Bruno Tonioli will RETURN to Strictly Come Dancing
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Former judge Bruno Tonioli will make a surprise return to Strictly Come Dancing for the Christmas special.
The dancer, 66, quit the show in May and Anton Du Beke, 56, took over his seat as judge after the commute between the UK and US became too much for him.
But MailOnline has learned that Bruno plans to appear on the show’s Christmas special and will be singing instead of doing a dance performance.
EXCLUSIVE: Bruno Tonioli returns to Strictly Come Dancing: Beloved ex-judge makes surprise comeback during Christmas special with SINGING performance
The source said: ‘Bruno loves to sing. He made an opera album in 2016 called An Italian Romance and who knows, it might be a new career for him.’
A spokesperson for Strictly told MailOnline: “We are strictly still working on all plans for the Christmas special, so we will not be commenting on this at this stage.”
Bruno famously performed You’re Just To Good To Be True at Strictly in 2019 to overwhelming applause.
The Italian choreographer retired from the show in May after 18 years. admitted that flying back and forth between the UK and US for the show had become “too much” for him.
Bruno has been juggling his role on the BBC dance show since 2005 with his appearance as a judge on Dancing With The Stars in the United States and it just wore him out.
After leaving Strictly, Bruno broke his silence to say that he ‘just can’t do the 10 hour flights anymore and he was done’.
Bruno has been at the center of the BBC dance show since its launch in 2004.
However, during the pandemic, he was not a regular on the panel due to travel restrictions during his taping on Dancing With The Stars.
Last year, Bruno was replaced on the British jury by Anton amid flying back and forth issues.
The year before, Bruno appeared through a video connection due to the same problems.
Craig Revel Horwood previously suggested that Bruno could return to judge alongside Anton, but now it appears he will stay in the US.
Bruno was part of the original Strictly lineup alongside Craig, Arlene Phillips and his Dancing With The Stars co-star Len Goodman.
The latest news comes after Tyler West became the eighth contestant to leave Strictly when he faced Molly Rainford in the dreaded dance on Saturday night.
Molly and Carlos Gu performed their Jive to Bandstand by Barry Manilow, followed by Tyler and Dianne Buswell who danced their way to a mega mix by KC and the Sunshine Band in an attempt to impress the judges and stay in the competition.
After both couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdict and with two votes for Molly and one for Tyler, the deciding vote went to Chief Judge Shirley Ballas.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Molly and Carlos, saying, “Wow, both couples danced so much better, they really did.”
“Tyler, incredible hips, great this time. Molly, lighter, brighter, much more precise.
“I find this very difficult for the first time this season, but I would like to save Molly and Carlos.”
Motsi Mabuse also opted to save Molly and Carlos, adding, “Yes, both couples were better in this performance, I based my decision on technique styles and presentation and I’m going to save Molly and Carlos.”
However, Anton Du Beke chose to save Tyler and Dianne saying, “This is a testament to how incredible all couples are at this point in the game.”
“We have a situation here where none of these couples in competition deserve to be here when they could easily have made it to the final.
“For me a brilliant performance from both couples, but one of them was more dynamic, the couple I would like to save is Tyler and Dianne.”
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show, Tyler said, “I’m over two steps now!” When you watch the show at home you wonder what it must be like to dance to it, it’s everything and more, it changed my life.
“This girl here has definitely changed my life. To think that I was a shy kid who never talked to anyone, danced in front of millions of people, I can’t put it into words.
‘It’s my mum’s favorite show, I bought her to Blackpool, my grandma always bless her and always watch over me on this journey.
“But more importantly, this show has changed my life in the sense that it has given me confidence, a new found family, every dancer, everyone in hair and makeup, costume.
“The judges, it’s been great dancing for you every week, I really mean that.
“But this girl here, I’m blessed with the best, she’s what Strictly is all about and she’s changed my life, I have no doubt she’ll be in my life forever.”