Bruno Tonioli 'quits' Strictly Come Dancing after 18 years

So he can focus on the American version of the show

Author: Alex RossPublished 18th May 2022
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 2023, she made it to the final with Bobby Brazier.

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. In 2023 he was paired with Nikita Kanda.

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.

Now read:

Giovanni Pernice reveals his future on Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly's Kai and Nadiya step out to confirm romance

Aljaž Škorjanec reveals he's QUIT Strictly after 9 years

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