Simon Cowell to Return as Judge of BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

According to the Hollywoodreporter.com, TV mogel Simon Cowell will be returning to the British talent competition 'Britain's Got Talent' in the Spring.  Cowell announced that he will be returning in the role of a full-time judge for the upcoming season of the show which is broadcast on ITV. Ratings for the show saw a significant decline last season without the presense of Cowell in the judge's seat. 

The star of Fox's The X Factor will be joined by fellow judges Alesha Dixon and 'Little Britain' star David Walliams. David Hasselfoff and Michael McIntyre, who served as judges in the past season of the show, will not be returning to their posts, however Amanda Holden will remain on board. 

In announcing his decision to return to the show, Cowell admitted, "I miss Britain and I miss the British public and I miss judging them. I want to find the next generation of talent in 2012. By coming back in 2012, it's the year of the Olympics, it's a big year for Britain, we are going to be in the world's spotlight and I want this show to be back in the world spotlight."

Cowell will chip in his own money to up the competition's prize money to $820,000, doubling the amount of earnings of last year's winner. He believes a larger cash prize will attract more viewers to the talent show. Commented Cowell, [I have to] "put my money where my mouth is, so I'm personally putting up £250,000, so that's £500,000 cash to the winner, so that's a big incentive."

In addition to an increased grand prize, Cowell hopes to see other changes in the show, "I want to change the perception of the show," he explained. "I love originality, I love great singers, I love great comedians. I love things I've never seen before. Everyone thinks I hate magicians, well I hate bad magicians, but I'd love to find a great magician. I'd like to find the next Nsync or the next Backstreet Boys, the next Justin Bieber. I've always dreamt about finding a dog who can play guitar. And we've failed. So I want talented dogs. I really want one that can dance or can play an instrument."

Auditions for Britain's Got Talent get underway on January 22nd. 

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