Contract Disputes Reportedly Put ‘BGT’ Judging Panel into Question
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Britain’s Got Talent Series 16 is scheduled to start filming this week, but contract disputes are reportedly putting the judging panel into question. According to a new report, longtime judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon are unhappy with newcomer Bruno Tonioli receiving the same pay as them.
BGT Judges Reportedly in Contract Dispute Over Pay
Fans have been wondering for months about who would be replacing judge David Walliams following reports that he was leaving the show. In November, derogatory comments Walliams made about contestants were leaked to the public.
It was recently reported that Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli would be joining the BGT panel for Series 16, alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon. However, new reports suggest that Holden and Dixon are unhappy with Tonioli’s pay.
According to the Daily Mail, the two judges are refusing to sign their contracts for the new series, as Tonioli will reportedly match their salaries at an estimated £850,000.
A source told the outlet, “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.”
SEE ALSO: ‘DWTS’ JUDGE BRUNO TONIOLI TO REPLACE DAVID WALLIAMS ON ‘BGT’
Filming Is Schedule to Begin This Week
Filming for Series 16 of Britain’s Got Talent is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at the London Palladium. A source told the Mail that the reported contract dispute is “a bit of a headache” for the show, adding, “Bruno was still ironing out his contract on Friday too so it’s all very much down to the wire.”
Comedian Alan Carr was also reportedly in the running for Walliams’ spot on the panel. A source told the Mail, “Alan was told that he had the job and then all of sudden Bruno’s name popped up. It is so bizarre.” They added that Cowell preferred Tonioli for the job.
BGT has not made any official announcements about the judging panel for the new series.
