Simon Cowell has revealed that Britain’s Got Talent almost looked very different.

Hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the ITV talent show was created in 2007 and is returning for its 18th series this week.

The panel of judges consists of former X Factor judge Cowell, as well as Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and YouTuber KSI.Holden has become a favourite with viewers and has been on the show since the first series. But she almost never appeared at all.

“She is our Britain’s Got Talent queen and she deserves that crown,” he said of the judge.Revealing who he originally tried to book, he said: “And you know what? She was an interesting booking because we’d offered the role to Cheryl Cole, as she was known in those days.”

However, things did not go according to plan as the “Fight for Your Love” singer dropped out at the last minute.“A week before filming, she calls me and goes, ‘I just can’t do it’, and wouldn’t give me a reason,” he said.

“I think she was freaked out. We literally had two judges and a week to book someone. I just knew it had to be Amanda because I’d met her and I really liked her, she was very funny and I just thought she’d fit the show perfectly.

“Fast forward 18 years and she’s still a huge success and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends.