Bruno Tonioli getting 'tetchy' with Strictly Come Dancing judges over gruelling work commitments

Tonioli is splitting his time between Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars in the US
The judges: Craig Revel Horwood with Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli
Emma Powell25 October 2017

Craig Revel Horwood has said Bruno Tonioli is getting snappy on Strictly Come Dancing due to his gruelling transatlantic work schedule.

Tonioli was forced to miss last weekend’s show for the first time in over a decade as he had prior filming commitments on Dancing with the Stars in the US.

Revel Horwood said the travelling is taking its toll on the flamboyant judge who is getting “tetchy” on set.

Speaking to Woman he said: “Bruno is starting to get tetchy with the flying back and forth to America, where he’s a judge on Dancing with the Stars.

Flamboyant: Bruno Tonioli with head judge Shirley Ballas
Matt Crossick/PA

“He wasn’t on [Strictly] last week because he stayed in America, but it was always the plan.”

He added: “I couldn’t do all that travelling.”

Fans were left gutted by Tonioli’s absence on Saturday night with many claiming the BBC ballroom show ‘wasn’t the same without him’.

Revel Horwood attempted to appease viewers by impersonating Tonioli, but he tried too hard and accidentally fell off his chair.

Going, going: Craig Revel Horwood falls off his chair
BBC

The resident Mr Nasty was so in awe of Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice’s Rumba, which saw them top the leader board, that he felt the need to “channel Bruno”.

He attempted an Italian accent and threw his hands in the air as he shouted “Giovanni darling. Debbie darling. It was sensational. I love it, love it darling”.

But as he went to sit back down he slipped off his chair, much to the amusement of fellow judges Shirley Ballas and Darcey Bussell.

Viewers found the incident hilarious with one deeming it a “thing of beauty”.

Tonioli will return to the show for the Halloween special this weekend.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One, Saturday at 6:35pm.

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