ITV has dropped the trailer for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, featuring Simon Cowell as a medieval king, Amanda Holden as an Elizabeth I doppelganger, David Walliams as a mad George III and Alesha Dixon as a frowning Queen Victoria.

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But there’s a huge part of TV royalty missing from the teaser: Ant and Dec, the Geordie presenting duo, who have fronted the series since it began in 2007. With Ant McPartlin “taking time off to seek treatment” after he was arrested – and subsequently charged – for drink driving, it is not yet clear who will present the ITV flagship's live shows.

The trailer itself was shot back in February – before news of the crash broke – and all of BGT’s pre-recorded audition stages were filmed in January and February this year, meaning it’s likely we’ll see Ant and Dec together for the show’s first episodes.

However, Dec may have to present the live shows of the series solo or BGT might opt for an alternative presenter like Dermot O’Leary or Emma Willis.

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Britain’s Got Talent will return Saturday 14th April, with the all-important live shows taking place end of May or beginning of June.

Authors

Thomas LingDigital editor, BBC Science Focus

Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.

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