Bruno Tonioli started as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2004 and he simultaneously worked on Dancing with the Stars in the US, but he says the schedule left him "totally demented"
Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli expressed that his tenure on Strictly Come Dancing left him "totally demented".
Bruno, 69, reminisced about joining the beloved BBC dance competition in its inception back in 2004 alongside his good friend and fellow judge Len Goodman. Their friendship solidified as they juggled their roles between the UK show and its American counterpart Dancing with the Stars.
During a heartfelt interview on The Late Late Show in Ireland, broadcast last weekend, Bruno revealed some of the emotional moments they shared: "I have to be honest, we could not have done it without each other. I am honest and it still brings tears to my eyes because we were a team."
The world said farewell to Len following his passing from bone cancer in April 2023, shortly before what would have been his 79th birthday. Recalling his cherished moments with Len, Bruno detailed their intense routine associated with working concurrently across the Atlantic.
Bruno said: "We were finishing at the BBC at about 11.30, drive back home, change, pack up, car comes to the gate, you go to the plane to Los Angeles, go live on Monday, live on Tuesday, get back on the plane on Wednesday, land on Thursday, you get all the BBC on Friday - and it went on for 11 weeks every year.
"I tell you... I mean we were demented, totally demented! And moaning. But you know when you do something with a friend? Something happens, you fluff up a line or a joke and I knew Len will have my back.
We created personas in those characters. The banter helped reenergise and I really couldn't have done it without him and he told me vice versa.
"I still love the show, it was wonderful, but it was tough. But when you love something you just do it because you love it. There are still these people watching me and I have to give everything I have and we always did that."
Britain's Got Talent judges Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, and Simon Cowell (Image: PA)
Bruno is currently serving as a judge on Britain's Got Talent for his third season, sharing the panel with Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Simon Cowell - a longtime acquaintance from the early '80s.
Due to his concurrent role on Dancing with the Stars, Bruno occasionally had to step away from BGT auditions, paving the way for guest judges to fill in temporarily.
The rest of the auditions are set to air up until Saturday, April 19, after which Bruno will return to the judges' table for the live shows, kicking off on Saturday, April 26, culminating in the grand final on May 31.
