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ITV Britain’s Got Talent halted as fans concerned by Simon Cowell news
Joe Crutchley & Katie Westwood
Sun 23 March 2025 at 11:46 pm GMT+7·2-min read
Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left puzzled last night after Simon Cowell was missing for parts of the last episode of the long-running programme. The ITV reality show aims to find Britain’s next big superstar and returned to our screens on Saturday night, March 22.
Familiar faces Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli were back on our screens as judges, along with long-standing presenters Ant and Dec. Guest judge KSI also made an appearance.
However, one judge who was missing at several points in the episode was Simon Cowell. Instead of Simon, KSI had stepped in to take his seat on the panel, along with Amanda, Alesha and Bruno next to him, reports Wales Online.
It’s fair to say Simon’s absence got plenty of viewers talking online. On X, one person said: “A show without Simon?!” Someone else wrote: “Ahhh Simon was off when Liam Payne died,” along with a sad face emoji.
Simon missed the audition that took place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool in the first week of October 2024 following the death of Liam Payne. The singer died aged 31 on October 16, 2024, after suffering a fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
The audition process was initially put on hold following news of Liam’s passing. An ITV spokesperson said in a statement at the time: “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family and all who loved him.”
One week after Liam’s passing, the auditions resumed without Simon, who was temporarily replaced by YouTuber KSI. Simon first met Liam when he auditioned as a solo-act on The X Factor at the age of 14 in 2008 – but was not booted out before the live show.
After being told to “return in two years”, Liam made his comeback to the X Factor in 2010 for the singing competition’s seventh series. Liam was eventually paired with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, with the five-piece forming One Direction.
Under Simon’s mentorship, One Direction came third on the show and went on to become the biggest UK boyband of the 21st century.
Britain’s Got Talent airs every Saturday at 7pm on ITV1.
What Is The Most Expensive Car In The World?
From Rolls-Royce to Bugatti, we’re looking into how these top brands got their name on the list of the world’s most expensive cars.
Read time: 5 minutes
It seems car manufacturers are forever raising the bar when it comes to creating the most expensive car in the world, as they continue to explore cutting-edge features. From the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail’s built-in champagne cooler to Bugatti’s new 1934 Type 57-inspired hypercar, the super-rich will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing from this list.
While there are many vehicles from some of the industry’s most renowned brands that would be considered ‘expensive’, we’ve chosen to shine the spotlight on five of the most expensive cars and highlight the features which earn their place on the list.
Top 5 Most Expensive Cars in The World
Currently, these are the stunning models topping the world’s most expensive car list. With entries from Rolls-Royce, Bugatti and Pagani, the vehicles in this list offer plenty in the way of elite performance and beautiful vehicle design.
1. Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail – £23.8 Million ($30 Million)
Topping the list at an outrageous 30 mil is La Rose Noire Droptail, which is presented by Rolls-Royce as a piece of driveable art. The model is also a change from the usual 4-seater Rolls-Royce build and instead opts for a roadster-style 2-seater cockpit.
The vehicle itself is stunning, emblazoned with a gorgeous abstract pattern and an interior which incorporates 1,603 pieces of Black Sycamore veneer. That being said, it’s not immediately apparent why La Rose Noire Droptail, beautiful as it is, costs twice as much as its competitors’ most expensive models.
This is because the devil is in the details – details which have been crafted by a single craftsperson who maximises their ability to focus by only working in one-hour stints for a maximum of five hours a day. This personal approach makes every vehicle unique and a product of pure dedication – hence the eyewatering price tag.
Defining Features:
- Breathtaking Black Baccara rose-inspired art across the bodywork
- Light red True Love leather upholstery
- Negative body line with ‘dropping’ rear creates a dramatic appearance
2. Rolls-Royce Boat Tail – £22.2 Million ($28 Million)
The Boat Tail is another entry from the Rolls-Royce Coachbuild range and features an even more elaborate design than La Rose Noire Droptail if you can believe it. The specific functionality we’re referring to is the extendable parasol and built-in champagne cooler fridge. The perfect combination to park up and enjoy a cold glass of bubbly under shelter – just make sure you don’t drive after!
The Boat Tail incorporates the traditional 4-seats included with most Rolls-Royce models and offers the option of a roadster or coupe. In keeping with the Coachbuild design philosophy, the Boat Tail has been crafted by some of the world’s best designers and engineers, creating a completely original vehicle.
Defining Features:
- Built-in parasol and champagne cooler (activated by a single button)
- 2 timepieces which can be worn or displayed on the fascia
- Bodywork inspired by the grace of J-class yachts
3. Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta – £14.6 Million ($18.5 Million)
A stark contrast in design from the Rolls-Royce models, the Zonda HP Barchetta swaps a classy, elegant build for a more fierce and powerful look. Both the front and rear feature CRMO vanadium steel tubes help the chassis cope with the physical demand of hypercar performance.
The appearance of the Zonda HP Barchetta is far from minimalistic with in-built grooves and air vents to maximise airflow. The streamlined design helps it reach a top speed of 221 mph but in truth, this car doesn’t need to move an inch to take your breath away…
Defining Features:
- The roaring twin-turbo V12 engine
- Eye-catching, unique bodywork
- Aura of exclusivity as production was limited to just 3 units
4. Bugatti La Voiture Noire – £12.7 Million ($16 Million)
La Voiture Noire has taken heavy inspiration from the classic TYPE 57 SC Atlantic, however it’s swapped all of the curves and swooped bodywork for a compact and sleek look. This version looks like an iteration of the Batmobile and you can almost feel the energy exuding from the chassis.
The six tailpipes help channel the power of the La Voiture Noire produced by the outrageous 16-cylinder engine. The design shows just how far Bugatti vehicle engineering has come since the original 4 Atlantic models which helped put the brand on the map.
Defining Features:
- Distinct and entirely unique front fascia
- Single-piece carbon fibre bodywork
- 25 individual milled light elements in each headlamp
5. Rolls-Royce Sweptail – £10.1 Million ($12.8 Million)
From the front, the Sweptail doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary but step to the side and you’ll see how the sweeping chassis resembles that of a luxury yacht – a design choice which was popularised by the Mercedes-Benz Maybach. The tail of the vehicle is fully curved giving it a unique and somewhat semi-aquatic appearance.
The interior consists of polished Macassar Ebony and open-pore Paldao, cocooned by an expansive glass roof to create a truly freeing feeling. The craftsmanship of the stunning Sweptail is on full display and the natural light floods in, highlighting all of the artistic details and rich materials.
Defining Features:
- Elegant falling waist-rail
- Moccasin and Dark Spice leather seats
- Champagne bottle & glass holder
Enjoy Affordable Luxury With The JCT600 Used Car Range
I think it would be fair to say that the cars on this list are a little beyond most of our budgets but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get anywhere close to the quality on offer here. If you’re looking for something cutting-edge, we’ve got plenty of new cars to choose from.
That being said, by opting for a used car, you’re able to sample some of the luxury offered by top brands at a more affordable price. All of our used vehicles are thoroughly checked and vetted to make sure that you’re getting the quality you’d expect when treating yourself to a high-end set of wheels.
