The presenter revealed an unseen image of the pilot episode with a very different judging panel and host.
Piers Morgan has shared a throwback image from the first ever filmed episode of Britain’s Got Talent with the original judging line-up.
The ITV variety contest is heading into its 19th season this year, and has seen a whole host of celebrities behind the panel.
But when it was due to first air in 2005, with Paul O’Grady hosting instead of Ant and Dec, Britain’s Got Talent originally had Piers, Simon Cowell and Fern Britton behind the buzzers, before she was replaced by Amanda Holden.
The late Lily Savage star hosted the pilot which never aired, and now Piers has shared a snap of the three judges during that episode.
The former Good Morning Britain presenter was a judge on America’s Got Talent before Britain’s Got Talent, which was first broadcast in 2007.
He wrote: “Another amazing pic from my past, also randomly posted on X by someone yesterday.
“This one is truly historic… it was the first ever panel assembled for the Got Talent franchise anywhere in the world.
“Simon Cowell had come up with the idea of a new talent show, ITV ordered a pilot episode to be filmed, and cast Simon, me and Fern Britton (then presenting This Morning) as the judges.
“It was hosted by the late, great Paul O’Grady.. and called ‘Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent’. The acts sat in the audience and came down onto the stage when it was their turn to perform.”
Piers recalled the whole thing being “hysterical” and how ITV had “loved it” before a “falling out” with Paul, which led ITV to shelve the format with its original name.
He went on: “However, Simon isn’t one of life’s quitters, and a few weeks later he texted me to say he’d sold the rights to NBC in the U.S. , they wanted to repackage it as America’s Got Talent, and he wanted me as a judge on it to play the tough meanie role because he was committed to American Idol so couldn’t do it. (He said, ‘Piers, I need someone as arrogant, obnoxious and judgemental as me, and your name has immediately sprung to mind!’)
“A month later, I was on the Paramount movie lot in Hollywood, with a trailer next to David Hasselhoff’s, and we started filming @agt . It was an instant smash hit No1 summer show in America, and I owe my entire 20-year career over in the States to that lucky break (Thanks Simon!).
“The following year @bgt launched in the UK but with Amanda Holden replacing Fern. That was also a No1 smash hit, and Got Talent has now aired in 69 countries, becoming one of the most successful television franchises in history. And it all started with this pic!”
Fans were shocked to hear of the original version, with one writing: “I wish we could see this pilot. I’ve always wondered what it would have been like with Paul as host. Paul O’Grady was our greatest star and my favourite person in the world. I would have loved to have seen him pulling no punches with you and Simon. Why did Fern not end up being on the panel? Lovely lady.”
Another said: “Do you have the taping of that pilot, I would love to see it.”
“Fern! What’s Fern doing there,” a third exclaimed.
Paul previously admitted his “row” with ITV which left him “banned” from their studios, telling The Daily Mirror in 2010: “I did the pilot for Britain’s Got Talent – which was originally going to be called Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent.
“But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front a show with that title.
“The original panel of judges was going to be Simon Cowell, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan. I was the host.
“Then when I had the row with ITV I was banned from the studios.
“I remember I rang Simon and told him he had a huge hit on his hands, but there was no way I could do it. I said, if I am banned I have to be banned from everything.
“I can’t be a hypocrite and come in and do this. I had to bow out.”
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