Piers Morgan was reportedly chosen to judge Britain’s Got Talent because of his ‘unpredictable’ behaviour and ‘tabloid views’.
The 55-year-old journalist, who is now a presenter on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, was chosen to front the original talent show in 2005 before the show made it to UK television in 2007.
The judging panel went on to change throughout the years and even welcomed a stint from US legend David Hasselhoff.
However, long before the show emerged onto our screens, the producers faced a tough challenge trying to find the perfect fit for the judges.
Speaking to Metro, BGT commissioner Claudia Rosencrantz has revealed that Piers’ spot was affirmed after starring in a pilot episode – that never aired.
Piers Morgan was cast in the pilot for BGT (Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“I did the pilot of it and in the pilot we had Piers Morgan,” she told the publication.
“I liked the fact that Piers Morgan was unpredictable and kind of very tabloid in his views so I thought he’d be quite an interesting person to have one on a panel, very different anyone that’s been on any other panel.
The ITV legend also revealed that Fern Britton had been originally selected to feature on the judging panel.
Fern Britton was also originally cast to star on the BGT panel (Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
However, she was eventually replaced with Amanda Holden before the show came to ITV.
Claudia added: “And I had Fern Britton on the panel, the original pilot we did.
“She laughs so much, and she’s a great laugher. And when Fern laughs she literally just cries and I like that, it made me laugh.
Simon Cowell reportedly demanded a spot on the judging panel (Image: WireImage)
The commissioning producer also explained that talent show mogul Simon Cowell insisted that he star in the original panel alongside Piers and Fern.
Although Claudia seemed hesitant at featuring Simon at first, his stern words to some of the contestants were just what the producers were looking for.
She added: “Simon Cowell insisted on being on the pilot.
“I said, ‘But that’s not helpful because it’s going to limit me and when I can play the show, because there’s gonna be a great show. It’s gonna be fabulous.’ And he said, “I’ll just do the pilot.”
The original pilot didn’t get picked up by ITV and it was originally sold to NBC in the United States.
The show eventually returned to UK television, during which Amanda joined Piers and Simon on the judging panel we all remember so well.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
