Heidi Klum called on ex Seal to step in as talent show judge

Heidi Klum persuaded her ex Seal to join her on TV show America's Got Talent when another celebrity judge pulled out at the last minute.

The former couple reunited for the audition rounds of the show, which returns to TV with new host Tyra Banks this summer (17).

"We always have guest judges for the middle rounds and our guest judge that we had for one of the days canceled and we were like, 'What are we gonna do?'" Heidi recalls. "I said, 'Call Seal, I know he's in town'."

And she's glad producers reached out to her ex-husband, because he was brilliant on the show.

"He was fantastic," she tells Access Hollywood Live. "I have to say he was the best guest judge we have ever had.

"He gave amazing advice, he's so articulate... It was great."

Klum reveals Seal's guest spot marked the first time the former couple has worked together, but it was great for their kids to see mom and dad having fun.

"All the kids were there," she adds. "In between (filming) they came on to the desk and pushed the buzzer... It was fun for them."

Meanwhile, after having gone through her own painful divorce and come out the other side, Heidi is offering her support to fellow AGT judge Mel B, who split from her husband Stephen Belafonte earlier this year (17).

"I think that sometimes when you have a hard period in your life, the best thing is being busy and working, and having these crazy people onstage... doing crazy things, it just makes you laugh all day," Heidi tells the news show. "I think that's the best thing to kind of (help you) forget about your day-to-day worries and things that you have going on.

"We go way back... we're very close."