Bruno Tonioli 'quits' Strictly Come Dancing after 18 years
So he can focus on the American version of the show
Last updated 19th May 2022
He was forced to miss the 2021 series due to travel restrictions from the Coronavirus pandemic, but now it sounds like fans have seen the last of popular Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli, as reports suggest he's quit the show after 18 years.
66-year-old Bruno has reportedly decided to leave the show in order to focus on the American version, which is called Dancing With The Stars, where he sits alongside Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough.
An insider for Strictly told The Daily Mail: "Bruno has quit the show for good. He's going to be a judge only on Dancing With The Stars from now on."
After travel restrictions forced Bruno to miss the UK series last year, which was won by Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice, former professional Anton Du Beke stepped in on the panel.
Anton appeared on the judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas, with many fans of the show expressing their love for Anton to land a permanent role.
Although nothing has yet been confirmed by the BBC, Anton was noticeably missing from the 2022 professional dancer line-up, which included the likes of Gorka Márquez, Katya Jones, Johannes Radebe, Dianne Buswell and Karen Hauer.
Check out all of the confirmed professionals for Strictly 2022:
Kai Widdrington
Cameron Lombard
Nikita Kuzmin
Jowita Przystal
Amy Dowden
Dianne Buswell
Dianne was a professional on the Australian version of Strictly Come Dancing before she joined the UK cast in 2017. In 2022, she made it all the way to Blackpool with Kiss FM presenter Tyler West.
Giovanni Pernice
Italian Champion Giovanni Pernice is the longest-serving male professional on the current line-up of Strictly pros, having joined the show in 2015. He lifted the Glitterball with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis back in 2021 and was most recently paired with presenter Richie Anderson.
Gorka Marquez
Gorka joined the show in 2016 and has danced in three finals, most recently with presenter Helen Skelton in 2022.
Johannes Radebe
Karen Hauer
Katya Jones
Graziano Di Prima
Luba Mushtuk
Nadiya Bychkova
Nancy Xu
Neil Jones
Carlos Gu
Michelle Tsiakkas
Vito Coppola
Lauren Oakley
Speaking to Sussex Life Magazine last month, 55-year-old Anton seemingly revealed he didn't yet know his future on the show, telling the publication: "I'm hoping to get a call to say, 'Look, here you go, come back judging please.'
"But we'll wait and see. I'd like to think I'd be on the show in one way or another.
"I wouldn't like to think they'd just get rid of me altogether. That would be a bit dramatic to go from dancer to judge to off the show. The truth is I haven't been told."
Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year.
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