Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon has offered an update on the status of her friend and co-worker Simon Cowell.
Cowell is recovering from undergoing an emergency six-hour operation, after breaking his back in multiple places at the weekend in an electric bike accident.
This comes just before the talent competition is set to return to screens this autumn, after previously postponing the traditional Live Week because of the pandemic this past spring.
Cowell's current status for the BGT live shows is unknown, but Alesha has offered some hopeful news to This Morning.
"I've not been able to stop thinking about them all," she said. "It's absolutely horrific. We're all devastated and worried about Simon, but the positive thing is that he's in good spirits, and Lauren [Silverman] says that slowly he's on the mend.
"I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that, come the live shows, for Britain's Got Talent, we can hopefully have Simon on a live link because we love him."
Dixon clarified that production is set to begin on the live shows at the end of August, with plans already underway to incorporate a live audience.
"A virtual audience, I'm being told," she noted.
Cowell's other series, America's Got Talent, has already integrated virtual live audiences into its own semi-final shows, though those are missing the judge.
He has been replaced on this week's episodes by Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol winner he helped to discover back in 2002.
Following his accident, Simon shared a light-hearted tweet: "Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages.
"And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Stay safe everyone."
Britain's Got Talent is set to return for its live semi-final and final shows later in the year.
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