Alesha Dixon got offered the job of being Australia's Got Talent's new judge, but she wasn’t the first choice.
The Strictly Come Dancing on Ice winner got offered the position Down under when Amanda Holden rejected the role.
Amanda, who has been a judge on BGT since the very first series and the only one to take part in every year since, wanted to focus on her projects in the UK.
A TV insider explained: "Amanda was the first choice for Australia's Got Talent and she had a series of meetings but logistically she just could not make it work.
"Her daughters are in school here so even if she didn't have work commitments, it would have been difficult to be away from them."
"Although Alesha wasn't who they wanted originally, she has secured a lucrative contract and it's a good deal which will really heighten her career Down Under," they continued to The Sun .
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Amanda and Alesha have been judges on Britain's Got Talent together for the past ten years after Alesha joined the panel in 2012.
However, Alesha Dixon and her family were forced to return to the UK after the show was indefinitely cancelled thanks to a Covid outbreak in Sydney, and a subsequent statewide lockdown.
It was a devastating blow to Alesha, 42, and her husband Azuka, and their daughters Azura, seven, and Anaya, one, as the foursome exited a two-week quarantine stint in Oz.
Alesha said at the time of the announcement: "I'm super excited to be joining the panel at AGT.
"I can’t wait to see what talent Australia has to give and I’m really looking forward to working with my fellow judges."
Unfortunately though, she never got the chance to join the Australian panel.
Hello! Reported that a spokesperson for production company Seven - that make AGT - said: "Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in Sydney, we have decided to postpone production of the new season of AGT to a date to be determined.
"A studio audience is a vitally important part of this much-loved show, so we have made the responsible but tough call to not go ahead for now."
A representative on behalf of Alesha told the Mirror: "Obviously its extremely disappointing that filming of the show has been postponed due to the outbreak of covid in Australia, but the safety of the audience, talent and crew is the priority.
"The production team from AGT have been fantastic and looked at every option to try and make the show work, but unfortunately it’s impossible to do it and keep everyone safe. I look forward to returning once it is safe to do so.
"I’d like to thank the fantastic team at Seven network for looking after us so well and making me feel so welcome in Australia."
It was recently revealed that Amanda Holden, who was initially approached about AGT, was extremely worried about sacrificing her family life in exchange for her career, hence why she put the brakes on the show.
A source told Closer magazine : “Amanda loves her glamorous life and her kids are so proud of her.
“But she craves the small things – she’d rather be at the dinner table with them every night catching up on their day than on set in hair and make-up.
“That said, she also knows how incredibly lucky she is to have her career and an understanding family.”
