TV

Simon Cowell DOUBLES Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions prize fund

It was originally set at £50,000

Simon Cowell has doubled the Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions prize to £100,000.

The 59-year-old judge was stunned to learn from hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly during filming that the all-stars series winner would scoop £50,000 so pledged to boost the fund.

Simon said: “Did you just say fifty grand? That’s it?”

Simon Cowell BGT
Simon has doubled the Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions prize to £100,000 (Credit: ITV)

Read more: David Walliams ‘banned BGT co-stars from mentioning his ex-wife’

Ant replied: “That’s it. Unless you want to double it. Do you want to double it?”

As the live audience cheered, he replied: “Yes, I will. It’s a hundred grand everybody.”

Although there were huge cheers of agreement in the crowd, fellow judges Amanda Holden and David Walliams were reportedly too busy arguing.

The spat begin when a female magician showed cards with men’s faces on them.

Referring to the actress’ ex-husband – who she split from in 2003 – David apparently quipped about one card: “He looks like Les Dennis.”

BGT judges Credit: ITV
Filming for the upcoming series started this week (Credit: ITV)

Unimpressed, Amanda reportedly replied: “That was 20 years ago, David, and don’t you have an ex-wife?

“But we’re never allowed to talk about Lara, are we?”

An insider told The Sun Online: “David makes the same joke every year. Amanda was furious and felt it was time the tables were turned.

“His jokes – including to Simon Cowell – are wearing thin on everyone involved in the show.

“David did apologise and they hugged it out in the end.”

David apparently had a spat with Amanda (Credit: ITV)

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David, 47, has rarely mentioned his marriage to Lara Stone in any interviews since they divorced in September 2015 after five years of marriage.

The former couple have son Alfred, six, together.

Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions show is being filmed on a giant purpose-built set at the SSE Arena, Wembley, north London.

Filming for the upcoming series started this week, with the likes of crooner Paul Potts, dance duo Stavros Flatley and knife swallower Alex Magala taking part.

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