Strictly’s Bruno Tonioli admits he ‘doesn’t have a clue’ who celebs on the show are – and defends huge £250k pay packet by claiming he’s ‘good value’
STRICTLY star Bruno Tonioli has admitted he has no idea who the celebs on this year's show are.
The professional dancer, 63, made the revelation as he defended his £249,000 pay rise to remain as a judge on the hit BBC show.
Former footballer Alex Scott, rower James Cracknell and soap star Kelvin Fletcher are among the famous faces on this year's bill - but Bruno confessed he's not up-to-date with celebrity culture.
He told the Daily Telegraph: "When it comes to sport especially I don't have a clue and I don't follow celebrity culture. I'm much more interested in film and books."
Bruno - who is also a judge on US sister show Dancing With The Stars - went on to admit that despite his lack of celebrity knowledge he would consider himself "good value".
Discussing his sizeable pay packet - which is rumoured to be up to £100,000 more than fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood's - Bruno said: "I never talk about money; I think it's vulgar.
"But if you think about what the other side [ITV] are getting [paid] for a fraction of the goodies we deliver, you're getting good value."
The Daily Mail previously revealed that Bruno is miles ahead of his fellow Strictly stars in the money stakes - with AJ Pritchard taking the title of the richest dancer.
While all dancers on the show earn a flat fee of £50,000, regardless of performance, but appearances in productions all over the world let them top up their finances.
AJ - brother of Love Island's Curtis Pritchard - racked up the majority of his money from TV appearances, gaining £120,000.
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In the future, being a trainer for RuPaul's Drag Race UK will give him even more cash.
The Strictly Live Tour gives him another £70,000 and the Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour is another £35,000.
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