Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Bruno Tonioli set to return to Strictly Come Dancing after shock exit earlier this year

Bruno Tonioli is set to return to Strictly Come Dancing for a special Christmas singing performance.

The Italian, 66, used to be a judge on the BBC show before he quit in May, making way for Anton Du Beke on the panel.

Bruno is known for his impeccable dancing pedigree, but when he rocks up on the show in December, he'll be regaling the audience with his vocal skills, according to reports.

The BBC declined to comment when asked whether the star would be performing on the show.

Bruno went down a storm with Strictly viewers in 2019 when he belted out You're Just Too Good To Be True.

Flanked by backing dancers adorned with feathers, he looked like a pro singing the Andy Williams classic - but viewers were divided.

Host Tess Daly described the Italian as a "man of many talents," but one fan tweeted: "Bruno, please stick to dancing, and judging."

While former Strictly pro James Jordan mused: "I don’t get it???"

Bruno Tonioli is reportedly popping up on Strictly to sing at Christmas (BBC / Guy Levy)

However, other viewers loved the high-energy performance, with one tweeting: "Bruno singing Andy Williams... is f***** EVERYTHING. Pink suits. Top hats. Feathers. It’s a 10 from me."

Ahead of his rumoured performance at Christmas, a source told the Daily Mail : "Bruno loves to sing. He did an opera album called An Italian Romance back in 2016 and who knows, it might turn into a new career for him."

Bruno quit Strictly after 18 years in May, admitting that flying back and forth between the UK and the US for Dancing With the Stars had become 'too much' for him.

The star had been splitting his time between the two shows since 2005 and revealed he 'just couldn't do the 10-hour flights anymore and was done.'

His performance of You're Just Too Good To Be True was quite something in 2019 (BBC / Guy Levy)

Speaking about his decision to leave the Beeb, he said: “There is no animosity, it was a mutual decision with both of us saying, ‘Listen, this is not going to work like it used to’", Bruno told the Daily Mail.

Bruno has been at the heart of the BBC dance show since its 2004 launch.

However, he hadn't been a regular on the panel during the pandemic due to travel restrictions keeping him the US where he was filming Dancing With The Stars.

Bruno quit Strictly in May 2022 (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Bruno admitted he found his final year on Strictly difficult as the pandemic travel uncertainty meant he could appear only via video-link to give his verdict on the performances during the Sunday night results show.

However, despite being hamstrung by the situation, he stressed that Strictly had been a positive experience, saying: “Strictly changed my life, it was like being born again.

“I was a successful choreographer but this was like going back to the beginning as a performer. I loved it.”

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturday at 7.15pm

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.