Simon Cowell: I feel like Frankenstein and his monster with David Walliams

The pair have a long-running jokey partnership as judges on the ITV talent contest and Simon said in a promo video for the new series launch that he was regretting letting David become quite such a big star.

He said of his judging panel, which also includes Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden: “We get on really well – David can be a pain. I feel a little bit like Frankenstein and the monster. He’s getting bigger and his ego’s getting bigger, and he is literally uncontrollable.”

However, David isn’t expected at this afternoon’s launch of the new series as he is thought to be on a family holiday.

A BGT spokesman confirmed: “David will be not be attending the press launch as he will be away. This is a pre-existing engagement which was booked before the date of the launch was set.”

Reports in early March alleged that David and his model wife, Lara Stone, who he has a son with, were “on a break”, but neither of their representatives have confirmed this.

BGT also released trailers of the other judges discussing each other:

Simon explained his notoriously high standards in letting contestants through to the next round.

He said: “I think I have higher standards than the other three, that’s for sure. Sometimes I look at something and I think it’s just a pale imitation of what we’ve seen before.

“Particularly with the dog acts, when you’ve had an act as good as Ashleigh and Pudsey who were famous all over the world, some of the dog acts I’ve seen on the show this year… It’s not just that the dogs aren’t very good, the owners are terrible. They’re just really boring.

“There are a lot of people now who think just because they’re going to sing opera, we’re all going to jump out of our chairs. And we’re not, unless you are amazing. The audience at home, they feel the same way.”

Asked why BGT, which is heading into its ninth series, was still so popular, he replied: “Certain shows I feel are more about a judge’s career than the talent. Not mine. Our shows are about the moment a star is born.

“I keep referring back to Susan Boyle because it’s the best example I can give. If you remember watching that first audition, you’re watching somebody’s life change forever, and I think that is intoxicating.

“I love that and I loved it with Ashleigh and Pudsey, and Diversity, Paul Potts. They’re magic moments and you’re going to see a lot of those this year.”