BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT
Tonight, ITV1, 7.30pm
BRUNO Tonioli is returning to take his seat on the judging panel in the new series of ITV1’S Britain’s Got Talent, saying it felt “like yesterday” when he reunited with the other judges, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.
“It feels like we never left. It feels like we just stopped,” says the British-italian TV personality, who made his debut on the show last year.
The newest batch of hopefuls will perform to the judges, hosts Ant and Dec and an audience in a bid to go on to win £250,000 in cash and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.
“We all have different things [going on in between],” says Bruno ahead of the 17th season.
“They all have families, Amanda works like madness, Alesha has got all the projects, I saw Simon privately but we didn’t even talk about the show. It’s a holiday, we don’t want to talk about work!”
The 68-year-old replaced David Walliams – after his 10 years on the panel – in 2023, and he says accepting the offer to return for another series was a no-brainer.
“I had such a good time, of course I’ll do it again!”
Bruno – known for his excitable manner and big personality – spent 18 years as a judge on BBC’S Strictly Come Dancing but for his debut on BGT he admitted being nervous.
“Because I’ve known Simon forever, and when you work with a friend, there is more pressure,” he says. “This is someone I’ve known for 40 years and he brought me in, so there’s a slight extra pressure not to let him down.”
Britain’s Got Talent, which was won by Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn last year, first aired in 2007, with Piers Morgan as part of the original line up of judges, and Bruno says the show is as important as ever.
Whether it’s singers, dancers, magicians, circus acts or comedians, “great artists need this opportunity”, he says.
“We give them a window of exposure that otherwise they wouldn’t have. It’s the only show that does that.
“People out there need the support, lots of places are closed. The opportunity is slimmer and slimmer.