When Will Simon Cowell Return to 'AGT' After Bike Accident?

America's Got Talent looks very different this year due to social distancing measures, but the drive-in movie-style set-up of the NBC show is not the only big change when its first live episodes air this Tuesday (August 11). Simon Cowell will not appear in these episodes after he broke his back and underwent five-hour surgery which he needs to recover from.

NBC has confirmed that Cowell will be absent for at least the first two live episodes—the live show on Tuesday, August 11, and the results show on Wednesday, August 12. This means that the earliest Cowell will appear on AGT is the second live show on Tuesday, August 18, though he has not yet confirmed whether he will appear, and his return will surely depend on the success of his recovery.

On August 10, the America's Got Talent creator tweeted: "Some good advice...
If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time.
I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages."

He then tweeted: "And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Stay safe everyone. Simon."

According to a source speaking to People Magazine, Cowell had surgery on the evening of August 9, which saw surgeons put a metal rod in his back. The source said: "He landed on his back when he fell from the bike. The injuries are bad but he's also been told he was lucky."

A source, meanwhile, told The Sun, "it'll be several weeks for the bruising and swelling to go down and then we'll know how serious the lasting effects could be."

It seems that, rather than temporarily replace Cowell on the AGT panel, the show will just go ahead with the three judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. This was hinted by an Instagram post by Vergara, which featured herself, Klum, and Mandel plus an empty chair where Cowell would be sitting.

She captioned this: "We miss our boss!! Come back fast @simoncowell!! [two ambulance emojis]"

Cowell is not the only judge who has had to skip some of America's Got Talent Season 15. During the auditions, Klum had to take some time off for an illness she denied was the coronavirus. During this time, the Making the Cut host was replaced on the AGT guest judge panel by Vergara's former Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet.

Leading the get well soon messages to Cowell was his Britain's Got Talent co-judge, Amanda Holden. She tweeted: "I've been thinking about my dear friend all day and luckily I'm able to write that he's had his operation and he's doing really well [praying hands emoji] My family and I wish you a speedy recovery and send you, [his partner] Lauren and [his son] Eric all our love."