Ant and Dec reveal the devious pranks they played on new Britain’s Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli

Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly’mischievously’ presented new Britain’s Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli his own set of rules on his first day to confuse him.

The ITV talent show is ready to return with the former Strictly Come Dancing judge joining the panel with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon, and hosts Ant and Dec couldn’t stop themselves from pulling some cheeky pranks while filming for the forthcoming 16th series.

Dec, 47, said: ‘We, quite mischievously, kept telling him different rules. So when he hit his golden buzzer on the first session of the first day, mid-way through an act, we told him not to worry because he had another golden buzzer tomorrow, and that he had one every day.

‘That might have something to do with the fact we have more golden buzzers this year.

‘We also played a prank on the rest of the judges by going into their room and doing a BGT quiz, but secretly gave Bruno all the answers in advance. That was quite fun to see the look on everyone else’s face.’

Ant, 47, added: ‘Much to Simon’s annoyance that somebody else would win a quiz about his show. He quickly worked out it was a prank and didn’t like it! But we loved it.’

Bruno, who replaced David Walliams on the judging panel, characterised joining the programme as “meeting up with your friends and having a laugh,” but admitted that he was always worried before any events because “I really do care.”

Meanwhile, original judge Amanda, 52, compared having Bruno on the judging panel to “putting a Berocca into water and watching it fizz.”

She said: ‘He gives some good critiques when he’s not messing around and being naughty. I swear we need to strap him to his chair, he never sits down!

‘He’s a sweetheart and very informed, those are the bits that I’m finding really interesting about him.

‘I think he’s still bringing all the energy and character that he had on Strictly, but you get to see more of him because obviously now he’s judging more than just dancing.

‘He also speaks several languages, so it’s been great having him translate for some of our international acts. It’s like having our own BGT interpreter on call every day.’

After seeing a number of professional artists who struggled during lockdown last year, she claimed the talent on the programme this year felt “more homegrown.”

She went on to say that the show has seen more choirs audition than “ever before.”

Alesha, 44, believes a golden buzzer act will win this year but believes it is unfortunate that a woman has not won the competition in a long time.

She added: ‘We need to encourage more women to audition next year. I’m on a mission!’

Last year, comedian Axel Blake was declared the winner, taking home £250,000 as well as a slot on the Royal Variety Performance list.

When discussing the element of surprise at an audition, Simon, 63, spoke to 2009 participant Susan Boyle.

He said: ‘You always hope that you can be surprised. And have people talk about the act afterwards. That’s hugely important. I learned that when Susan Boyle was on the show.

‘How many people spoke about her audition? I think that plays a huge part in the show’s success now, if an audition goes viral, someone’s career can take off.’

Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV1 at 8pm on April 15.