'Kelly had to go..it was a disaster'

Piers Morgan reveals truth about that sacking

AXED: Kelly

By Dan Wootton, 25/01/2009

AXED Britain's Got Talent judge Kelly Brook was sacked from the talent show because she was a "disaster", says fellow panellist Piers Morgan.

The model and presenter-hired as a fourth judge for the hit ITV1 series-got the boot after just six days amid massive publicity.

Now co-star Piers admits it was a mistake to hire her and claims boss Simon Cowell was right to act so quickly.

Click here to see more hot photos of Kelly Brook

He said: "I was there all week and I know. This is the biggest show on British television. You don't want to damage the brand trying to flog something that isn't working. In these situations you have to deal with it.

"It would have been worse if we'd got to the end of the audition process and the show wasn't very good. It would have been confusing for the public-which would have been a disaster."

Bitchy

Stunning Kelly, 29, joined the three-strong panel of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers last week. Her suprise hiring led to a flood of stories about rumoured rivalry between the two girls-mirroring what happened when Cheryl Cole joined Dannii Minogue on the X Factor judging panel.

But Piers insisted that NEVER happened. "People are trying to create this huge cat fight between them that didn't exist," he said.

"They are both nice people. Amanda's not a bitchy girl and was cool with Kelly. There was no nonsense between them. It's nothing like what you see on X Factor." He also dismissed claims that Kelly felt isolated on the show. Piers went on: "It's always going to take time to settle in but I think she was made very welcome. No one had a problem with her."

The show just didn't work with four judges, he said. Kelly, previously dropped from Channel 4's Big Breakfast and ITV's Celebrity Love Island, has lived in America for seven years and was unfamiliar with the British show.

Piers, 43, who tried to mentor her, added: "She was a newcomer. Kelly felt very uncomfortable and it didn't seem right to anybody. This was not a decision about whether she was nice or how she looked.

"I felt for her. She got parachuted in at the last minute and she was getting better each day. She could have done the job with a bit more time. It's just that a fourth judge confused everybody." In fact, he said an extra person on the panel wrecked the banter.

"I missed the interaction with Amanda and Simon," he said.

And it slowed the pace of the show and foxed contestants because it meant the votes from four judges could often tie at two a-piece, whereas before, acts only needed two votes to get through to the next round.

Piers said: "No one could work it out. The acts were standing on stage confused. The format didn't work with a fourth judge." It led to a crisis meeting on Monday after which Kelly was axed.

"When things don't go right Simon is quick to deal with it," said Piers. "The producers watched the tapes back from six shows we did and it didn't seem right having a fourth judge."

He added: "I feel very sorry for Kelly. She's upset about leaving. I'm going to have a chat with her and support her. She's a fun, positive girl and I'm sure she'll dust herself down and get on with it."

PIERS will be fronting new show Piers Morgan On . . . which kicks off with Dubai at 9pm on Thursday on ITV1.

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Your comments

This article has 22 comments

it just didnt work
there was no rivelry
she looked great
but was not the best judge cos she kept having to change her mind jus cos the balance was not right
i work with the show its far better left as it is.
there are some great funny acts so make sure you tune in when its on tv x

By neil benfield.. Posted February 1 2009 at 10:39 AM.

She looks great, but that's her job - to look great. I'm sure if the format worked she'd have been kept on, as she's had other presenting work.

I'm no fan of hers, but it seems as if she was the spare one at a wedding - nothing more. Piers did say she was capable and would have done well with more time. Her only mistake was to be one too many. Oh well!

By Ruby.. Posted January 25 2009 at 11:33 PM.

Ah Piers the music pundit, it amazes me that Amanda and Piers are on the show, why not someone who has talent helping out, I have to agree with Sam, lets get Paul Burrell and John Major on, instead! that would liven the show up, yawn...

By Tony.. Posted January 25 2009 at 11:35 PM.

I blame Simon Cowell. Kelly has been a pawn in a ratings war game instigated by a man who has single handedly swamped the airwaves every December with simpering cover versions. The sooner he is an ex-factor the better.

By Fiona.. Posted January 25 2009 at 11:09 PM.

Seems to be a lot of jealous bitchy women leaving comments. Surprising!

By alan.. Posted January 25 2009 at 9:40 PM.

is it just me or is Kelly Brook the absolute image of Edwina Currie-but with long hair???

By rachel.. Posted January 25 2009 at 6:54 PM.

kelly brook must of been born without any brains , terrible presenter and always seems to be the same age

By trace.. Posted January 25 2009 at 2:15 PM.

She was usless as a presenter on MTV,Big Breakfast and Love Island.Was suprise when BGT hired her was´nt suprise when they got rid of her Use your head Simon look at the 4th judge they got on American Idol Talented ,pretty and smart full package all you keep giving us is un talented pretty and usless. Sharon included expt pretted. Amanda pretty smart and talented. Have a word with simon fuller at least he got it right.

By jenny spain.. Posted January 25 2009 at 1:59 PM.

actually jack spratt i think denise van outen might have topped that all kelly brook is famous for is being a model not her talent and the fact that this isnt the 1st show shes been dropped from doesnt say much for her

By jo.. Posted January 25 2009 at 1:16 PM.

I would not take Simon`s opinions too seriously about anyone.
In my mind he lost all credibility when he stood up and applauded Britney Spears on the X Factor. Her `performance` when she mimed would have brought scorn had she been a contestant.
Simon showed himself up as just another sycophant.

By carol ford.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:37 PM.

sorry to see kelly brook as been sacked if they want a very sexy babe they should look at jennifer ellison she as it all very good on the eye with loads of talent the perfect woman for the job what a bit of luck that would be if they got her she would put simon cowell in is place as well so give jen the job simon you know you want the best so phone her

By bermondseyboy.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:33 PM.

I can't understand these "dumb head" comments about Kelly. She had the guts to perform in a west end play recently "Fat Pig". She never fluffed a line and held a yankie accent for 2 hours. To cap it all, the play had an extended run. How many "presenters" can say that. I think none.

By Jack Spratt.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:47 PM.

Shes pretty, but has the personality and talent of a slug, cant stand her personally.

By Anna.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:05 PM.

I am STUNNED they got rid of Kelly and not that Holden idiot. I was sick of seeing her on the screen last series with all the pathetic crocodile tears. She is an absolute nobody, and really is the misfit nobody between Morgan and Cowell.

By Chris J.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:01 PM.

Whilst Kelly is pleasing on the eye, she aint got much talent for TV.

By Lyn Taylor.. Posted January 25 2009 at 10:58 AM.

While Kelly may be a nice looking girl, she has proved on numerous occassions that she can not present her way out of a paper bag and sadly also seems to be a few sheep short in the top paddock.

Dumping her was definitely a smart move(not that i will be watching the show in any event)

By Cam.. Posted January 25 2009 at 10:25 AM.

Didn't anyone see her on Big Breakfast years ago? Very pretty young lady but nowt going on up top!!

By nikki.. Posted January 25 2009 at 9:05 AM.

Kelly has no talent apart from looking good. She stumbled through every presenting job she had so I dont know what Simon was thinking hiring her in the first place?? I cant imagine that anything she had to say was original.

By Shannon.. Posted January 25 2009 at 8:10 AM.

I think the people of the UK need to get out more!

By Arthur De Large.. Posted January 25 2009 at 7:39 AM.

Re: Cyd:
He meant is is the BIGGEST show when it airs on TV. He wasn't talking about it being the biggest show period. Some of you people need to read between the lines!

By Tartan Lassie.. Posted January 25 2009 at 6:46 AM.

I think Piers the discredited journalist and all round ability vacuum adds a touch of irony to this show's title - 'Britain's Got Talent' .... ?

If the story is true poor Kelly must have performed very badly to be considered less 'telly worthy' than our Piers - he must have some serious leverage over Simon from his Daily Mirror days is all I can say.

By sam.. Posted January 25 2009 at 5:49 AM.

And what gives Piers Morgan the qualifications to judge a talent show.

There is no banter between him or Amanda or Simon. He' the Louis Walsh aspect.

And Britain's Got Talent is not the biggest show on tv, Piers..

By cyd.. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:48 AM.

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