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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood addresses rumours Bruno Tonioli is the new Britain's Got Talent judge

Craig Revel Horwood has been quizzed on what he knows about talk that former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Bruno Tonioli is set to join another big Saturday night show. Rumours have been flying about who is set to replace David Walliams on Britain's Got Talent.

It is thought that filming of the auditions for the 2023 series is set to begin next week but there is yet to be any official word on who will be joining Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon on the ITV talent show's panel.

After Alan Carr was tipped to join his pal Amanda on the show, it has now been widely reported that former Strictly judge Bruno is set to replace comedian David. The latter is said to be leaving the show after 10 years as a judge, having first joined the panel in 2012.

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The reports of his departure came after David apologised for making “disrespectful comments” about contestants during breaks in filming the popular show. However, Walliams’ exit and the official 2023 judging line-up have yet to be confirmed by ITV or Britain’s Got Talent

Italian dancer and choreographer Bruno joined Strictly during its debut series but formally left the show as a judge last year because his travel commitments had made it "impossible" to continue. The 67-year-old joined the BBC dance contest during its launch in 2004 alongside the original judges Dame Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Craig.

Speaking about Bruno reportedly joining the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel, Craig told Good Morning Britain presenters and former Strictly Come Dancing alumni Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: "I would love to say he is but I believe he’s up against Alan Carr as well so I think they’re juggling and they’re going to save it as a surprise, so I in fact don’t know.

David is expected to be leaving the ITV show (ITV)

"And Bruno is very secretive with me, darling, so he will never be honest with me or tell me the truth. So I really don’t know. But I would 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 because I think he’d be wonderful to get that energy back on the telly."

In 2020, pandemic travel uncertainty meant Bruno could only appear via video-link to give his verdict on the Strictly performances during the Sunday night results show. And in 2021 he was replaced by long-standing professional dancer Anton Du Beke, who joined the panel alongside Craig, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas.

Announcing his departure in May last year, Bruno said he would instead be concentrating on his other role as a judge on Dancing With The Stars, which films around the same time of year in the US.

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