Bruno Tonioli speaks out on landing job as BGT judge over Alan Carr

EXCLUSIVE: ‘That’s showbusiness!’: Bruno Tonioli speaks out on landing job as Britain’s Got Talent judge over Alan Carr and reveals David Walliams bought him a bottle of wine

Bruno Tonioli, the new judge on Britain’s Got Talent, today offered his sympathy to comedian Alan Carr – who had been approached about joining the show but lost out at the last moment.

Tonioli, a former Strictly Come Dancing judge and friend of Simon Cowell’s for three decades, broke off from filming at the London Palladium to shrug: ‘That’s showbusiness.’

Asked if it would be awkward when he next meets Alan socially, he said: ‘Not at all. I haven’t had a clue about his negotiations. I love Alan and I know him, he is a very nice guy. I didn’t know the situation with him, nothing was announced, and that’s showbusiness. This was down to ITV.’

Showbusiness: Bruno Tonioli, the new judge on Britain’s Got Talent, has offered his sympathy to comedian Alan Carr – who had been approached about joining but lost out

He continued: ‘I was away (on holiday, before the offer was made). He’s a professional, he knows how things go.’

Bruno joined the show on a reported salary of £850,000 after being offered the job only eleven days before filming began.

He said: ‘I was in St Lucia over Christmas and I had a text from Simon’s girlfriend Lauren saying: “We should get together – we are in Barbados.” I thought well, that would be quite hard to do. I had no idea that this job was around.  

Missed out: Tonioli, a former Strictly Come Dancing judge and friend of Simon Cowell’s for three decades, broke off from filming at the London Palladium to shrug: ‘That’s showbusiness’

Lucrative: Tonioli joined the show on a reported salary of £850,000 after being offered the job 11 days before filming began (pictured with Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell) 

‘Then I arrived in London on the 9th of January and my agent had a call from ITV, and I had no idea what it was about. The agent said: “Oh its something very big” and I thought: “That’s good.” Then I had a meeting on the 13th of January with ITV and I thought great, this is fantastic. 

‘I have known Simon forever I know that the show is right up my street. There were no long negotiations, I just said: “Yes, I want to do it.” It happened so fast that I have practically nothing to wear. I am going to have to go shopping next week when I get to Manchester, I must make Simon pay.’

Filming the show started on Tuesday. Bruno, 67, was drafted in to replace David Walliams, who quit after 10 years following allegations that he had made disparaging remarks about some contestants which had been picked up by a microphone.

Gesture: Bruno was drafted onto the panel to replace David Walliams, who quit after ten years on BGT – who he says gave him a bottle of wine as a congratulatory present 

Great reception: Filming the show started on Tuesday. The audience of BGT were chanting ‘Bruno, Bruno’ as the newest judge took to the panel

Bruno said: ‘David was the first person that sent me a text and a fantastic bottle of wine. He’s a very good friend.’ 

As for the money – which is said to have sparked protests from fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon – he said: ‘It is very vulgar to talk about money but I am definitely not getting what has been reported.’

It’s said that Amanda and Alesha have had pay rises to take their remuneration above his. Tonioli said: ‘I don’t know what the girls are getting but good for them, they deserve everything. There is no frostiness with the girls of course not. Who is frosty? We have been having a laugh.

‘This is working with a group of mates. I have known Alesha since Mis-teeq and then of course from when she was on Strictly. I have known Amanda since we met at a small party for Simon’s 50th. We all enjoy each other and respect each other.’

Salary: As for the money – which is said to have sparked protests from fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon – he said: ‘It is very vulgar to talk about money’ 

Bruno and Simon have known each other since Simon was the boss of Fanfare records and asked Bruno to choreograph a video for his then-girlfriend, Sinitta.

Later they used to see each other every week for a drink on the CBS lot – Bruno would be filming Dancing with the star and Simon was filming American Idol.  

Bruno said he doesn’t know how long he will want to be on the BGT panel, but added: ‘This is the biggest show on British TV now that I’m here. I mean it. Oh, Simon is going to hate that I’ve said that.

‘I have nothing bad to say about Strictly, it changed my life. This is completely different and it’s a completely different sort of judging.’

Former job: It comes after it was reported Bruno would triple the salary he received on Strictly Come Dancing by joining the ITV judging panel

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