Bruno Tonioli, born in Ferrara, Italy, but resident in the UK since the mid-1970s, is a choreographer and dancer who is best known as a flamboyant judge on Strictly\u00a0Come Dancing and its American counterpart, Dancing with the Stars.<\/p>\n
Now he has replaced David Walliams as a judge on the new season of Britain\u2019s Got Talent \u2014 but he hasn\u2019t shut the door on Strictly forever\u2026<\/p>
Ciao, Bruno! What was it like joining Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden on this latest season of Britain\u2019s Got Talent?<\/strong><\/p>\n I had a ball, partly because I had never seen it before. It\u2019s true! Simon has teased me to death about it. I didn\u2019t even watch Strictly \u2013 I don\u2019t watch shows that have a judging panel, because I don\u2019t want to be influenced by another judge. I just want to do my own thing. But I had the best time.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a proper variety show and the range of talent is incredible. Some of the contestants are absolutely demented, I have to say.<\/p>\n Did you have a favourite act?<\/strong><\/p>\n I can\u2019t give away too much, but there is some stuff that will break your heart. And some very, very funny comedians \u2013 I was surprised. Simon and I already think we know who\u2019s going to win, but the competition is stiff. I got far too excited about pressing the Golden Buzzer and had to be restrained. Poor Alesha gradually moved further and further away from me.<\/p>\n Simon and I have known each other forever, but this is the first time we\u2019ve been able to work together. It was such fun. We need some of that in our lives. My job is to help people turn off from the continuous doom and gloom currently surrounding us. There is some outstanding talent in the UK and it should be celebrated, because it\u2019s a huge asset.<\/p>\n You\u2019re a big presence on screen \u2014 are you playing a character?<\/strong><\/p>\n Obviously when you\u2019re on screen, you can\u2019t sit there looking bored. You have to give the viewers a show. You have to entertain them. So I crank up my delivery and become a larger-than-life persona. I draw on my years of experience working with the likes of Elton John and Steve Coogan. I\u2019ve done my homework.<\/p>\n You once described Strictly contestant Anne Widdecombe as dancing like a \u201cDalek in drag\u201d. Do you ever regret making comments like that?<\/strong><\/p>\n If I don\u2019t like what someone is doing, I don\u2019t mince my words. But people have to understand that everything is said within a context. Everyone is so uptight at the moment. They should just chill a bit. I don\u2019t take myself seriously; I can laugh at myself.<\/p>\n Do you collapse in a heap as soon as filming ends?<\/strong><\/p>\n The energy comes automatically during filming, but then I\u2019m dead, absolutely dead. I lost my voice at the end of the first day on Britain\u2019s Got Talent because I didn\u2019t pace myself. I didn\u2019t know that auditions can run for two or three hours. At least I\u2019m a quick learner.<\/p>\n Do you think you got an appropriate send-off from Strictly after 18 years on the show?<\/strong><\/p>\n It happened randomly during the lockdown, but I don\u2019t mind at all. Anton [Du Beke] is doing a great job and it feels right that he should carry on. I went back and sang [Don\u2019t Leave Me This Way by The Communards] for them.<\/p>\n I may never be a Strictly judge again, but I may go back. We\u2019ll always be very good friends. I still get messages from Tess Daly and Craig Revel Horwood. I just couldn\u2019t continue doing both Strictly and Dancing with the Stars.<\/p> ![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2019\/12\/19544794-high_res-strictly-come-dancing-christmas-special-2019-dbda681-scaled.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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