Bruno Tonioli joined the Britain’s Got Talent panel in 2023 and spent three seasons as a judge on the show. During that time, he had plenty of memorable moments. Let’s take a look back at a few we won’t soon forget.
Bruno Tonioli’s Most Memorable BGT Moments
1. When He Hit the Golden Buzzer Mid-Performance
When Tonioli replaced David Walliams on the BGT panel in 2023, he apparently wasn’t aware of the show’s rules, which is why he pressed the Golden Buzzer during an audition instead of waiting for the performance to end. The honor went to a dance group from Uganda called Ghetto Kids.
Fellow judge Simon Cowell remarked that this had “never actually happened.” When he realized his mistake, Tonioli apologized, saying, “I got it wrong.” Still, Cowell called it “magical” to see the group perform as confetti rained down on the stage.
2. When He Hit Another Lightning-Fast Golden Buzzer
During the 2025 season of BGT, Tonioli was more familiar with the rules, but he still liked to push the envelope. That’s why he pressed the Golden Buzzer for 14-year-old Romanian singer Maya Giotea as soon as she finished singing.
The other judges were stunned by the move, with Amanda Holden saying, “That was so fast!” Alesha Dixon joked, “That’s how Bruno moves.”
3. When He Hit a Second Golden Buzzer
Tonioli once again unknowingly broke the rules during his first season on BGT when he pressed a second Golden Buzzer for singer Gamal John. At the time, the judges were only allowed one Golden Buzzer each during the auditions.
“We are about to get fired,” Cowell remarked. “Having said that, Bruno is a new judge, and if you give something, you can’t take it away.”
4. When He Literally Broke the Golden Buzzer
Tonioli’s chaotic Golden Buzzer antics continued into the 2024 season, when he pressed it so hard that it literally cracked. He did the honors for a group of young dancers called Phoenix Boys.
The judge shared that the dancers reminded him of his younger self, saying, “People don’t really understand how hard it is to succeed as a dancer. The work that goes into it, and the passion. And literally, you do it for nothing. You do it for love. And I felt that.”
5. When He Cursed During the Live Shows
Tonioli’s wildBGT moments weren’t limited to the audition round. In the 2023 live shows, he was caught swearing not once but twice. While stepping on stage with his fellow judges for a danger act, Tonioli could be heard saying, “F*cking hell, Simon, not again.”
Co-hosts Ant & Dec apologized for the slip-up, but Tonioli ended up cursing again in the following episode. The judge apologized, saying, “I was so into what happened yesterday, and what do I do? I did it again and I am so sorry. I promise you I will never do it again.”
6. When He Ran Away from an Obsessed Fan
Tonioli is known for keeping everyone else on their toes, but in the 2025 season, he was the nervous one when an obsessed fan named Jasun Watkins auditioned with a song about him.
“I’m going straight!” Tonioli joked, before getting out of his chair to hide behind the desk and then sneaking away. When he returned, he called the experience “a nightmare.”
7. When He Got Involved in a Male Stripper Act
In 2023, an act called The Forbidden took the BGT stage. At first, it just seemed like a typical magic act. They invited Tonioli and Holden on stage to participate in the audition. The judges were shocked when a group of male strippers showed up.
Tonioli totally embraced the twist, dancing along as the men performed. It was then revealed that the group was actually a burlesque act. Tonioli said they “made my night.”
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
