Bruno Tonioli is set to share his seat on the Britain's Got Talent judging panel with internet sensation KSI, who will fill in for him during his commitments in the USA with Dancing With The Stars. The 31-year-old YouTube megastar, lauded for amassing more than 2.7 billion online music streams, shared that he was left "laughing his a*** off" upon receiving the invitation to join the talent show's lineup.
BGT is preparing to kick-off its first round of auditions in Blackpool this month; however, Bruno's international schedule means he can't attend every audition session. KSI, real name Olajide Olatunji, is scheduled to cover for Bruno for three out of five days of the initial auditions, with producers hopeful that his massive following will attract a fresh audience to the series. An insider disclosed to The Sun: "Their new judge doesn't just know a thing or two about entertaining, he has a colossal following who are largely young and tech savvy, which is just the sort of viewer that the show now thrives on.
" It was further shared: "BGT isn't just a TV show - it's a global internet phenomenon as well, with clips of the various acts being watched a staggering 24 billion times around the world. [That's] why KSI is the perfect match, as his music alone has been streamed 2.7 billion times.
" This week marks the release of KSI's two latest singles, 'Thick of It' and 'Low', as he continues to expand his business ventures, including co-founding the energy drink brand Prime alongside fellow internet maverick Logan Paul, reports the Express . Fans were eager to snap up the product at its 2023 launch, with queues forming at the crack of dawn and profits hitting nearly £27 million in its first year on the market. However, as buying fervour has cooled in recent times, he has branched out into other ventures including boxing, not to mention his upcoming stint on BGT.
It has been reported that a deal was made last week, with The Sun quoting KSI expressing his excitement. He said: "I'm so excited to be a guest judge for BGT. When I got the call up, I couldn't believe it.
"I remember watching old BGT episodes and going from being amazed to laughing my a*** off." I'm buzzing to see all the fresh new talent, and I'll be sure to leave a mark." Simon Cowell had openly stated that he would spare no expense to ensure Bruno Tonioli could shuttle between Britain and the US, balancing his numerous commitments.
While the business mogul has honoured his word, logistics mean that Bruno can't attend every show. The news that KSI will replace Bruno may come as a shock to some fans of the ITV show as there was previous speculation that Alan Carr could be the substitute. Britain's Got Talent is set to air later this year.
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Entertainment
Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli to be replaced in huge panel shake-up
Bruno Tonioli will be replaced by KSI on the Britain's Got Talent judging panel with the YouTube sensation stepping in when the Italian star is filming in the US