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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Niamh Spence

Ant and Dec reveal 'mischievous' way they welcomed Bruno Tonioli onto the panel

Ant and Dec have revealed they played a cheeky and mischievous prank on new Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli to welcome him to the show.

The duo, who have presented BGT since it began in 2007, were up to their cheeky ways for the 16th series which saw former Strictly star Bruno join the judging panel.

Dance guru Bruno will replace David Walliams, who stood down last year, and he takes his place alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell for the talent show.

As the newbie on the judging panel, Ant and Dec couldn't resist the chance to tease the new judge and managed to trick him into thinking there were new rules on the show.

Cheeky presenter duo Ant and Dec played a mischievous prank on new judge Bruno Tonioli (ITV)
Bruno Tonioli joins BGT to replace David Walliams (ITV)

The Geordie pair told Bruno that he could press his golden buzzer whenever he liked an act, and that he wasn't limited to how many times he could use it during auditions.

Dec revealed: "We, quite mischievously, kept telling him different rules. So when he hit his golden buzzer on the first session of the first day, mid-way through an act, we told him not to worry because he had another golden buzzer tomorrow, and that he had one every day!

"That might have something to do with the fact we have more golden buzzers this year!"

He continued: "We also played a prank on the rest of the judges by going into their room and doing a BGT quiz, but secretly gave Bruno all the answers in advance. That was quite fun to see the look on everyone else's face."

Ant added: "Much to Simon's annoyance that somebody else would win a quiz about his show. He quickly worked out it was a prank and didn't like it! But we loved it."

The 16th series of the talent seeking show will begin next weekend (ITV)

The golden buzzer trick wasn't the only prank sprang on poor Bruno as the newcomer to the series.

Bruno was the victim of yet another savage prank during the audition stages where he was lured into a dangerous stunt which left him thinking he had shot dead head judge Simon Cowell with a crossbow.

Footage and photos leaked from the set of BGT showed Simon lying motionless on stage while Bruno is seen looking shocked as he dashed over to check on the show boss. Medics also rushed to the stage, but it appeared the whole incident was nothing more than a prank - leaving Bruno and the audience screaming in shock.

Video clips of the prank have already been shared on social media before the new series has started, causing viewers to complain in disgust.

Bruno joins the 16th series in place of David Walliams, who left last year following a leaked clip of him making offensive comments about a contestant.

Britain's Got Talent will air Saturday, April 15 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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