The latest on why Bruno Tonioli replaced David Walliams on BGT

The showcase of the best, and in some instances most bizarre, entertainment Britain has to offer is back under way this weekend. With Ant and Dec in the wings and Simon Cowell heading up the fearsome and only slightly frivolous judging panel, Britain's Got Talent is back.

But nothing lasts forever in showbiz and for the 16th series of the ITV show, the fourth judging seat is now home to Strictly Come Dancing veteran Bruno Tonioli after David Walliams announced his sudden departure at the end of last season.

Tonioli joins music mogul Simon alongside Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon as they narrow down the search for the successor to last year's winner Axel Blake, who nabbed a ticket onto the Royal Variety Performance stage and a £250,000 prize.

But, some may be wondering, why did David Walliams decide to quit Britain's Got Talent after so many years on the show?

Why did David Walliams quit Britain's Got Talent?

As 2022 drew to a close, reports emerged that David Walliams had stepped down from the ITV1 show, although neither the comedian nor ITV have directly addressed his exit.

Walliams' departure came after he apologised for making explicit remarks about contestants in leaked transcripts. He was reportedly recorded making derogatory and sexually explicit comments about contestants while filming the ITV show in 2020, in leaked transcripts obtained by The Guardian.

In one incident, the former Little Britain star had reportedly referred to an elderly contestant, who had made a joke at his expense, as a "c**t" three times. In another, Walliams said of a female contestant after she walked off stage: "She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f**k them, but you don’t."

Walliams went on to issue an apology for the comments, saying: "I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.

"These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry."

ITV similarly issued a statement, which read: "We do not condone the language outlined in these allegations, and we have spoken to the producers of Britain's Got Talent. Duty of care towards all participants on any of our programmes is always of paramount importance and we have protocols and guidelines in place for all our production partners."

Tonioli's replacement of Walliams was confirmed once filming for the first auditions of the show got underway at The London Palladium in January.

A video from an audience member, posted to social media, saw the hosts say: "Please give a huge London Palladium welcome to the four judges for this afternoon: They are Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli!"

"Can we say a massive welcome to Bruno," Ant McPartlin added, with Tonioli declaring: "Thank you very much. I am thrilled to be here."

Tonioli has said that Walliams got in touch with him after he was announced as his replacement on the show earlier this year.

"I haven’t seen David, but he was the first person to send me a message saying congratulations," he told Radio Times. "He also sent a fantastic bottle of Italian wine to my dressing room on my first day. I thought that was absolute class."

Britain's Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

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