Here’s How Dancing With the Stars Could’ve Teased Bruno Tonioli’s Replacement

Dancing With the Stars fans wonder whether Bruno Tonioli will judge the remainder of Season 33. He’s already been tapped to fill in for Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent, which is filmed across the pond. This could cause a scheduling conflict with the live dancing competition.

Is Tonioli Leaving DWTS?

There are questions about whether Tonioli is returning to the ABC show. On Thursday, October 17, The Sun reported that he was back in the UK filming for Britain’s Got Talent. Auditions briefly paused because of One Direction star Liam Payne’s sudden death. However, auditions resumed the following day with judges Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, KSI, and Tonioli. 

Cowell took time away from the show to mourn his loss. He was responsible for forming the members of One Direction. Cowell first met Payne on the set of The X Factor. An insider told The Sun that Cowell was “utterly shocked and devastated” over Payne’s tragic passing. 

Britain’s Got Talent is currently in production. DWTS films live shows on Tuesday nights. It’s unclear whether Tonioli will return to the judging panel this week. Tuesday night’s theme is “Disney Night.” 

Will Mark Ballas Return?

Professional dancer Mark Ballas appeared during the Tuesday, October 16 episode. Last week’s theme was “Dedications Night.” Fans loved seeing Ballas on the judging panel. It was a refreshing contrast to celebrity guest judge Gene Simmons, who was called out for his inappropriate comments and scoring mishaps. Ballas clearly knows what he’s talking about, especially about ballroom dancing.

Fans on Reddit wonder if DWTS teased Ballas’ new judging role. At the time, many assumed that he would be a suitable replacement for the latest Len Goodman. Now, fans think that Ballas could temporarily fill in for Tonioli while he fills in for Cowell. The thread received a positive reaction.

“It’s definitely a possibility. Mark would be an excellent substitute in place of Bruno. But I thought BGT filmed later, like after DWTS. Did Bruno miss time on BGT last year, too?” one Redditor asked. 

What are your thoughts? Do you think Ballas will fill in for Tonioli? Let us know in the comment section. 

Dancing With the Stars airs live on Tuesday nights on ABC and Disney+.