David Gest turned down BGT role

David Gest turned down the chance to judge 'Britain's Got Talent'.

The music producer was offered the chance to be one of the original panellists on the programme - with the roles eventually going to show creator Simon Cowell, actress Amanda Holden and former journalist Piers Morgan - when it launched in 2007.

However, he acknowledges he made the "wrong" decision when he turned it down in favour of judging flop show 'Grease is the Word', which searched for lead actors to star in West End show 'Grease!'.

He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: I did 'Grease is the Word' and 'Soapstar Superstar'. Simon signed me on a very lucrative deal. He gave me a choice between 'Grease is the Word', which was four months or one week on a little show called 'Britain's Got Talent'. I picked the wrong one."

While David missed out on a slot on the 'Britain's Got Talent' panel, the former 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!' star is currently busy working with musical legend Cliff Richard and producer Lamont Dozier on a new Motown-inspired album.

The venture was suggested by TV presenter Gloria Hunniford after David appeared on an episode of her TV show 'Celebrity Cash in the Attic'.

He said: "This all came together when Gloria and I were doing 'Celebrity Cash In The Attic'. She said, 'You should do something with Cliff Richard, do something unique'."