Bruno Tonioli backs Kara Tointon for Strictly panel

Bruno Tonioli wants former winner Kara Tointon to replace Alesha Dixon on the 'Strictly Come Dancing' judging panel.

Bruno Tonioli wants Kara Tointon to replace Alesha Dixon on the 'Strictly Come Dancing' judging panel.

The 56-year-old judge is backing the former 'EastEnders' actress - who won the BBC One show alongside Artem Chingvintsev in 2010 - or ex 'Strictly' champion Jill Halfpenny to fill the shoes of Alesha after she quit the series to join the judging panel of ITV1's 'Britain's Got Talent'.

He said: "I think Kara would be very good as a replacement as she is a ¬champion and feisty. Jill Halfpenny would also be very good for the same reasons.

"I'm surprised Alesha quit, but that's the industry and I think she will be great on Britain's Got Talent. We'll carry on and we will come back bigger and better than ever.

"I don't think a decision will be made until June or July when we have regrouped."

However, Bruno - who is also joined on the judging panel by Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood - warned the job isn't as easy as it may look.

He told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "Judging is not as easy as it seems. There is a funny idea that we all just sit there and then say whatever comes in to our minds.

"But you actually only have a very short space of time in which to make your point, make an -impression and try to make it entertaining. A lot of people fail at it."