The flamboyant ex-Strictly Come Dancing judge and choreographer, 67, was selected to join show creator Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden on the panel after leaked recordings captured 51-year-old comedian David making disparaging comments about people auditioning for the reality talent show.
He later apologised for his offensive comments, stating: ‘I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.
‘These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.’
He had been in place on the panel for 10 series, and after months of speculation surrounding his role, it was announced in January that David would not be involved in the next season and was being replaced by Bruno.
Now, as BGT gears up to launch the audition shows of the new series, Bruno has revealed how he reached out to him once he was announced as his replacement on the panel.
‘I haven’t seen David, but he was the first person to send me a message saying congratulations,’ Bruno told Radio Times.
‘He also sent a fantastic bottle of Italian wine to my dressing room on my first day. I thought that was absolute class,’ he added.
Discussing his exit from Strictly after 16 years as a judge during the pandemic, Bruno also said he had no issues with skipping a massive send-off when he left the show.
‘It happened randomly during the lockdown, but I don’t mind at all. Anton [Du Beke] is doing a great job and it feels right that he should carry on. I went back and sang [Don’t Leave Me This Way by the Communards] for them.’
He also shared that although he would never be a judge again he ‘may go back’ as he confirmed that he and those on and behind the show would ‘always be very good friends’.
The Italian revealed that he ‘still get[s] messages from Tess Daly and Craig Revel Horwood’, but just wasn’t able to continue doing both Strictly and Dancing with the Stars in the US each week, where he is still a judge.
Marking the launch of the latest edition of BGT, the show’s presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly also revealed they ‘mischievously’ gave Bruno his own rules to confuse him on his first day.
Dec, 47, said: ‘We, quite mischievously, kept telling him different rules. So when he hit his golden buzzer on the first session of the first day, mid-way through an act, we told him not to worry because he had another golden buzzer tomorrow, and that he had one every day.
‘That might have something to do with the fact we have more golden buzzers this year.
‘We also played a prank on the rest of the judges by going into their room and doing a BGT quiz, but secretly gave Bruno all the answers in advance. That was quite fun to see the look on everyone else’s face.’
Ant, 47, added: ‘Much to Simon’s annoyance that somebody else would win a quiz about his show. He quickly worked out it was a prank and didn’t like it! But we loved it.’
Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV1 at 8pm on Saturday, April 15.
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