…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
ITV’s popular talent show, Britain’s Got Talent, has returned for its 16th series with a brand new judge in the line-up.
Replacing comedian and actor David Walliams is Strictly Come Dancing veteran Bruno Tonioli.
Tonioli joins Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon on the panel as the show returns to screens on the channel.
The show premiered on Saturday, April 15th, at 8 pm and also airs on Sunday, April 16th, with a further episode on April 22nd.
Why Did David Walliams Leave Britain’s Got Talent?
David Walliams had been a judge on the show for a decade before stepping down in late 2022.
Speculation that the star had quit was confirmed in January this year when Bruno Tonioli was announced as the new judge.
Reports suggest that leaked voice notes from Walliams’ time on the show in November 2022 included derogatory remarks made about a contestant, which prompted an apology from the judge.
Walliams apologized for making “disrespectful” comments in private conversations during filming for the show in 2020.
Although reports of Walliams quitting surfaced the same month, the official announcement did not come until January 2023.
Alesha Dixon, Walliams’ fellow judge for ten years, posted a message on Instagram thanking him for his time on the show.
Bruno Tonioli’s Arrival on the Show
Bruno Tonioli has expressed his gratitude towards Walliams for his warm welcome to the show, despite not having met in person.
According to Tonioli, Walliams was the first person to congratulate him and sent him a bottle of Italian wine to his dressing room on his first day, which he described as “absolute class.”
Overall, the addition of Bruno Tonioli as a new judge on Britain’s Got Talent brings a fresh perspective and energy to the show.
Fans of the show can expect more exciting and entertaining performances as the show continues its run.