Simon Cowell has wanted Bruno Tonioli on the BGT panel for 10 years, says Craig Revel Horwood.
Bruno joined Britain’s Got Talent this year, after Covid travel rules disrupted his 18-year run on the Strictly Come Dancing panel.
Asked whether Bruno, 67, was a good addition to the ITV talent show, Craig said: “Of course. I’m so pleased for him.
“It’s the break Bruno needed and it’s a nice change of scene.
“He knows his stuff. He’s very opinionated and a good judge of character.
“Simon has wanted him on that show for the past 10 years but Bruno wasn’t prepared to leave Strictly, until Covid sort of made that decision for him.” Craig, 58, is a BGT fan but not just for the entertainment.
He said: “BGT is a good show, which promotes performers. I can watch it and think, ‘Oh, I might cast them in one of my musicals’.”
He added of the talent competition’s head honcho Simon Cowell, 63: “Simon can pay for the auditions, and I bag the talent!”
BBC hit Strictly also has a relatively new judge, ex-dancer Anton Du Beke, 56.
He joined the panel in 2021 alongside Craig, Shirley Ballas, 62 and Motsi Mabuse, 41, to replace Bruno.
Craig says Anton reminded him of Bruno and a former head judge on the recent Strictly live tour.
He told Best magazine: “It was fab-u-lous – a lot more banter this year between me, Shirley and Anton.
“Shirley danced up a storm and Anton was just extremely funny – he’s a mixture of Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman, bizarre.
“He’s really come into his own with the comedy.”
Strictly will return to the BBC this autumn.
Britain’s Got Talent, with Bruno as a judge, is expected to air on ITV in April.
