bgt© Photo: Rex

See Britain's Got Talent stars' biggest transformations

We're taking a trip down memory lane...

Senior Features Writer
Updated: April 25, 2020
simon cowell before and after© Photo: Rex

Everyone's favourite talent competition is back. Over the years there have been many incredible acts that have won over the judges and viewers' hearts, and even made the royal family laugh and clap at the iconic Royal Variety Performance. Now, on it's fourteenth series, HELLO! are taking a trip down memory lane to find out how much the stars of the show have changed. Click through the gallery to take a look (and try not to feel too old)…

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell has been a judge on the show since it began in 2007- and he's back looking fitter than ever. The music mogul recently revealed that he's lost 20lbs by cutting out sugar, red meat and dairy in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle and stay in shape for his son, Eric. Looking good, Simon!

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Amanda Holden

Fellow long-standing judge Amanda Holden has also been a part of Britain's Got Talent since the show's first series. She'll be joining Simon, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon to judge the show's fourteenth series. Thirteen years after her first stint as judge, Amanda is still making waves with her youthful appearance and jaw-dropping Instagram pictures (we're not jealous at all). While, of course, she looked gorgeous before, we can't help but think she looks even better now.

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Alesha Dixon 

Alesha Dixon has been a judge on the show since 2012. She rose to fame as a member of Mis-Teeq alongside Sabrina Washington and Su-Elise Nash in 1999. Since leaving the band in 2005, Alesha has released several solo albums and acted as a judge on The Greatest Dancer, America's Got Talent and of course - Britain's Got Talent. A lot may have changed since her days in Mis-Teeq, but the mum-of-two is still as beautiful as ever.

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David Walliams

Talk about an overachiever! Since joining Britain's Got Talent in 2012, David Walliams has become the biggest selling children's author to have started writing since the year 2000. When he's not fawning over Simon Cowell, David can be found hosting award shows, taking part in comedy sketches for charity or writing a best-seller. 

Rising to fame for his work on Rock Profile (1999-2000) and Little Britain (2003-2007, 2020), David rarely, if ever, seems to age. 

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Ant and Dec

TV's favourite double act are back this weekend to host the series. The dynamic duo have been the hosts since the show's beginning in 2007 and although Ant McPartlin took a career-hiatus in 2018 following his drink-driving ban, the co-host returned with Declan Donnelly for the show's thirteenth series back in 2019, much to the delight of fans. It's safe to say that over the years, these two haven't aged a day!

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Stephen Mulhern

He's been the star of the sister show, Britain's Got More Talent, since the beginning and Stephen Mulhern loves nothing more than making audiences laugh. Stephen may be a far cry from his baby-faced looks seen here, but the funny man is still looking his best. Although Stephen has not appeared on the fourteenth series, fans of the presenter are calling for his return. 

MORE: Ant and Dec poke fun at Gary Barlow in cheeky post

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Piers Morgan

He's known for sparking controversy on an almost daily basis and while Piers Morgan won't be reprising his role as judge on this series of Britain's Got Talent, we're sure he'll chime in on the debate on who should be crowned 2020's champion. Piers appeared as a judge alongside Simon and Amanda for the first four series of the show, seeing the likes of winner Paul Potts and runner-up Susan Boyle shoot to stardom. After leaving the Saturday night show as a judge, Piers is now the king of daytime TV alongside co-presenter Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain.

MORE: David Walliams shares rare glimpse into his home for this important reason

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Paul Potts

His video was once the fourth most viewed YouTube video in the UK and with over 180 million views, Paul Potts' rendition of Nessun Dorma stands as one of the most iconic auditions of the whole Got Talent franchise.

Paul went on to enjoy huge success after winning the show's first series including a number one album, appearing on global television and even having a film made about his BGT journey starring James Corden

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George Sampson

He was the street dancer who became a teen heartthrob after winning series two of the talent competition in 2008. But now, George Sampson is all grown up and has not only enjoyed a dancing career, but has also dabbled in acting and even started a career as a property developer.

After winning the show and performing at the Royal Variety Performance, George went on to star in West End productions, TV show Waterloo Road and, more recently, appeared on Celebrity Coach Trip.

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Connie Talbot

She may have just missed out on the top spot to Paul Potts in the first series of Britain's Got Talent, but Connie Talbot's first audition was a show-stopper that has gone down in history as one of the best. Connie reduced Amanda Holden to tears with her rendition of Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz which she sang again for the final.

Since her unforgettable performances on the show thirteen years ago, Connie has enjoyed a successful singing career releasing four albums. 

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Diversity

Street dance troupe Diversity sailed through to the final of Britain's Got Talent in 2009. They popped, locked and jumped to become the series champions and have been hugely popular ever since. Eleven years later, they have grown up and enjoyed success as a group and individually.

The group's leader and head choreographer, Ashley Banjo, even went on to become a judge on Sky1's Got to Dance alongside actor and Broadway star Adam Garcia and Pussycat Doll member Kimberley Wyatt.  Diversity's Perri Kiely appeared on Dancing On Ice - where Ashley is also a judge. Making it all the way to the final, he narrowly missed out on first place after Joe Swash was crowned the winner. 

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Jai McDowall

After wowing the then judges Michael McIntyre, David Hasselhoff and Amanda Holden, singer Jai McDowall went on to win series 5 of the show in 2011. After winning the show, along with the prize money and a spot performing at the Royal Variety Performance, Jai went on to perform on the Britain's Got Talent tour, before going on to secure a record deal with Simon Cowell's label, Syco, after which he released his debut album Believe in 2012.

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Ashleigh Butler and Pudsey

Ashleigh Butler and her much-loved dog, Pudsey, auditioned for the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent in 2012. Both the judges and audiences were wowed, with Simon saying: "Pudsey is one of the best dancing dogs I've ever seen." The two continued to impress and were voted all the way through to the final, eventually becoming the champions. Since Pudsey's passing in 2017, Ashleigh is now training alongside her dog, Sully. 

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Collabro

Musical-theatre singing group Collabro received a standing ovation from all four judges for their audition in 2014 after singing Stars from Les Miserables. The group continued to impress and sailed through to the final, becoming the winners of series eight of the show.

Since then, the group went on to release three albums and went on tour. They also appeared on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions in 2019. 

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Richard Jones

Lance Corporal Richard Jones won the tenth series of Britain Got Talent in 2016 after wowing audiences with his show-stopping magic. Prior to working as a magician, Richard performed as a bandsman in the Trooping of the Colour as part of the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.

Richard went on to perform in front of the royal family again, but this time, as a magician at the Royal Variety Performance as the BGT winner. To this day, Richard stands as the only magician to win the British talent competition. 

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Tokio Myers

Pianist and music producer Tokio Myers blew judges away in 2017 during his first audition for the talent competition and went on to become the winner of the series. Since winning, Tokio has enjoyed a hugely successful career, releasing studio albums and going on tour.

But before BGT, Tokio was no stranger to the music industry, and has even supported heavy-weight musicians such as Kanye West and Amy Winehouse on their tours. 

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