STRICTLY star Bruno Tonioli tonight became a surprise frontrunner to replace David Walliams on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel.
It’s now viewed as a two horse race between the flamboyant former judge on the BBC1 dance contest and Alan Carr, who’s been speculated as a successor for months.
But he could be beaten to the job by Bruno, 67, who lost his place on the Strictly panel, and is now said to be being wooed by BGT boss, Simon Cowell.
A TV insider said: “Signing up Bruno would be seen as a huge coup for Simon as he was always seen as a favourite on Strictly with his ostentatious style.
“Bringing some of that hilarious magic across to BGT would help fill the big shoes left behind by comic David.
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“Although his background is almost entirely in dance, that has seen him work with a range of artists involved in West End shows as well as pop star’s videos, so he would bring a wealth of experience.
“Signing Bruno would also be seen as a snub to Strictly who are his long time rivals from the days when Simon’s other show, The X Factor, was locked in a ratings battle with the Beeb rival.
“This would have seen him take not one but two judges from them, as he already has former Strictly star Alesha Dixon on the panel.”
Alesha joined BGT in 2012 after a brief stint as a judge on Strictly after she won the contest three years earlier - when Bruno was one of the judges scoring her.
He spent years juggling being a judge on Strictly and its US counterpart Dancing with the Stars, and in the end Covid restrictions put paid to him jetting across the Atlantic.
In 2021 Bruno left Strictly permanently, being replaced by former pro Anton du Beke, which means he has more time to take on new projects.
Plus, having auditions for BGT start in the first half of the year means he can still be a judge on Dancing with the Stars in the autumn.
It was reported Alan, 46, was close to signing for Strictly, but tonight sources close to the show said it was “far from being a done deal.”
Although current panelist Amanda Holden is close pals with Alan, Simon has previously tried to convince Bruno, who was said to be earning at least £200,000 at the BBC, to move to BGT as judge.
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In 2018, Bruno said: “I’ve told him to come up with something new and we’ll think about it. We have discussed these things for a number of years but it has never come to anything concrete.”
Bruno has been making an increasing number of shows for ITV.
He appeared on the last series of The Masked Dancer and made a travelogue, Great British Road Trips, with fellow Strictly panelist and long-time pal, Craig Revel Horwood.
A spokeswoman for BGT declined to comment.
