There’s great news for fans of Britain’s Got Talent, as ITV is bringing back Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions for a second series. This last happened in 2019, when various fan favourites from past editions returned to the famous stage.
In addition to the special show, 2027 will mark the 20th anniversary of the flagship series, meaning it will be a thrilling year for BGT fans.
Series Set to Be the Second Edition of this Format
Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions originally arrived on ITV in 2019 and provided a different take on the familiar talent-show format. This version featured a star-studded lineup of previous contestants from British and international versions of Got Talent. It was a tantalising prospect, allowing for some of the programme’s most recognisable acts to compete against performers they would not normally encounter.
The first edition ran for six episodes and was presented by the familiar duo of Ant and Dec. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and David Walliams made up the judging panel. The great thing about it was that it gave previous runners-up a second chance, with Street-dance duo Twist and Pulse eventually taking the title after narrowly missing out in the 2010 edition of BGT.
The second series of the spinoff will be another six-episode competition, but no acts have been confirmed yet. It’s likely that it will mainly feature talents from the last six years, but there’s a chance that some older contestants could return as well.
2027 Will Also Mark 20th Anniversary
It’s amazing to think that next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the much-loved Saturday night entertainment offering. A lot has changed over those two decades, with the format growing into a global phenomenon spanning multiple international versions.
In addition to these television series, the brand has also expanded into other areas of entertainment. The official BGT App acts as an extension of the series, as it comes with a virtual buzzer and quizzes. There’s the BGT electronic board game too, which involves players competing in talent challenges. There are even online bingo games with the branding, including the Britain’s Got Talent 90-ball room.
For the 20th anniversary, ITV is planning a larger celebration that extends throughout more of the calendar. There will be 15 episodes of the main show in the first half of the year, followed by six two-hour Champions episodes in the second half.
Which Former Champions Will Viewers Want to See Most?
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the new Champions series will be which performers will be coming back. If ITV can get Diversity to come back, it could be incredible. The dance group won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and has since established itself as one of the UK’s best-known dance companies.
There are plenty of others who could attract considerable interest. These include magician Richard Jones, comedian Lost Voice Guy, musical theatre performer Sydnie Christmas, and ventriloquist and comedian Jon Courtenay.
The return of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions looks set to be a huge part of ITV’s 20th anniversary celebrations. As well as bringing back crowd-pleasing acts from years gone by, it could also introduce viewers to talented performers from overseas editions that they might not have encountered before.
