Simon Cowell will reportedly be forced to sit out of Britain's Got Talent's first ever Christmas edition because of his broken back.

The 60-year-old media mogul suffered the injury last month while testing out a new electric bike at his home in California and as a result had to miss the semi-final stages of BGT as well as the finals of the US version.

ITV is planning to pre-record a festive edition of the show - a non-competitive format featuring performances from previous acts - following the conclusion of this year's series with a live final next month.

Initially it had been hoped that Cowell would be well enough to return for the final and the Christmas special but according to The Sun, he is not yet fit enough to fly back to the UK.

"Simon hoped he'd be well enough to fly from Los Angeles to the UK for the special show but he's had to pull out," a source told the newspaper.

"Plus the new lockdown measures - and him having to fly two weeks before the show so he could quarantine in advance - made it even more difficult for him to make the journey.

"Simon will of course be across the show and what happens on it but this is a massive blow for him as he adores Britain's Got Talent."

Ashley Banjo, who has stood in for Cowell on the semi-finals, will continue as part of the judging panel for the final and the Christmas episode.