GUARDED Simon Cowell is set to miss the Britain’s Got Talent taping – judge Bruno Tonioli is coming in his place.
Filming of the ITV1 show has been halted following the tragic death of Liam Payne – and will resume on Saturday.
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Simon Cowell has pulled out of filming BGT Credit: Rex
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Simon spent a lot of time with Liam over the years Credit: Xposure
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Bruno will step into Simon’s shoesCredit: DYMOND
Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI and Bruno will continue filming as the heartbroken powerhouse takes time to grieve.
A source said: “The news has hit Simon incredibly hard – he is completely shocked and devastated.
“He adored Liam and was close to the family who he must have been hanging out with in private. He didn’t think it was right to continue filming BGT and when it resumes on Saturday he doesn’t feel there will be any real headspace to continue.
“All the judges and the production team are very supportive.”
A spokesperson for the programme’s producers, Freemantle UK, confirmed that auditions are on hold.
In a statement, they said: “Due to the tragic death of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and everyone who loved him.”
Simon, who famously created One Direction, canceled auditions in Blackpool shortly after revealing the awful news.
A tragic death
Last night, shock waves spread around the world after news broke that Liam had died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
Liam died instantly from multiple injuries including a fractured skull caused by the fall.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said medical teams were unable to save the former One Direction heartthrob when they arrived at the scene.
I’m the last person Liam Payne sang to’ – Heartbroken fan describes meeting her idol just hours before his tragic fall
Comes as:
According to Buenos Aires police, officers initially responded to reports “of an aggressive male who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
Pictures showed shocked fans gathering outside the hotel after police cordoned off the area, with forensic investigators in white hazmat suits and blue gloves making their way in and out.
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Simon founded One DirectionCredit: AP: Associated Press
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Simon and the judges and Ant and Dec are back on set this weekCredit: PA
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Bruno was busy filming in America Credits: Splash
Fans were photographed lighting candles and leaving flowers by the side of the road in an impromptu vigil as they paid tribute to the music star.
Liam’s body was taken last night to the city mortuary in Viamonte Street, just a 15-minute drive south-west of the boutique hotel.
Pathologists will also take tissue samples that will be tested for traces of drink and drug consumption before yesterday’s tragedy at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel.
Officials did not say how long it would take to get the test results, but local media said it would take 10 to 15 days.
Photographs published by several Argentine newspapers overnight of the interior of Liam’s deluxe suite show the burnt top of what appeared to be a soda can, traces of a white powder said to be cocaine and pieces of aluminum foil on the worktop.
Liam and Simon’s friendship
Liam has previously spoken about his relationship with music mogul Simon and claimed that Simon created a boy band around him.
He said he “started with my face and then worked on the rest. I was an honorary member of One Direction. He told me the story himself in his house.”
He also recalled how Simon played a role in his romance with Cheryl, which led to them having a son named Bear.
“I went to Simon’s house and joked that Cheryl was hot,” he explained.
“Simon said, ‘I know who’s going to be the next Mrs Payne!'”
Liam continued, “Then I was at the bar and Niall came in and told me Cheryl liked me.”
“I was like ‘Cheryl? Cheryl?” Niall was in Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she blushed and left.”
“So I hit her.”
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Source: HIS Education