Simon Cowell has reportedly agreed a deal with ITV to make a special festive edition of Britain's Got Talent this year.

BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing normally airs a Christmas episode every year but that has been cancelled this year due to coronavirus, leaving an opportunity for ITV to capitalise on its absence.

According to The Mirror, the Christmas edition of BGT will be pre-recorded after the final of the regular series airs in the middle of October.

The episode will adopt a non-competitive format and instead feature some of the most memorable and successful acts from the show's 14 series, which could include Susan Boyle and first ever winner Paul Potts.

"Simon has not done Christmas before and ITV jumped at the chance to put Britain's Got Talent at the very heart of their festive schedule," a source told the newspaper.

"It does huge ratings, so why not unleash it at a different time of year to mix things up a bit?

"The show will be a jam-packed full of Christmas cheer and music. It will not be a competition as such but a celebration of the show."

Cowell has been absent from the semi-finals of this year's series after breaking his back in California last month but is hoping to be fit enough to appear on both the final of the regular series and the Christmas special.