News on Thursday, September 3, 70-Year-old Mandel Revealed That Cowell Was "Just Hours Out of Surgery" at That Point.

He added: "I heard that it was a success, everything's okay. Cowell has undergone a series of operations in recent years after breaking his back in an electric bike accident in 2020. Kenan Thompson filled in for Cowell on the talent show this week, with Heidi Klum set to take his place next week. Mandel joked that he hadn't yet spoken to Cowell because: "I don't know that, this close to surgery, if this is the first thing you need to see.

The comedian added that he "can't wait to see him and visit him and give him my best wishes. Cowell's injuries stopped him from appearing in the 2020 season of Britain's Got Talent, where he was temporarily replaced by previous winner Ashley Banjo. After recovering, Cowell said he was "lucky to survive the ordeal, telling OK! magazine in 2022: I didn't talk about it too much at the time.

I kept a lot back. It was a lot worse than people thought. I had a lot of long-term nerve damage as well.

In 2022, the TV personality had another e-bike crash that saw him hospitalized with a broken arm, badly bruised cheek and possible concussion, though he was released from the hospital that same day. AGT's current season 21 marks Cowell's eleventh season as a judge, though he has been an executive producer since the show's creation in 2006. Hosted by Terry Crews, the show features Cowell alongside Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B. The final competition and finale episode will air September 22 and 23.