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Kelly Brook axed as Britain's Got Talent Judge
Updated 11:36am on 20 Jan 2009Kelly Brook has been axed from the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent - just six days after she was hired.
The 29-year-old model and actress had signed a £200,000 contract to join judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan to add some glitz to the ITV show.
But she has been ditched after the first round of auditions following an "almighty row" when bosses decided she was out of her depth.
Officially ITV said a four-person line-up slowed down the pace of the prime-time talent show, where the winner gets £100,000 and the chanc e to pe r form for the Queen.
But insiders said it was evident during last week's auditions in Manchester that the former Big Breakfast presenter was struggling to match the cutting wits of Cowell and Morgan.
One said: "Kelly simply didn't have what it takes. She came breezing in and Amanda, in particular, was very worried.
"But as soon as the first act came in it was clear she wasn't ready.
Simon and the producers tried to give her advice, but it didn't seem to work.
"She got very stressed and upset as she thought people were having a go and that just made her more nervous. It was downhill from there."
Brook, who is dating 21-year-old England rugby star Danny Cipriani, is said to be furious at her dismissal. Her spokesman refused to comment, saying she was concentrating on other projects.
Cowell said in a statement: 'I have genuinely enjoyed working with Kelly, she is absolutely lovely and a complete professional.
"But it's become clear the format doesn' t support another judge and we will never add a fourth judge to the panel."
Reader views (7)
Surely if your going to be a judge on BGT you should at least have talent your sef?
Sorry kelly but looking good and striking a pose just aint a talent...Amanda Holden whats her talent?? please hold back those crocodile tears this year they annoyed me big time....
- Nicole, Scotland, 23/01/2009 13:47
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So Kelly was just as terrible as she was on the Big Breakfast, what a surprise, although I find it hard to believe that she was any less inane than Amanda Holden whose main contribution on the last series seemed to be "I just don't know what to say..".
- H, Essex, 21/01/2009 10:31
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Britain might have talent but lets face it....Kelly doesn't!!
- Kazza, Paddington, London, 21/01/2009 09:41
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During her recent west end run in the play Fat Pig, Kelly was interviewed in the same week by the Times, Guardian and Independent. I thought she was moving her career on but I suppose Simple Simon's offer was too good to miss. Frankly I am glad I will be spared from watching this show and listening to the inane comments which are meant to be witty but also constructive. Kelly brought huge publicity to this show and now all we have is the old jaded formula, no thanks.
- Jack Thompson, Richmond, England, 20/01/2009 15:54
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"...cutting wits of Cowell and Morgan " Someone's having a laugh surely.
- Tania, London, 20/01/2009 13:56
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The format doesn't support a fourth judge? What on earth does that mean? If X Factor supports four then why not BGT?
Why won't they just admit she was rubbish? They don't seem to have any trouble telling contestants "the truth".
I thought Simon prided himself on being honest.
- Kate, London, 20/01/2009 12:37
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I'm glad Kelly isn't involved - she's beautiful and has fabulous dress sense but is a complete air head with one of the most annoying laughs I've ever heard on TV.
- Isabel, Woking, 20/01/2009 10:21
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