Bruno Tonioli, a Dancing with the Stars judge, has revealed why he decided to leave the British edition of the show after nearly two decades.
Tonioli told the Daily Mail in an interview that he “simply couldn’t fly any longer.”
The vivacious Italian has been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since its inception in 2004 but was finding it more difficult to coordinate appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, and he recently revealed the toll it was having on his health.
He also stated that there was no resentment toward his decision to remain on Dancing with the Stars, saying:
“There was a point in the middle of a run when I blanked,” he explained.
“I had no idea where I was or what I was up to.”
“It barely lasted a second, then I noticed the crowd staring at me, and everything came back to me.”
Anton du Beke, a seasoned dancer on the competition, has replaced Tonioli on the British judging panel. He originally stepped in when Tonioli was unable to return from the United States due to a lockdown, and his full-time position has subsequently been established. The program will return to the UK in September.
