22 January 2023 , 00:23
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Bruno Tonioli will be dancing for joy as it has been revealed he is to receive a huge salary as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
Last week the Mirror exclusively revealed that the flamboyant 67-year-old will pull up a chair alongside Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell as the series returns for season 16.
And now it is revealed that Bruno is expected to net £850,000 for his time as a host on the ITV show - which is reportedly three times the amount he was paid as a judge on the BBC ’s Strictly Come Dancing, which he worked on from 2004 until 2019.
And the Italian reality star is said to be more than a little pleased about his new job - and that high cash reward.
Bruno Tonioli is due to join the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
And he is expected to see his income increase significantly in the process (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Friends say Bruno is ecstatic to return to prime-time Saturday night TV in the UK.
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“He’s managed to triple his UK Strictly salary and beat off strong competition from favourite-for-the-job Alan Carr, who is friends with a lot of the cast and crew.”
It has been reported that ITV bosses had hoped to attract Alan Carr as a new judge on the show - but show boss Simon, 63, stamped his feet to demand Bruno be given the chair.
The Sun’s source added: “Simon has been Bruno’s biggest supporter and thinks he has a special on-screen quality that can’t be replicated.”
Bruno was a judge on Strictly from 2004 until 2019 (PA)The need for a new judge was sparked last year after David Walliams quit the show after 10 years having first joined in 2012.
His decision to bow out of the show after nine seasons came after leaks revealed David, 51, had made derogatory remarks about one of the contestants in unaired scenes.
In a statement last November, David said: "I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain's Got Talent in 2020.
"These were private conversations and - like most conversations with friends - were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry."
His apology came after it was revealed he had made comments about a BGT hopeful who he branded a "c***" and saying of another: "She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don't".
However, weeks later it was revealed he had decided to quit the ITV show.
A source said at the time: “David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.
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Bruno is replacing outgoing BGT judge David Walliams (ITV)"Being on the show has been a huge source of entertainment and joy for him and he is arguably the most popular member of the panel.”
The source added: “He hasn’t taken the decision lightly, but it just feels like time to move on.”