Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, Kardinal Offishall, Trish Stratus, and Lindsay Ell Return for Another Exciting Season of Citytv’s Hit Series Canada’s Got Talent

– Filming begins this October in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Visit Citytv.com for details on how to be part of the live studio audience – 
– Media are also invited to attend the live tapings. See below for accreditation contact details – 

Join the conversation: #CGT 

TORONTO (September 14, 2022) Canada’s Got Talent, Citytv’s most-viewed original series in over a decade, gears up for an all-new season, airing and streaming exclusively on Citytv, Citytv.com, and Citytv+ next Spring. Ahead of tonight’s highly-anticipated finale of America’s Got Talent on Citytv, the network announces the return of #CGT’s star-studded judges’ panel – Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, Kardinal Offishall, and Trish Stratus – alongside host Lindsay Ell, which begins production next month in Niagara Falls.

Canada’s Got Talent Season 2, produced in partnership with Fremantle, SYCO Entertainment, and McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc., will film at the brand new OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino. This season will broadcast nine episodes, featuring six audition shows, two semifinals, and a spectacular live two-hour finale. Starting now, the public can sign up to be part of the live studio audience free of charge by visiting Citytv.com.

As one of America’s Got Talent’s star judges with 13 seasons under his belt, Howie Mandel returns to the Canadian judging panel with his infectious energy, warmth, humour, and a keen eye for astonishing talent.

“I couldn’t be more excited. But that being said, I’d love you to read the above paragraph one more time because I love what they said about me,” said Mandel.

Lilly Singh brings hype, creativity and heart back to the judges’ panel with wisdom and advice for Canada’s bright new talents inspired by her own journey to self-made success in the entertainment industry.

“I absolutely loved having a front row seat to watch the brilliant performers throughout season one of Canada’s Got Talent. So excited to be back for more with my fellow judges and can’t wait to see what Canada has to bring for season two!” said Singh.

With his larger-than-life personality and exceptional ability to seek out Canada’s new wave of superstars, Kardinal Offishall is sure to bring a whole lot more of “YESSIR!” to the judges’ panel in Season 2.

“New outlook, (slightly) new hair, new outfit, new executive position, and possibly a new catch phrase! ? I’ve been waiting all year to get back in that chair with my CGT family and see the new crop of incredible (and not so incredible) talent. Let’s goooooo!” said Offishall.

Rounding out the jury is WWE Legend and Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. After being named WWE’s #1 Greatest Female Superstar and performing around the world in front of millions of fans, she knows what it takes to be a top entertainer. Trish returns with the hope of dropping that elbow on the Golden Buzzer after being left STRATUSFIED.

“I’m looking forward jumping back into the judges chair and taking in the awe-inspiring moments of our second season! To know I may have a small part in changing the trajectory of someone’s life is such a special honour. And what I’m most excited about – is dropping that elbow on the golden buzzer again!” said Stratus.

Lindsay Ell, a GOLD-certified, three-time CCMA winner and Juno Award nominee, returns as host for Season 2. After selecting Season 1 Champion Jeanick Fournier as her Golden Buzzer, Ell released her fastest chart-climbing single to date, “Right On Time.”

“It has been a long time coming since Canada has had a household-name talent show. I feel like shows like this are so important to shine a light on all the incredible talent we have in our country. Canada has always been so great at representing so many different cultures, minorities, women, LGBTQIA+ within our beautiful borders, and I feel it’s so crucial to be able to make household names within our country, so acts don’t feel they need to go elsewhere for a spotlight,” explained Ell. “After such a successful first season of Canada’s Got Talent, (where my Golden Buzzer won the whole dang thing!), I couldn’t be happier to be hosting such an incredible show again. It will be an honour to take the stage with Howie, Lilly, Trish and Kardi. I cannot wait to see what Canada has for us this season – I am so ready!”

Fournier won $150,000, courtesy of CIBC, to help realize her ambitions, and the opportunity to perform in the “America’s Got Talent Las Vegas LIVE” stage show at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Created by Simon Cowell, the Got Talent franchise is the most successful reality TV format ever, airing in 194 territories worldwide and holding the Guinness World Records title for the highest number of adaptations, having been commissioned in over 72 territories. Canada’s Got Talent is produced by Fremantle, SYCO Entertainment, McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc., in association with Citytv, a division of Rogers Sports & Media.

Social Media Links
Canada’s Got Talent on Instagram
Canada’s Got Talent on TikTok
Canada’s Got Talent on YouTube
Canada’s Got Talent on Twitter
Canada’s Got Talent on Facebook
Canada’s Got Talent on Snapchap
Hashtag: #CGT
Official CGT Destination: https://CGT.Citytv.com/
Citytv on Instagram
Citytv on Twitter
Citytv on Facebook
Rogers Sports & Media on Twitter

About Citytv
Citytv and Citytv.com offer viewers intensely-local and diverse content through its seven television stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Montreal, along with the award-winning Citytv app, which is available on iOS, Android, Samsung TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV Stick devices, plus Citytv+ available with Prime Video. Citytv delivers an entertaining mix of Canadian and acquired prime-time programming, news, and lifestyle content from influential brands such as Breakfast Television, Cityline, and CityNews. Citytv is part of Rogers Sports & Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI).

About Fremantle
Fremantle is one of the world’s largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of Entertainment, Drama & Film and Documentaries. Operating in 26 territories we are a proudly independent group of content creators. We produce and deliver high-quality multi-genre IP including some of the biggest entertainment formats, most watched international dramas, award winning films and hard-hitting documentaries, amplifying local stories on a global scale. From Too Hot To Handle to Mosquito Coast, Game of Talents to The Hand of God, Farmer Wants A Wife to ‘Got Talent’, Family Feud to My Brilliant Friend and The Investigation to Arctic Drift, our focus is simple – we create and deliver irresistible entertainment.  We are also a world leader in digital and branded entertainment with more than 480 million fans across 1,600 social channels and over 40 billion views per year across all platforms. Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, itself a division of the international media giant Bertelsmann. For more information, please visit Fremantle.com, follow us @FremantleHQ or visit our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

About McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc. 
Established in 2014, McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc. (MEM) is a leading factual, lifestyle and reality production company, creating high-rated, original content for Canadian and US broadcasters. MEM’s strong development slate and accelerated investment continues to answer the rapidly changing needs of broadcasters and streamers, and has resulted in expansive growth, bringing exciting, original content to diverse audiences worldwide. The company is rooted in strong, foundational relationships with strategic partners, buyers, and creatives alike. MEM constantly delivers beyond what’s expected, and ensures its content meets the highest industry and creative standards.

About SYCO Entertainment
Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, is an independent entertainment company which owns TV formats such as “Got Talent” and “The X Factor”. Got Talent is officially the world’s most successful reality TV format; America’s Got Talent remains the No1 summer series in the US for the past 15 years; The X Factor is the most successful music TV format in history delivering more global chart stars than any other show.  These two shows are currently on air in more than 180 countries and are watched by more than a billion people each year. Artists discovered on his TV formats have sold over 600 million records and Simon has launched more superstar careers than any other in history including One Direction, Camila Cabello, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, CNCO, Little Mix, Louis Tomlinson, James Arthur, Paul Potts, and Susan Boyle. During his career and partnership with Sony Music, he also launched Il Divo and Westlife.

Media Contacts
Alessia Staffieri, Citytv, Alessia.Staffieri@rci.rogers.com, 647.262.8412

For Media Accreditation:
Amy Doary, Unit Publicist, amy@adpr.ca, 416.710.6079
Adrienne Kakoullis, Unit Publicist, akakoullis@risepr.ca, 416.450.6637