It’s official.. Anton is IN, Bruno is OUT
Strictly dancer turned judge gets gig
ANTON Du Beke has waltzed into a permanent spot on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel – with Bruno Tonioli off the show for good.
The BBC confirmed last night that the Italian judge would be replaced by former professional dancer Anton for the show’s 20th series.
Bruno, 66, appeared on Strictly from 2004 to 2019 but the pandemic prevented him from travelling to the UK from his home in the US.
Last night the BBC said Anton, 55, was “taking up residency” on the hit Saturday night show from the autumn, after his successful first stint last year. Celebrating his return, Anton joked he now knows how it feels to reach the final like Giovanni Pernice, who won last year.
He declared: “Woohooo! This is brilliant news. Everyone knows how much I absolutely love the show and I’m utterly delighted to be continuing as a regular judge.
‘And I get to make the final again – now I know how Giovanni feels.”
Bruno said it was “impossible” for him to guarantee he would make it over the Atlantic every week.
He said the US version of the show, Dancing with the Stars, was shifting to a new channel which also complicated the situation. “I think Anton has done a very good job – he deserves to be there,” he said. “He has all my support.”
Speaking on The One Show last night, Bruno said head judge Shirley Ballas, 61, would be “safer” with Anton next to her, because she would suffer less bruising from his trademark flailing arms as he gave his feedback.
And he said he may yet return for the UK’s live tour. “If they want me to contribute in any way, shape or form – I will,” he said. “Never count me out.”
Craig Revel Horwood, 57, who has been with the show from the start, and Motsi Mabuse, 41, will also return to the judging panel.