Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has been announced to replace David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent.
The Italian choreographer and dancer joins Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alisha Dixon on the ITV Talent Show judging panel.
This came after The Guardian reported in November that Walliams, 51, was recorded making derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about contestants on the show.
Tonioli, 67, said: i’m so excited. It’s my first show and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m sure it’s going to be great. “
Walliams has been on the jury since 2012, but his position was called into question after The Guardian leaked transcripts of offensive comments made at an audition show at the London Palladium. .
The television personality and children’s writer called one contestant a “slut,” and said of another contestant, “She thinks you want to have sex with her, but you don’t.
At the time, he said in a statement: share it. That said, I’m sorry. “
On Tuesday, the first round of auditions returned to the London Palladium after weeks of speculation that Tonioli would replace Walliam on the panel.
Co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were pictured entering a London theater on Tuesday with Cowell, creator of Britain’s Got Talent.
Tonioli was previously a fan favorite with Strictly Come Dancing after joining the BBC One program in 2004. However, in 2022, it was announced that he would be leaving the celebrity dance competition as his travel commitments made it impossible to continue.
In 2020, due to travel uncertainties due to the pandemic, Tonioli was only able to appear via video link to deliver the verdict on Strictly’s performance on Sunday night’s results show.
Then in 2021, long-time professional dancer Anton du Beek replaced him on the panel with Craig Revel Horwood, Motzi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas.
