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.
Breaking News 5 mint ago many peoples 
Firefighters injured in massive chemical plant fire
Over 125 homes and businesses were evacuated.
Firefighters work to put out massive chemical plant fire The fire has been burning for over 24 hours after there was an explosion at the Chemtool Inc. plant in Rockton, Illinois. Two firefighters have suffered minor injuries while battling the flames.
A massive explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant ignited a fire and prompted evacuations Monday, less than a month after the plant was inspected by a federal agency. The fires continued to burn as of Tuesday.
The fire at Chemtool has forced over 125 homes and businesses within a one-mile radius to evacuate as a precaution. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to authorities. All 70 workers were able to get out safely.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
“This is a large-scale operation that\’s going to take some time,” said Rockton Fire Protection District chief Kirk Wilson.
Bob Snyder, the vice president of operations at the parent company Lubrizol Corporation, addressed the fire during a press conference on Tuesday. He said the focus is on the community.
“We\’re going to do everything we can to do the right thing and support, not only Chief Wilson and all the other resources in terms of addressing the fire and affecting the right emergency response, but also in supporting the community in the aftermath of the cleanup,” said Snyder.
“We apologize to the people that had to be evacuated whose property and other things may have been impacted by the fire,” he added.
Overnight, half a million gallons of oil were left to burn amid concerns that using water to extinguish the flames could send runoff into the nearby Rock River. On Tuesday, teams trained in industrial fires set up barriers to protect that water and doused the fire with a special foam to get it under control.
“We are doing everything we can to both suppress the fire, protect our air quality and protect our water quality for the long haul,” said Dr. Sandra Martell, the public health administrator for Winnebago County.
Although the black smoke had mostly cleared from the sky Tuesday, authorities were asking anyone within a 3-miles radius to wear a mask outdoors as officials continued to test the air and water quality.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Prior to the incident, the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed in a statement to ABC News that inspectors from the U.S. Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) had opened a health investigation at Chemtool Inc. in Rockton, Illinois,
As of Tuesday, the OSHA said it’s opened another investigation into what caused Monday’s explosion. No further information will be available on either of the investigations until OHSA has completed its internal investigation, the agency said.
My Neighbor Said My Car Blocked His Decorations, Then Threw Eggs at It! 
My Neighbor Said My Car Blocked His Decorations, Then Threw Eggs at It! Sleep-deprived mom Genevieve is taken aback when she finds her car splattered with eggs. Initially, she assumes it’s just a prank, but her neighbor Brad, with a self-satisfied grin, confesses that he did it because her car was spoiling the sight of his intricate Halloween setup. Fuming yet too drained to engage in a dispute, Genevieve promises to make him understand the consequences.I was utterly exhausted, the sort of fatigue that makes you question whether you’ve even brushed your teeth or taken care of the dog.Since the twins arrived, my days have turned into a whirlwind. Don’t misunderstand me, Lily and Lucas were my precious little ones, but managing two newborns largely on my own was an immense challenge. It had been months since I last experienced a full night’s sleep. Halloween was approaching, and the neighborhood was alive with anticipation, yet I found myself lacking the energy to join in.