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Simon Cowell ‘wants Strictly’s Bruno Tonioli for Greatest Dancer’

Could this really happen?

Simon Cowell reportedly wants to sign Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli for his new show, The Greatest Dancer.

The music mogul’s new BBC show will be a dance-focused talent competition that’s set to air early 2019.

According to The Sun, Simon is keen for Bruno to join the judging panel alongside a rumoured line-up that would include Cheryl, Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon and Strictly’s Oti Mabuse.

Read more: Simon Cowell praises Dec’s “outstanding” work on Britain’s Got Talent

ED! has contacted Simon’s rep and Bruno’s rep for comment.

Bruno, 62, was one of the famous faces who attended Simon’s annual Syco summer party in London on Monday night.

And according to The Sun, Simon cracked a joke about Bruno during his speech at the bash.

Piers Morgan, son Bertie, Simon Cowell, son Spencer and Bruno Tonioli at Simon's summer party
Bruno attended Simon’s annual summer party on Monday (Credit: Instagram)

The X Factor boss reportedly joked about Bruno swapping his judging seat on Strictly to be a contestant.

But when Bruno got on stage and said he was staying on the BBC show, Simon apparently replied: “But you’ve got to leave at some point.”

The Greatest Dancer is just the latest TV project for Simon.

In the pilot run, Alesha and Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo apparently hosted the show – which is planned for Saturday nights on BBC.

Glee star Matthew Morrison and Oti also apparently helped to make up the coaching panel.

Meanwhile, it’s been rumoured that Cheryl will be part of the show as a “dance captain”.

Kate Phillips, Controller of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC, told the Radio Times earlier this year: “With the continued success of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC is undoubtedly the home of dance.

Cheryl will reportedly star on the show (Credit: Mark Milan / SplashNews.com)

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“By launching The Greatest Dancer we want to give the vast array of dance talent across the UK the chance to shine.

“I can’t wait to work with Syco and Thames to uncover the talent out there and let our audience critique and celebrate the nation’s unsung dance heroes.”

Will you be watching The Greatest Dancer? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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