Strictly bosses will keep Anton Du Beke as judge and axe Bruno Tonioli
STRICTLY Come Dancing bosses intend to keep Anton Du Beke as a judge this year — axing Bruno Tonioli.
Bruno, 66, was ruled out of last year’s judging panel after Covid restrictions prevented him from travelling to the UK.
The Italian, who has been on the show 16 years, was expected to return after Craig Revel Horwood gave his support by casting him on the live tour.
But BBC sources revealed that bosses have now decided in Anton’s favour — which could place them on a collision course with acid-tongued Craig.
One said: “We have been told Anton’s contract as a judge is going to be renewed. The bosses were really happy with his performance.
“It also hasn’t escaped their notice his salary is considerably lower than Bruno’s.
“Bruno has been an integral part of Strictly for more than a decade, and there is a huge amount of affection for him from those on the show.
“This decision will ruffle some feathers, not least with Craig, who has been a very, very vocal advocate for welcoming Bruno back. But the bosses’ attitude is, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.”
Bruno, who is on Dancing With The Stars in the US, told The Sun on Sunday last year he was “sad and frustrated” not to be on Strictly.
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He poked fun at Anton, 55, below, saying: “Good for him. He needs the money.”
And he conceded his time on the show might be over, adding: “If they want me, I’ll be back. But they may say, ‘Anton was great, we don’t need you’.”
But he was “delighted” to be alongside his fellow judges for this year’s tour. It is understood he has not been notified of the BBC’s decision.
The BBC and Anton declined to comment.