Simon Cowell will head the regular panel of judges as they return for a new series of Britain's Got Talent.

Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon will be reunited on the judging panel as they reprise their roles for the tenth series of the ITV variety competition. Ant and Dec will be back to host the show, which will return to screens in 2016.

Cowell said: "I can't believe that in 2016 we are going to celebrate ten series of Britain's Got Talent. So, let's make this a special year and we want the best of the best to come and audition. There will be lots of surprises in store."

Funnyman Walliams added: "I'm so happy to be back with Simon and the girls, especially as we look for our 10th winner. I'm hoping to find something extraordinary."

The current judging panel has remained the same for the past four years, since Dixon and Walliams joined in the sixth series in 2012.

Open auditions for the latest series begin on October 25, taking place in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London, Glasgow and Manchester to find the next winner.

Holden said she "cannot wait" to see what the public have in store, "and what act will surprise me the most", and Dixon added: "It's always exciting to see who or what is going to turn up on stage as there are so many amazing and unusual talents, but to find our 10th winner adds another level of pressure.

"We've had brilliant winners over the years and I hope we can find another incredible act that can really rise to the occasion. We have reached a milestone."

Aspiring acts of any age and talent can apply via www.itv.com/talent and register for one of the audition days.

Dog act Jules and Matisse were crowned champions of this year's series, following Ashleigh and Pudsey in 2012.

Other past winners include singers Susan Boyle and Paul Potts, dance troupes Diversity and Spelbound, and shadow theatre outfit Attraction