Ant and Dec played hilarious pranks on Bruno Tonioli during first days as new Britain’s Got Talent judge

Ant and Dec have revealed they welcomed new Britains Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli with a hilarious prank ahead of the latest series.

The Newcastle-born TV presenting duo are returning for the 16th series of Britain’s Got Talent along with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. They will also be joined by ex-Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli, who is the latest addition to the judging panel.

As filming for the show commenced, Ant and Dec began their mischievous antics and decided to prank the newest member of the team.

They admitted to giving Bruno, 67, different rules to confuse him and said he could use the golden buzzer whenever he liked.

“We, quite mischievously, kept telling him different rules,” Dec Donnelly said in an interview.

“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.

“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 McPartlin 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 has replaced David Walliams, who was forced to step down after 10 years of being on the judging team.

The comedian handed in his notice as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after he was discovered to have made a number of disrespectful comments about contestants on the show.

Bruno has described joining the show as “meeting up with your friends and having a laugh” but said he was nervous before shows because “I really do care”.

Ant and Dec have hosted Britain’s Got Talent since 2007, despite almost quitting the show in 2012.

Britain’s Got Talent series 16 starts on Saturday 15 April on ITV1 at 8 pm.