Britain's Got Talent has been a staple on our screens for years, but the hit show was originally going to have a completely different name and host
Britain's Got Talent could have had a different host and title when it first launched.
The hit talent show has returned to ITV for its 18th series, with a fresh batch of hopefuls showcasing their skills in the hope of landing a spot at the Royal Variety Performance.Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are back as the show's hosts, alongside judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli, and guest star KSI.
However, the original plan for the show was quite different. It was initially set to debut in 2005, with Paul O'Grady as the host.
He even presented an unaired pilot alongside then-judges Simon, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan.
Paul later found himself in a dispute with the broadcaster over the proposed title of the show, resulting in him being "banned" from the ITV studios.
"I did the pilot for Britain's Got Talent - which was originally going to be called Paul O'Grady's Got Talent," he revealed to the Mirror in 2010, reports Wales Online.
"But I told the producers they were having a joke if they thought I would front the 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."
He added: "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."
The late Lily Savage star expressed no regrets about the situation, adding: "Not in the slightest. Good luck to them."
Britain's Got Talent made its debut in 2007, following the success of the first season of America's Got Talent.
Ant and Dec were brought on board as presenters, with Simon, Amanda and Piers forming the judging panel - although Amanda wasn't the original choice for the role.
Simon's X Factor co-star Cheryl Tweedy was initially offered the position, but withdrew at the eleventh hour.
"A week before filming, she calls me and goes, 'I just can't do it,' and wouldn't give me a reason. I think she was freaked out. We literally had two judges and a week to book someone," Simon previously recalled.
He further added: "I just knew it had to be Amanda because I'd met her and I really liked her, she was very funny and I just thought she'd fit the show perfectly."
Britain's Got Talent is available to stream on ITVX
