ITV has confirmed that the live finals of Britain's Got Talent have been delayed until later in the year because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Last night Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK has entered a state of complete lockdown, restricting movement of individuals for all but essential journeys in an effort to contain the deadly disease.
Most TV productions have either been halted or delayed as a result of the pandemic and now ITV has revealed that the live final stage of Got Talent - normally stripped over a week in May - will instead air at some point in late 2020.
An ITV spokesman said: "The Britain's Got Talent audition shows will broadcast on ITV in the next few weeks.
"We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work, which were due to be broadcast at the end of May.
"However, in light of the latest government health guidelines and in line with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes, production of the live shows cannot go ahead as planned.
"The live finals will therefore be broadcast later in the year."
The network has also delayed the live semi-final and final of this year's The Voice UK until later this year.
Neil Wilkes
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