Bruno Tonioli ‘fears Strictly Come Dancing will be next show to be lost by bungling BBC bosses’
The judge spoke out about fears the hit programme would be sold as government pressure pressure BBC to give independent companies chance to produce shows
STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has revealed there are fears BBC bosses are planning to put the show up for tender so it can be made by an independent company.
Government proposals mean the BBC is having to give outside companies a chance to produce famous shows, including A Question of Sport, Holby City and Songs of Praise.
But Bruno says the Beeb – which recently lost The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4 after losing a bidding war – should not muck around with its most popular entertainment show unless they wanted to spark a “huge backlash”.
In an exclusive interview, he said of the likely decision: “It’s a delicate process. They could upset a lot of people - it is a very very delicate situation with Strictly, even more than the Bake Off.”
Speaking at the Bafta LA TV tea party, he added: “The thing is that Strictly is a BBC property, they created the show. It is their format.
“It could be sold, but I doubt it will be produced outside. They have to be very careful because Strictly is such is an institution in the UK it is the people’s show.
“If it was a drama I think it would be easier because any production company could do a great job.
“I do understand it, but there are things like the One Show and Strictly which are typical BBC and there would be a huge backlash.”
Bruno – who is also a judge on the US version of the show, Dancing With the Stars – only decides his future on the BBC show on a series by series basis.
He explained: “As a performer they have to first ask me to do it, because I am not under contract.
“I do one series at a time, I worked for them for years but I am not under a long running contract like they have in America.
“They would have to ask me first and then I would see if it works for me as well it has in the past. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.”
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The BBC’s decision to tender out its series has been controversial, with some insiders suggesting it will result in changes to the look and feel of shows.
As part of the new BBC charter, over the coming years all of the corporation’s shows will be subject to a tendering process.
A BBC spokesman said: “We have 11 years to tender our shows and Strictly hasn’t been considered yet. The BBC owns the rights to Strictly so it will always be a BBC show.”