Strictly Come Dancing ‘to have three judges’ rather than replace Bruno Tonioli with Cheryl

Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly made plans to have three judges rather than replace Bruno Tonioli with Cheryl.

Fight For This Love singer Cheryl, 36, was tipped to replace Strictly judge Bruno, 64, as it was revealed the star may not be able to judge the full series due to travel restrictions.

Bruno also judges the American version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, and usually flies back and fourth between the US and UK, but the coronavirus outbreak may forbid him from doing so this year.

Bookmaker Coral then tipped that former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, who's show The Greatest Dancer was recently axed, is the favourite to fill Bruno’s shoes.

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Coral's John Hill said: “With doubts over Bruno Tonioli's availability this year, we have slashed the odds on Cheryl being a judge on Strictly in 2020.

“Cheryl has been linked with being a contestant on Strictly for a while and they may just get their target this year, but in the judges' chair, rather than the dance floor.”

But, a TV insider has now tipped that Cheryl will not be joining judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.

It’s understood the show, which has reportedly had its start date delayed, will have three judges rather than four, instead.


An insider told The Sun Online: “As things stand, Bruno won’t be replaced and they’ll switch to three judges.

“The BBC hope the rules on flying will be relaxed by the autumn which means Bruno should be able to take part.

"They don’t want to go through a long process of replacing him when he could have done it anyway so it’s very doubtful Cheryl will be there, not as a judge anyway.”

It comes just after dancing judge Bruno gave his blessing for Cheryl to replace him on the series.

He said: “If Cheryl does end up doing it, there’s nothing wrong with that. She’s lovely. I like her.

“Of course she's not me, but we're all different. We all have different things to offer but I've heard nothing concrete.”

Bruno also admitted he isn’t sure if he will be able to make it to his judging seat on the BBC dancing show this year.

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He said: “For years and years I've spent two days of each week on the plane flying between London and LA.

“Under normal circumstances I take a deep breath and do the travel. I love the show and love to do it and normally I'm destroyed by Christmas, but this year is different for everyone.

“Under the current restrictions they just won't allow it. I don't know what's going to happen.”

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