Ant and Dec reveal the devious pranks they played on new Britain’s Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli

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Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly couldn’t resist teasing Bruno Tonioli (Picture: Getty / Rex)

Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly ‘mischievously’ gave new Britain’s Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli his own rules to confuse him on his first day.

The ITV talent show is set to return with the former Strictly Come Dancing judge joining the panel alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, and presenters Ant and Dec couldn’t resist playing some cheeky pranks during filming for the upcoming 16th series.

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.’

Bruno is on the panel with Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell (Picture: Dymond/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)

Bruno, who has replaced David Walliams on the judging panel, described joining the show as ‘meeting up with your friends and having a laugh’ but said he was always nervous before any shows because ‘I really do care’.

Meanwhile, original judge Amanda, 52, described having energetic Bruno on the judging panel as ‘putting a Berocca into water and watching it fizz’.

She said: ‘He gives some good critiques when he’s not messing around and being naughty. I swear we need to strap him to his chair, he never sits down!

‘He’s a sweetheart and very informed, those are the bits that I’m finding really interesting about him.

Bruno is ‘bringing all the energy and character’ from his Strictly days (Picture: Karwai Tang)

‘I think he’s still bringing all the energy and character that he had on Strictly, but you get to see more of him because obviously now he’s judging more than just dancing.

‘He also speaks several languages, so it’s been great having him translate for some of our international acts. It’s like having our own BGT interpreter on call every day.’

She said the talent on the show this year felt ‘more homegrown’ after last year saw a lot of professional performers who had struggled during lockdown.

She added that the show had seen more choirs audition than ‘ever before’.

Ant and Dec gave Bruno his own golden buzzer rule (Picture: ITV)

Alesha, 44, has predicted a golden buzzer act will win this year but said it was a shame a woman has not won the show for a while.

She added: ‘We need to encourage more women to audition next year. I’m on a mission!’

Last year, comedian Axel Blake was crowned the winner, scooping the £250,000 prize, as well as a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.

Simon, 63, referenced 2009 contestant Susan Boyle when talking about the element of surprise in an audition.

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He said: ‘You always hope that you can be surprised. And have people talk about the act afterwards. That’s hugely important. I learned that when Susan Boyle was on the show.

‘How many people spoke about her audition? I think that plays a huge part in the show’s success now, if an audition goes viral, someone’s career can take off.’

Britain’s Got Talent returns to ITV1 at 8pm on April 15.

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