Alesha Dixon has hinted that she preferred the judging line-up on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent before former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli joined the show

Alesha Dixon has taken an inadvertent swipe at Britain’s Got Talent co-star Bruno Tonioli(Image: PA)

Alesha Dixon has taken an indirect swipe at Britain’s Got Talent co-judge Bruno Tonioli after hinting she preferred the show before he joined the cast. The former singer, 46, has been a judge on the long-running ITV talent show since 2012.

When she first joined the cast – having been poached from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing where she served as a judge from 2009 until 2011 – she was on the judging panel alongside head judge Simon Cowell, actress Amanda Holden and comedian David Walliams. David, 53, dropped out of the show in 2022 after he was allegedly caught on tape making comments about contestants.

The Little Britain star was subsequently replaced by Italian dance expert Bruno, 69, who was himself a judge on Strictly from 2004 until 2019. In a new interview, Alesha suggested the current line-up of judges on the ITV show is not up to scratch.

Joining David on his Making A Scene podcast, the Scandalous singer remarked: “You never know what the chemistry is going to be like. But the four of us together were magic.”

She continued: “The ten years we did together was special. We were the best judging panel on telly – the Fab Four.”

Amanda judges alongside Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden, and Simon Cowell(Image: PA)

Alesha then went on to recall her early days on the ITV variety show – admitting she had mixed feelings having recently walked away from her BBC role. She recalled: “I’d already made the decision to leave Strictly. I knew I was only going to do three years.

“I wanted to try something new. I enjoy Britain’s Got Talent so much, which is why I’ve been there for so long. It’s a different energy. You can be yourself more.”

Britain’s Got Talent is currently the throes of it’s 18th season – with live semi-final shows taking place each Saturday for the next six weeks. This weekend, Scottish singer Vinnie McKee became the first hopeful to be voted through to the live final thanks to a public vote.

The Mis-Teeq star has hinted she preferred judging with David Walliams(Image: ITV)

He wowed the judges and those watching along at home by belting out a rendition of the Snow Patrol hit Chasing Cars. Swiss dance troupe The Blackouts also made it through to the finals after they impressed Amanda Holden enough for her to bash the golden buzzer.

The 2025 season has introduced a new rule that one judge will be granted the chance to hit the golden buzzer for an act during each of the semi-final shows. The move has proved controversial, however, with some viewers fearing that the final will be overstocked with the judges favourites rather than the choices of the viewers.

And others have complained that the live studio audience have become unbearable in the semi-finals as they urge the judges to hit the golden buzzer after every performance. One complained on X on Saturday night: “the golden buzzer in the semi finals already causing havoc cause the audience won’t shut up #bgt.” And another complained: “Will this audience shut up #BGT.”

Many viewers hit out over the decision to introduce a golden buzzer during the live semi final rounds. One wrote: “#BGT so basically the judges may as well ljust pick the finalists and forget about the semis … what a joke.”

Another typed: “A live show golden buzzer is completely unnecessary. What if she doesn’t press it at all? #BGT.” And another raged: “#BGT in other words it’s so the judges can fix it!”

Others took to social media to blast the format of multiple semi final shows stretched over more than a month. One complained, writing: “So every Saturday for the next 6 weeks, is the Semi Final episodes #BGT.”