Shirley Ballas reacts to Bruno Tonioli's potential Strictly exit

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: June 28 2020 | 12:26

Last updated: June 28 2020 | 17:27

Shirley Ballas says that she has her "fingers crossed" that Bruno Tonioli can be part of the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel this year.

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has her "fingers crossed" that Bruno Tonioli will be able to appear on this year's show.

The 64-year-old normally appears each autumn on both Strictly and US version Dancing With The Stars, flying back and forth between the UK and Los Angeles each week while both shows are on the air.

Current coronavirus travel restrictions will make doing so impractical this year, leading to speculation that Tonioli will be replaced for the upcoming series, which has been shortened and pushed back until October due to the pandemic.

"They are again rumours, so it will be according to the flights," Ballas told talkRADIO. "If he can get backwards and forwards safely but knowing Bruno and he's such an amazing man, he will do everything in his power not to let the British public down.

"So let's keep our fingers crossed. It will all go down to guidelines and rules."

Yesterday it emerged that producers would reportedly prefer to drop down to three judges rather than replace Tonioli, should the need arise.