Bruno Tonioli has reportedly quit 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Bruno Tonioli has reportedly quit Strictly
The 66-year-old choreographer wasn't able to take up his place on the show's judging panel for the 18th and most recent 19th series due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, so he remained in the US, where he judges on 'Dancing with the Stars'.
And it's now been claimed Bruno has left 'Strictly' "for good" after 18 years.
A source told The Daily Mail newspaper's Richard Eden column: "Bruno has quit the show for good.
"He's going to be a judge only on 'Dancing with the Stars' from now on."
Bruno was replaced on the panel by former pro dancer Anton Du Beke last year.
But Anton recently admitted he hasn't been told if he will be re-joining as a judge for this year's series.
He said: "I'm hoping to get a call to say, 'Look, here you go, come back judging please'. But we'll wait and see. I'd like to think I'd be on the show in one way
or another.
"I wouldn't like to think they'd just get rid of me altogether. That would be a bit dramatic to go from dancer to judge to off the show. The truth is I haven't been told."
But fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood - who sits on the panel alongside Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse - recently appeared to confirm Anton would be back this year.
Speaking in April, he said: "I really love Anton. I think he is fantastic. I think last year he did a great job on 'Strictly' as a judge.
"And we have just found out he is going to do it again this year."
This comes after pro dancers Aljaz Skornajec and Oti Mabuse quit the show ahead of this year's 20th series.
A representative for 'Strictly Come Dancing' declined to comment when contacted by BANG Showbiz.
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