After weeks of speculation, Bruno Tonioli has finally been confirmed to join the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel, with David Walliams formally stepping away from the ITV show.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly welcomed the newcomer into the auditorium with his colleagues judges during the taping of the first audition programme.
In a video shared on social media by an audience member, Ant said: ‘Here they come!’ as the names of the judges descended from above the stage.
Dec announced, ‘Please offer a hearty London Palladium welcome to the four judges for this afternoon: Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli!’ The audience gasped and cheered as they saw the former Strictly Come Dancing judge’s name below the large X.
The four judges then entered to the strains of Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, with Bruno making his BGT debut in a sparkling red blazer.
‘Can we say a big hello to Bruno?’ ‘Thank you very much,’ Ant added as Bruno grabbed up a microphone to answer. ‘I am overjoyed to be here.’
‘Look at these girls, they’re stunning!’ he exclaimed, motioning to Amanda and Alesha, adding that it was a ‘honour’ to ‘finally’ work with friend Simon.
‘He’s been making fun of me with this for years. Years and years and years, and I have to tell you, honestly, I’m glad to be here,’ he said before having his first go at pressing his doorbell with Alesha’s support.
Bruno was first mentioned in connection with the competition series earlier this month, when it was reported that executives had lined up both him and comedian Alan Carr, 46, for the part.
Rumours began to circulate that the professional dancer had secured the role following rumours that Walliams was departing the programme after ten years.
Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent after publicly apologising in November for making ‘disrespectful comments’ about candidates during commercial breaks.
‘These were private chats and, like most conversations with friends, were never intended to be public,’ he said at the time. Nevertheless, I am sorry.’
Before the news leaked, socialite Lizzy Cundy revealed Bruno’s new position on Instagram.
Taking to Instagram to congratulate her buddy, she wrote: ‘Good luck today to my dearest friend @brunotonioliofficial. From one big TV show to the next… he will undoubtedly deliver the fun factor! ‘I am so proud of you, my friend.’ (sic)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnzACH-MiOH
Last week, Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing stated that the producers of Britain’s Got Talent were keeping Bruno’s successor a secret.
On Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain, he was questioned by presenter Susanna Reid if he could confirm or refute claims that his former co-star had joined the renowned competition series.
‘I would love to say he is, but I believe he is up against Alan Carr as well,’ he said.
‘I think they’re juggling and they [bosses] are going to save it as a surprise, so I in fact don’t know.’
Craig continued: ‘Bruno is very secretive with me, darling, he will never be honest with me or tell me the truth, so I really don’t know, but I’d love to see Bruno back on our screens and I think it’s a great position to have, so I wish him all the very best if he is in the running for it.’
Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV later this year.
