THIS IS ME
Declan Donnelly makes spectacular solo entrance to Britain’s Got Talent as he drops in from the ceiling in The Greatest Showman-themed routine to host without Ant McPartlin
DECLAN Donnelly made a spectacular solo entrance to Britain's Got Talent to host for first time without Ant McPartlin.
He dropped in from the ceiling after Diversity kicked off the live finals with a performance from the The Greatest Showman.
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Dec was sat in a hoop to be brought down onto the stage for the start of the show, which judge Simon Cowell praised as "unbelievable".
But moments later BGT was forced off air after a technical blunder.
It is the first time the show has come from the Hammersmith Apollo instead of a TV studio.
Dec blamed the bad weather before Simon cut in and said: "Ant you are coming back next year, you don't have to do that."
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Opening the show, Dec said: "Welcome to the Hammersmith Apollo, our brand new home.
"We may have anew home but rest assured nothing else has changed.
"The talent is as good as ever, the judges are exactly the same and the presenters...
"Well let's not dwell on that, let's just get on with the show."
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Viewers were left looking at a blank screen after the show disappeared from the air waves due to a fault.
An ITV announcer said: "We're having some issues - we hope to return to the show as soon as possible.
"We hope to return as soon as possible and we are working to fix the issue."
Bosses had to show old footage of the auditions to fill the gap.
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Ant chose to step out of the public eye following a three-car smash in Richmond, London, in March.
He was later fined £86,000 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
In the past few weeks he’s quit the rented home he has lived in since splitting from wife Lisa and moved into a £4.5million mansion.
He is continuing his recovery eight miles away from his former home.
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ITV experiences some technical issues because of the weather in London during Britain's Got Talent first live show