Britain’s Got Talent viewers were baffled by Simon Cowell’s appearance during the launch episode of the new series on Saturday.

The music boss, 64, appeared fresh faced but his smooth visage prompted some show fans to question if he’d actually had a reaction to something.

He also attracted attention for his orange tinted glasses which he wore throughout the programme, prompting the TV audience at home to comparing him to U2 rocker Bono and singer Anastacia.

 

BGT viewers took to social media after he appeared on screen to react to his looks.

One person wrote: ‘Simon Cowell looks like he’s had an allergy attack.’

Britain's Got Talent viewers were baffled by Simon Cowell's appearance during the launch episode of the new series on Saturday
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Britain’s Got Talent viewers were baffled by Simon Cowell’s appearance during the launch episode of the new series on Saturday

He also attracted attention for his orange tinted glasses which he wore throughout the programme, prompting the TV audience at home to comparing him to U2 rocker (Bono pictured in 2007)
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He also attracted attention for his orange tinted glasses which he wore throughout the programme, prompting the TV audience at home to comparing him to U2 rocker (Bono pictured in 2007)

While someone else questioned: ‘Simon Cowell wasn’t even that bad looking, why the f**k did he do that to himself?!’

‘Simon Cowell looks like someone did a photo-fit of him then glued it to his actual face,’ noted another viewer.

While another show fan pondered: ‘Simon Cowell is rich as f**k why does he look like that?’

Comparing to U2 frontman Bono, someone else posted: ‘Simon looks like Bono with them glasses on.’

While another person asked: ‘Is Simon cosplaying as Bono?’

Comparing him to American singer Anatacia, one other person wrote: ‘When the f**k did Simon Cowell morph into Anastacia?’

The talent-show judge and music industry titan has been suffering from migraines ‘for years’ and has found previously that time under bright studio lighting can make things worse.

Last summer he bought himself a cheap pair of ‘blue light filter’ glasses to see if they helped. He has been so impressed that they are now a constant fixture.

The music boss, 64, appeared fresh faced but his smooth visage prompted some show fans to question if he'd actually had a reaction to something
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The music boss, 64, appeared fresh faced but his smooth visage prompted some show fans to question if he’d actually had a reaction to something

Simon was also compared to American singer Anastacia who has been known to wear orange glasses (pictured in 2002)
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Simon was also compared to American singer Anastacia who has been known to wear orange glasses (pictured in 2002)

BGT viewers took to social media after he appeared on screen to react to head judge Simon's looks

BGT viewers took to social media after he appeared on screen to react to head judge Simon’s looks

They weren’t suggested to him by an expert as there is no scientific basis for the use of tinted glasses for eye health but they are widely popular.

When filming Britain’s Got Talent auditions in London in February, he missed the final two auditions of the day due to the sudden onset of a migraine.

A friend said: ‘Reports said that it was a ‘mystery illness but it was simply a migraine. He was recovered by the next day and was back at work.’

The friend added that he wears the glasses in a mostly successful bid to stave off headaches. He said: ‘He swears by them and says that they make a huge difference.’

Eyebrows were raised when Cowell first started wearing the glasses while filming America’s Got Talent in September 2023.

He explained on the red carpet: “Everything looks better. You look amazing! And you know what, it cuts out all the blue light on computers and iPads. I have lights in my face when I am filming so this cuts out a lot of that.’

The College of Optometrists states: ‘The best scientific evidence currently available does not support the use of blue-blocking spectacle lenses in the general population to improve visual performance, alleviate the symptoms of eye fatigue or visual discomfort, improve sleep quality or conserve macular health.’

Britain’s Got Talent returned with an explosive launch episode which saw a singer and a South Korean martial arts troupe both awarded the coveted golden buzzer on Saturday.

Simon missed two Britain's Got Talent auditions earlier this year due to sudden headache attacks (pictured in January)
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Simon missed two Britain’s Got Talent auditions earlier this year due to sudden headache attacks (pictured in January)

The music and television boss purchased the orange sunglasses from Amazon for £19.98 in a bid to stop his headaches
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The music and television boss purchased the orange sunglasses from Amazon for £19.98 in a bid to stop his headaches

Bubbly singer Sydnie Christmas, 28, dazzled the judges with her voice, while Ssaulabi Performance Troupe impressed with their taekwondo skills during the first episode of the ITV’s show 17th series.

The first show of the double-bill weekend also saw unusual singers, astounding dogs and a peppy cheer squad take to the stage in a bid to impress the judges Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli.

Singer Sydnie, from Kent, grabbed the judges’ and audience’s attention immediately with her cheerful attitude and quick humour.

She revealed she had moved to London and currently works at a gym, but her dream was to perform in the West End.

However, she had an uphill battle on her hands as it was revealed that Simon was not a fan of her song choice – Tomorrow from the musical Annie.

Following a powerful and emotional rendition of the ballad, she received uproarious applause from the audience and all the judges gave her a standing ovation.

Amanda praised her saying: ‘What struck me so much about you is just how naturally funny, how warm, how brilliant your presence was the minute you walked on the stage.

‘How you were entertaining everyone but then you brought us the most heartfelt, beautiful version of that song.’

Singer Sydnie Christmas, from Kent, grabbed the judges' and audience's attention immediately with her cheerful attitude and quick humour
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Singer Sydnie Christmas, from Kent, grabbed the judges’ and audience’s attention immediately with her cheerful attitude and quick humour

Following a powerful and emotional rendition of the ballad, she received uproarious applause from the audience and all the judges gave her a standing ovation
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Following a powerful and emotional rendition of the ballad, she received uproarious applause from the audience and all the judges gave her a standing ovation

Later in the episode, Ssaulabi Performance Troupe revealed they had travelled all the way from South Korea to show off their martial arts skills
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Later in the episode, Ssaulabi Performance Troupe revealed they had travelled all the way from South Korea to show off their martial arts skills

She added that it was the ‘best version’ of the song she had ever heard before awarding her a golden buzzer, causing Sydnie to fall to her knees.

Simon also confirmed she had won him over as he said: ‘That reaction we just had in the room is rare…

‘Everyone’s aware it’s tough to get that break for something which you really love. You so deserve what you just got. Your control was amazing.

‘I used to hate that song and now I absolutely love it.’

Later in the episode, Ssaulabi Performance Troupe revealed they had travelled all the way from South Korea to show off their martial arts skills.

The lively taekwondo routine by the group, aged 19 to 23, saw them perform dramatic somersaults and flips as they broke planks of wood with their hands and feet.

At one stage a member of the troupe performed pirouettes while continuously breaking planks of wood, and at various other points, a member would be flung up into the air so they could kick another series of planks.

Hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly appeared amazed throughout the routine and at the end, they rushed to the judging panel to award the troupe their golden buzzer.

Lucy Heath returned to the show after previously getting through to the live final in 2016 with her dog Trip Hazard
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Lucy Heath returned to the show after previously getting through to the live final in 2016 with her dog Trip Hazard

This time round she upped the ante by bringing on four dogs as part of her The Trickstars act, which got the judges' tails wagging and secured her four yeses
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This time round she upped the ante by bringing on four dogs as part of her The Trickstars act, which got the judges’ tails wagging and secured her four yeses

Judge Bruno said the ‘power, the beauty and the artistry’ of their routine blew everything he had seen before ‘out of the water’, while Alesha praised their ‘discipline hard work and dedication’.

The judges previously revealed that nine golden buzzers will be awarded this series, breaking their usual one-per-person limit.

Elsewhere in the episode, a singing group named Rask AI had the judges in fits of laughter as they used artificial technology to superimpose the judge’s heads onto characters from the hit 2017 film The Greatest Showman.

Simon’s face was used for ringleader PT Barnum, Amanda for the bearded lady, Alesha for the acrobat and Bruno as the strong man.

The act got four yeses as Alesha described it as ‘absolute madness’ and Simon said it was ‘genius’.

Viewers also got a dose of cheer from Lady Grenades, a cheerleading team made up of athletes from around the country aged from 13 to 19.

Their high-energy routine to 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) by US superstar Lizzo – which featured flips, dips and dramatic lifts – secured them a full stack of yeses.

The opening episode also featured several acts who put an unusual twist on their performance, including 34-year-old Kimberley Winter who travelled from America to audition for Britain’s Got Talent.

The opening episode also featured several acts who put an unusual twist on their performance, including 34-year-old Kimberley Winter who travelled from America
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The opening episode also featured several acts who put an unusual twist on their performance, including 34-year-old Kimberley Winter who travelled from America

The judges initially thought she was going to sing a rendition of an Abba classic, but instead she burped her way through the number, shocking the judges
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The judges initially thought she was going to sing a rendition of an Abba classic, but instead she burped her way through the number, shocking the judges

The judges initially thought she was going to sing a rendition of an Abba classic, but instead she burped her way through the number.

Alesha and Bruno appeared disgusted by the routine, but Amanda and Simon were impressed by her unusual talent.

After some convincing by the others, Bruno changed his vote to a yes as he said he could not ‘possibly imagine how you’re going to outgross this grossness’.

Music teacher Mike Woodhams, 37, also surprised the judges when what they thought would be a typical singing act, was actually a series of impersonations of famous vocalists.

Among the collection was a note-perfect rendition of James Blunt’s hit You’re Beautiful, a cover of Anastacia’s I’m Outta Love featuring similar coloured glasses to ones in her music video, and Macy Gray’s I Try, which saw him produce flowers from his back pocket as seen in song’s accompanying video.

Bruno said the vocal impressions by the singer from Milton Keynes were the best he had heard in a ‘very long time’.

Meanwhile, 38-year-old Lucy Heath returned to the show after previously getting through to the live final in 2016 with her dog Trip Hazard.

This time round she upped the ante by bringing on four dogs as part of her The Trickstars act, which got the judges’ tails wagging and secured her four yeses.

Music teacher Mike Woodhams, 37, also surprised the judges when what they thought would be a typical singing act, was actually a series of impersonations of famous vocalists
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Music teacher Mike Woodhams, 37, also surprised the judges when what they thought would be a typical singing act, was actually a series of impersonations of famous vocalists

The launch show also featured a series of more off-the-wall acts including trumpet player Dennis Frere-Smith, 64, who played a number of odd objects including a hosepipe during his audition.

While stand-up comedian Bobby Goldfinn performed a fish-inspired routine which consisted of him instantly forgetting he had started, as well as ‘forgetting’ that he had even done the audition as he returned to the stage several more times throughout the episode.

The competition this year kicks off with a double bill weekend on Saturday and Sunday when the first set of brave contestants take to the stage in the hope of securing a £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.