Come dance strictly confirmed that Bruno Tonioli will not be returning to the judging panel this year – but while he won’t be in the ballroom, his legacy on the show lives on.
Italian judge Tonioli, 66, was part of the original judging line-up and completed 18 rounds of the show, including the 2020 series where he was forced to tune in via video call on Sundays due to travel restrictions COVID.
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However, Tonioli was absent from the 2021 contest as his US Dancing with the stars his commitments and ongoing restrictions have prevented him from traveling between countries, and his replacement Anton Du Beke has now been confirmed to replace him in the 2022 series as well.
It’s the end of an era for Strictly – Take a look at some of Tonioli’s most memorable outrageous moments on the show.
1. Falling out of his chair
Tonioli became known for falling from his chair in joy or shock during a performance, leaving the rest of the judges and the audience in hysterics.
The most memorable chair fall came after Dr. Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara’s quick step in 2018, when criticizing fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood.
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After dramatically falling to the floor, host Tess Daly joked, “He disagreed with Craig,” then added, “Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?”
Tonioli replied: “Yes, fabulous”.
2. His love for Harry Judd
Tonioli often shone with certain competitors and was a big fan of McFly’s Harry Judd, who won the ninth series in 2011.
During one of his performances, when Judd wore a bright red open shirt, he commented, “I think you’re overdressed for the occasion.”
He added: “You need a little work on your butt, but we can talk about that later.”
3. Cut Comments
Revel Horwood isn’t the only judge known for his scathing comments, as Tonioli could be brutally scathing.
A pointed comment was made to Italian reality TV star Nancy Dell’Olio during the series nine Halloween special, when she emerged from a coffin wearing a cobweb-style dress.
He said, “Nancy, coming out of the coffin, looking like the queen of the night, but you danced like the living dead.”
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Former MP Ann Widdecombe also received a number of sharp remarks about her performances in 2010, including her description that she looked like a ‘lame canary’ that ‘beats on the floor’ when performing in a dress. bright yellow ball.
He added: “Having never been able to take off despite Anton’s rotation, you never took off.”
4. Accidental rude criticism
Whether or not Tonioli was aware of the rude comments he sometimes offered is up for debate, but they were definitely talking points.
Judging 2015 winner Jay McGuiness’s paso doble, much to the horror of his co-stars, he said, “Oh yeah, those are the b******s of the bull.”
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In 2018, he noticed a performance by series winner Stacey Dooley praising her for her “mixture of the greatest t**s”.
Both times, Tonioli managed to look suitably confused by any excuse for his tongue.
5. Make an entry
In the last series he judged in person in 2019, Tonioli made a memorable entrance by opening a show with a song.
Coming out from behind a group of professional dancers dressed in fuschia and orange and waving ostrich feathers, he emerged in a white tuxedo singing I can’t take my eyes off you.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman said: “It was just the right amount of understatement we needed after Blackpool.”
Watch: Bruno Tonioli leaves Strictly due to the “travel situation”
