He made his debut as a new Britain's Got Talent judge on our screens tonight (Saturday, April 15) and fans had their say as Bruno Tonioli took his place on the panel alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell. The former Strictly Come Dancing judge was given a warm welcome by his fellow judges, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and the audiences at the auditions.
However, it proved to be a chaotic start for the 67-year-old dancer and choreographer as he got to grips with how the long-running show works. Early in the first episode of the 16th series he pressed his red buzzer after nasal recorder player Mikko Rautiainen had already performed.
"It's a no from me," he said, pressing the button which is only supposed to be used during the act as Simon explained: "You don't have to do that as well." "Explain the rules will you?" prompted Ant.
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"You could just say 'no'" explained Simon. "Honestly I'm sorry," apologised Bruno, and the audience were in stitches at the blunder. "He doesn't understand the rules yet," observed one member of the audience. "Have you ever watched this show?" asked Simon, and a laughing Amanda declared: "He's never watched the show."
Then Bruno slipped up again later on in the show as he activated his golden buzzer, which sends an act straight through to the live semi-finals, as young dance troupe Ghetto Kids were still performing. But it was a sweet moment as the children continued to dance and celebrate while showered in golden confetti.
"Normally the golder bizzer is pressed afterwards. You performed with the confetti, it was magical," said Simon. He explained to Bruno: "Normally we talk and they wait for the reacton and you press that." And Ant told the children: "We've never had people press the golden buzzer in the middle of a peformance, you were that good."
The praise came flooding in for the energetic TV personality, who has replaced comedian and children's author David Walliams on the long-running ITV talent show. @KatieJaneNeale enthused: "I think Bruno is going to be a good judge this year." @timess_infinity echoed: "Bruno is a good addition to the judging panel." @rltippett37 said: "How great to see Bruno on BGT." And @nickprice91 applauded: "I love Bruno so glad he's on #BGT!!!!"
However some viewers took to Twitter to say they were missing David. Bruno replaced the The Little Britain star after he apologised for making "disrespectful comments" about participants during breaks from filming for the show at the London Palladium in January 2020.
@TwellyWatcher said: "As much as I know Bruno will do a great job and is a brilliant personality for this show… I miss David on #BGT and what his reaction would’ve been to this." And @ashiepash_e said: "Oh David, it's not the same babes."
@lisanorfolk tweeted: "Bring back David, not the same without him." @AimieDanielle wrote: "Oh I’m Already missing the banter between David Walliams and Simon Cowell." And @socialmediajon1 also said: "Already missing the banter between David Walliams and Simon Cowell."
But @TobyMcturk said: "Of course I miss David, but I love the energy Bruno brings!" And @itsamy_xo messaged: "Bruno is a whole different kinda chaotic to how David was and idk."
Speaking about David, Bruno revealed how he was one of the first to congratulate him on his new TV job. "I haven’t seen David, but he was the first person to send me a message saying congratulations," Bruno told Radio Times. "He also sent a fantastic bottle of Italian wine to my dressing room on my first day. I thought that was absolute class," he added.
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