Britain’s Got Talent in bitter pay row as Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon won’t sign contracts

BRITAIN’S Got Talent judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon are refusing to sign new contracts in a pay row over Bruno Tonioli.

The long-serving pair are furious that the newcomer’s salary matches their own — said to be £850,000.

It has plunged the ITV show into crisis, with filming due to start on Tuesday.

A source said: “Amanda has been on BGT for 17 years, while Alesha is going into her eleventh year. They don’t think it’s fair a newcomer could walk into the show and be handed the same deal as them.

“It’s a bit of a headache for BGT given filming for the next series begins at the London Palladium on Tuesday.

“Bruno was still ironing out his contract on Friday too so it’s all very much down to the wire.

“Negotiations over pay and the minutiae of the contracts are expected to go on throughout today.”

Insiders said Amanda, 51, and Alesha, 44, held back from signing until they found out who would be replacing David Walliams on the hit ITV series.

Last week The Sun revealed 67-year-old Bruno had beaten comedian Alan Carr, 49, to the job.

But both women have stalled after it was reported that Bruno would come in on the same pay deal as them.

Our source added: “Amanda and Alesha won’t be signing their contracts until they’ve had their issues over pay addressed.

"After learning that Bruno was to be getting the same pay, they decided to hold off and stand firm.

“Initially there was a seven-figure pay deal on the table for Bruno but this was lowered over fears of a backlash — and now them getting the same figure has caused a rift.

“Amanda and Alesha are united on this and they will not budge.

“Amanda and Alesha are strong, talented and capable women who work extremely hard. And rightly they don’t think it is fair a newcomer could walk into the show and be handed the same deal as them.”

In December Alesha told Fabulous Magazine she'd agreed with Amanda to always stick together.

She said: “Amanda and I made a pact at the beginning that we weren’t going to allow anyone to pit us against each other.”

The Sun revealed how Bruno, who was a judge on BBC’s Strictly from its inception in 2004 until last year, had pipped comedian Alan, 49, to the post at the final moment.

Insiders said ITV backed Alan while show boss Simon Cowell wanted Bruno.

A source added: “What Simon wants, Simon gets – and Bruno was his hire.”

Contracts depending, the foursome are expected to be photographed together for the first time tomorrow at the Palladium when the live auditions start.

The Sun revealed in November how David Walliams, 51, had stepped away from BGT.

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 47, are returning as hosts.