Britain's Got Talent auditions took an explosive turn as Simon Cowell was reportedly set on fire by one hopeful contestant.
The judges - Simon, 63, Amanda Holden, 51, Alesha Dixon, 44, and Bruno Tonioli, 67 - are currently filming the auditions at the London Palladium for the new series of the ITV show which is set to air later this year. According to onlookers, the former X Factor judge was taken on stage by a masked magician before being doused in lighter fluid.
Simon was made to sit on stage with a hood over his head by the mysterious magician, as the liquid was poured over him. The music mogul then had his head locked inside a box which was then opened at the front for the audience to see inside before dropping a match inside seeing Simon's entire head lit up in flames.
One onlooker told The Mirror: “The audience screamed, judges were out of their seats screaming, everyone was totally stunned. The flames were put out and Simon got up looking a bit shell-shocked while the rest of the judges breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to the panel.”
Afterwards head judge Simon said: “I could feel liquid being poured on me but I had no idea it was lighter fluid!”
Fellow judge Alesha Dixon added: “Simon, he set your entire head on fire! It was very scary, you are a very brave man to do that. It made me realise how much we care about you, I was ready to come up there and rescue you.”
Amanda Holden added: “It was massively entertaining but horrific to watch. It was scary.” While new judge Bruno Tonioli said: “It reminded me of a scene from that movie, Saw, seeing Simon’s head in that contraption. I was captivated, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno has joined the judging line-up after David Walliams stepped down from his role last year.
In his first interview last week he declared the show will be more successful than Strictly. “This is the biggest show - now that I’m in it!” he said. “Now that they have me! I mean it. Oh, Simon is going to hate me saying that. Ha, ha ha.”
On signing up he added: “I do it because I love to do it. Amanda and Alesha - we’ve all known each other for years. The first show felt so natural. We have such a lot of fun. I’m very, very lucky - someone’s looking after me.”
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