What we know about Bruno Tonioli's future on Britain's Got Talent

There has been a lot of talk about Bruno Tonioli's future as a judge on Britain's Got Talent.

Among the newspaper headlines, one read: "Britain's Got Talent set to drop judge, Bruno". It wasn't long before music mogul and BGT boss Simon Cowell set the records straight as he hit back at claims the ITV show had dropped the judge from next year's panel.

Regardless of any potential scheduling clashes, Cowell said Tonioli would be returning as a judge and that he personally loved having him star on the show. "He's coming back," he said publicly. In fact, Cowell stated he wouldn't make any changes to the current judging panel.

Speaking on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, he said: "Seriously. I don't know where all this stuff comes from. I spoke to the producers literally two weeks ago about there is a scheduling issue with Bruno."

He added: "But I love Bruno on the show. I think he's brilliant."

So what don't we know?

What don't we know

Britain's Got Talent's audition dates

We do know that TV crews are going to be filming some of the Britain's Got Talent auditions later this year. Tickets for the audience will be available soon. However, we don't know when these dates are going to be yet or when the tickets will be up for grabs.

Free ticket service Applause store's message read: "Join Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Ant & Dec at the the amazing LIVE 2024 judge auditions!

"Britain’s Got Talent' is open to anyone of any age with absolutely any talent; from fire eaters to acrobats, dancers to divas, aerial performers to animal acts you can expect to see them all live on stage. So if you fancy being right in the heart of these fantastic live shows and watch the judges and acts LIVE, then this is the show for you!"

The auditions are always pre-recorded, only the semi-finals and final are broadcast live. While Tonioli is listed as one of the judges, Cowell pointed out there is a potential scheduling clash for when the Italian star is going to be filming in America later this year.

What about a stand in for Bruno Tonioli?

Cowell did shed some light on how to get around the scheduling issue with Tonioli. The music mogul suggested one possibility could include getting a temporary stand-in for the judge.

He said: "Because we're doing the auditions... Some of the auditions this year and he's going to be in America. So maybe there'll be a stand in for him. I don't know."

Of course, Cowell is very well connected in the showbiz world and has many friends who would be vying for a place on the panel. Dixon and Holden also have plenty of pals who could be a good fit for the role. Alan Carr - who has a great 15-year friendship with Holden - was previously been linked to the show when David Walliams was axed.

It appears behind the scenes conversations are yet to happen about the filming of next year's Britain's Got Talent.

Will Britain's Got Talent 2025 be supersized?

Britain's Got Talent could face changes to the format next year too. Rumours are swirling that next year's Britain's Got Talent will be even bigger. Recent reports, that first emerged in The Sun, claimed the show could be extended over three months.

Holden admitted her holiday plans could be dashed if BGT is extended. "It just means I can't get to the Cotswolds!" She quipped during a recent Good Morning Britain appearance alongside fellow judges Tonioli and Alesha Dixon.

"I think it would be amazing if it was true and if we did it ever single Saturday rather than strip it in a week like we have done for 17 years," she said. "Because it is a Saturday night show."

Alesha agreed "Yeah and it is such an event when it comes around. And it is so warm and it brings so much joy - why not have it last a little bit longer?" She added: "We need that in the world right now... escapism."

Yahoo reached out to Britain's Got Talent and Tonioli's representatives for further comment.