Postponement

Filming on the ITV show was originally due to start this month, but was pushed back three weeks ago due to the third English lockdown and rising cases.

However, on Friday, the talent show's producers said that "safety has to come first" and called it off until 2022.

They said performers like dance groups, choirs and orchestras wouldn't be able to rehearse and audition safely.

The decision comes only weeks after qualifying events in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania were cancelled, with the remaining spots determined via world ranking points.

The World Youth Cup was scheduled to be held in Suva in June, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands set to represent the Pacific.

But the International Netball Federation said, given the ongoing uncertainty because of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the risk to people's health, restrictions on global travel and quarantine requirements, the decision was made to postpone the event.

The Council took its decision following recommendations from the National Taskforce, which highlighted the uncertainty and the economic impacts the country is facing with the Covid-19 and the TC Harold.

The Government has mandated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to liaise with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on the postponement and negotiate with Fiji to seek a possibility for Vanuatu to host it in 2021.

If Fiji defers from this proposal, then Vanuatu will wait for the next round.