement for her "dream job".

A story posted read: "I've last minute been asked to do an absolutely dream job today so Rose and me are going to get ready and head up there because it's something she will love too.

"Genuinely so excited to do this and can't believe I've been asked."

During Simon's absence, Amanda Holden temporarily led the panel before the long-standing judge returned for the Blackpool auditions.

Stacey and Simon have a history together, with the TV star first finding fame on The X Factor.

The singer and reality star was part of the sixth season of the ITV talent show in 2009 and finished in third place behind Joe McElderry and Olly Murs.

The path to becoming a TV personality began with an appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2010, where she went on to win the show.

Stacey has since appeared on Loose Women and now has her own shows on the BBC, Sort Your Life Out and Stacey and Joe.

Fellow BGT judges weigh in on Stacey Solomon's apperance on show

On Stacey’s short stint as a judge, Simon said: “I remember her first audition on The X Factor.

"I’ve seen what she’s done with her career and I’m really happy for her, she’s just a really nice person.”

Amanda said of Stacey: "She’s so lovely and I think we’ve got quite a similar style of judging.

"She’s warm, she’s super funny, she has a great understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side, because she obviously auditioned for The X Factor all those years ago.

"Even though she’s smashing it in the real world now, Stacey’s very down to earth and doesn’t have an ego, so I think that worked really nicely for the day that she was pulled in.

"We’re all fans of her and her crafting is through the roof. If only I could be that type of mother!"

Alesha described Stacey as "adorable", adding: "She’s so sweet, very natural, and I liked the way she spoke to contestants because she's always coming from a good place.

"She’s a good person and she cares.

"If there was something she didn’t like or didn’t get, she would say, but she’d do it in that Stacey charm that she has.

"She knows how it feels to be on stage and audition, so she had that empathy for them.

"I thought she did a great job!"


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Stacey is not the first guest judge on the series, with Kelly Brook, Louis Walsh and Ashley Banjo among others who have filled in.

There have been various permanent judges over the years, including Piers Morgan, Michael McIntyre, David Hasselhoff and David Walliams.

Britain’s Got Talent Season 19 returns to ITV and ITVX on Saturday, February 21.

Who is your favourite ITV judge? Let us know in the comments.

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