Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli ‘forced to take £125K PAY CUT this year after not appearing in person on any shows’
Bruno Tonioli ‘will only receive around half’ of his usual £250,000 Strictly Come Dancing salary this year after not appearing in person for any live shows, according to new reports.
The Italian judge, 65, was due to resume his position on the panel for the semi-final after completing the recent series of Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly.
However, show bosses and Bruno decided it would be safer for him to remain in the US and continue his cameo role on Sunday night results show via satellite link up.
Pay cut: Bruno Tonioli, 65, will only receive ‘around half’ of his usual £250,000 Strictly Come Dancing salary this year after not appearing on any of Saturday night’s shows
The veteran judge usually jets between London and Los Angeles to sit on the panel for both the long-running UK show as well as its US counterpart.
This year, that wasn’t possible due to travel restrictions and the choreographer favoured the US version when forced to pick just one.
It means that he is reportedly facing a £125,000 pay cut after not appearing on the judging panel at all this series.
A source told The Sun: ‘Much of Britain is working from home right now but Bruno is expected, where possible, to be there in person.
Forced to choose: The judge usually travels between the UK and LA to judge on Strictly and the US version Dancing With The Stars, but that wasn’t possible this year due to the pandemic (pictured last year with fellow judges)
‘He’s contributed less than he normally would with all of his Italian flamboyance and high- energy performances in the studio, so he was happy to take less than his usual wage.
‘After all, it was his decision to focus on the American show while keeping his toe in the UK. There’s no hard feelings.’
Talking of the decision for Bruno to not return for the remainder of the series, a source close to the judge said: ‘After much consideration, it’s just too dangerous for Bruno. Strictly has already been hit so heavily by Covid…
A source said: ‘He’s contributed less than he normally would with all of his Italian flamboyance and high- energy performances in the studio, so he was happy to take less than his usual wage’ (pictured on Dancing With The Stars this month)
‘They didn’t want to take the risk. Bruno loves the show and will watch as ever from the States and give his feedback on Sunday’s show.’
It was also confirmed that Anton Du Beke will not be called up to replace Bruno on the judging panel for the remaining four weeks of the series, after he filled in for Motsi Mabuse.
Bruno was due to isolate for two weeks after returning from the US before making his comeback on the BBC1 series, yet the plan has been thwarted.
Starring role: Current judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse will complete the series as a trio
Current judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi, who returned to the panel this weekend following her own period of isolation after an urgent trip to Germany, will complete the series as a trio.
When it was reported in August that Bruno would make a comeback later in the series, insiders said BBC bosses were keen to get Bruno to the UK and hope that he could make a comeback for the final.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing and Bruno Tonioli.
As they were: The judging quartet are pictured in a promo shoot for the 2019 series