First look at Bruno Tonioli as he joins Britain’s Got Talent stars at auditions after pay row
BRUNO Tonioli has been seen for the first time with the Britain’s Got Talent cast.
The 67-year-old was pictured arriving at auditions alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell – following a huge pay row.
Long-standing judges Amanda and Alesha were furious that Bruno’s salary matches their own — said to be £850,000.
The Sun revealed that Bruno landed the huge pay cheque after he pipped comedian Alan Carr to the plum ITV prime-time job.
Just last week, Amanda and Alesha were still thrashing out their contracts, after stalling until they found out who would be replacing David Walliams on the hit ITV series.
Bosses were concerned the negotiations would halt auditions, which start today.
A source said at the time: “Amanda has been on BGT for 17 years, while Alesha is going into her eleventh year.
“They don’t think it’s fair a newcomer could walk into the show and be handed the same deal as them.
“It’s a bit of a headache for BGT given filming for the next series begins at the London Palladium on Tuesday.
“Bruno was still ironing out his contract on Friday too so it’s all very much down to the wire.
“Negotiations over pay and the minutiae of the contracts are expected to go on throughout today.”
Alesha and Amanda are said to have stuck together throughout it all – and appear to have settled their concerns, judging by their happy arrival today.
Head judge Simon has backed Bruno, who was a judge on BBC’s Strictly from its inception in 2004 until last year, to take a seat on the panel, while ITV were keen on Alan Carr.
The Sun revealed in November how David Walliams, 51, had stepped away from BGT.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 47, are returning as hosts.