Bruno Tonioli 'has quit' Strictly Come Dancing after 18 years, according to a new report.
The Italian choreographer is rumored to be leaving the popular BBC dance competition 'for good', marking the end of nearly two decades on its dazzling panel.
Fears for Bruno's fate on the glitzy show started to brew last year, when the 66-year-old decided against joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2021 judges to prioritize a spot on Dancing With The Stars in the US. His place was filled by Anton Du Beke, a British ballroom dancer who gained expertise credentials after mentoring the show's celebrity contestants for 18 seasons.
News of another Strictly Come Dancing judges' shakeup hit the headlines again last October after it was confirmed that Bruno would be returning to the UK for the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in January 2022.
However, it appears that the Latin dancer's reunion with Strictly judges Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Shirley Ballas might have been more of a last hurray to his British fanbase than a UK homecoming.
“Bruno has quit the show for good," a source has told the Daily Mail. “He’s going to be a judge only on Dancing With The Stars from now on.”
It has also been widely reported that Anton will remain on the show as a judge, having proven his worth to Strictly bosses with his strong performance on the panel last year.
"We have been told Anton’s contract as a judge is going to be renewed. The bosses were really happy with his performance," a source told the Sun in February.
Bruno was stuck in the US for most of last year, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions making it difficult for him to fly back and forth between Los Angeles and Britain on a regular basis. He didn't waste time building his stardom across the Atlantic, delighting the audience of ABC's Dancing with the Stars 2021 with his iconic one-liners and hilarious jokes. It's rumored that Bruno will return for this year's edition of the US reality show, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
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