Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli was “fuming” after being tricked into thinking he had shot Simon Cowell with a crossbow.
He admitted: “I nearly had a heart attack. I thought, ‘What have I done?’”
Judge Bruno, 67, who made his BGT debut tonight, was blindfolded for the stunt and handed the weapon. When it was removed, he saw Simon lying on stage, apparently hit.
In an exclusive interview, Bruno said: “I thought I’d killed him, the paramedics were running on, I was like, ‘What have I done?’
“I was actually fuming after that. It was so evil.
“There were thousands of people there and they were all in on the joke except me.” It was not the first prank played on Bruno, who has replaced David Walliams.
Fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden, as well as hosts Ant and Dec, mischievously tripped up the former Strictly star.
He said: “They all said, ‘Go on, darling, there are no rules, have fun’. I was like okay, and then I messed it all up. Simon doesn’t help because if he can create a bit of mischief he’ll go straight for it.”
But Bruno and Simon, who went clubbing together in Majorca in their 20s, are now even closer friends. He said: “Off camera it’s just normal and easy. It’s like it was in the old days.”
The flamboyant Italian left Strictly in 2019 after 15 years and has appreciated the difference between the shows. He said: “I really enjoyed the range of talent you see on BGT –singing, dancing, acrobats, comedians, magicians.
“I am eternally grateful to Strictly, I wouldn’t be where I am without it. But sometimes you have to move on.”
This week, Amanda joked she was “leaving the sequins to Bruno” after years of Ofcom complaints over her racy outfits. Bruno said: “Amanda looks amazing, if I looked like that I’d just wear candyfloss. She’s beautiful, both girls are stunning.”
Of the live shows next month, he added: “Everything with me is spontaneous –but I’ll wear a suit. I won’t be in Speedos. I think the Speedos days are gone.”
Britain’s Got Talent, ITV tomorrow night, 7.45pm
