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Si’s bid to put star back on BGT panel

SIMON Cowell has vowed to get David Hasselhoff back on Britain’s Got Talent.

It has been almost a decade since the stars were on the panel together.

We can reveal Simon, 60, teased it could happen while he was filming auditions for BGT earlier this year when David Walliams, 48, failed to turn up on time.

The show boss asked: “Can we do it without him?” When David finally arrived, he said: “I ran all the way.”

He then joked: “I can’t do the show today, you’ll have to bring back David Hasselhoff.”

But David’s gag backfired when Simon revealed he is up for the idea.

He hit back: “You know what, I will.”

The comment was a stark warning to all of the judges that they could be replaced on next year’s series. An insider said: “David was only mucking about, but he has unwittingly has given Simon an idea. Anything is possible. “Simon loves to mix things up every now and then.”

The Hoff, 67, was on the BGT panel in 2011 alongside Michael McIntyre and Amanda Holden.

And the Baywatch legend was a hit with viewers.

Bringing him back would be the first change to the panel in eight years.

Since 2012 Simon has starred alongside David, Amanda and Alesha Dixon.

Their chemistry has helped BGT continue to be a ratings winner in its 14th year.

When it returned to screens earlier this month it pulled in nine million viewers, its biggest launch show figures for three years.

The show has had a boost because more people are watching television due to the lockdown.

You can get an extra slice of action on BGT’s new spin-off show.

Unseen, which includes more auditions and footage of the judges, is available on the ITV Hub catch-up service.