Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood has high hopes Bruno Tonioli WILL return to the show this year

Craig Revel Horwood has shared his hopes that Bruno Tonioli will return to the show later this year after he had to sit out of the 2020 series.

The Strictly Come Dancing head judge, 56, revealed the great news on Wednesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain, saying they hoped Bruno could return, travel restrictions permitting.

He explained: ‘We’re hoping Bruno comes back. We really do want him there in the seat – whether he stays in the seat or not as he’s generally up and down like a yo-yo!

‘Of course we want him back. If he can’t come back then he’ll do what he did last time, you know due to restrictions, and just do lives and crosses and feeds to the studio, which was great fun as it was anyway.’

Strictly representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. 

Bruno only appeared on the show occasionally via video link because he couldn’t travel amid the coronavirus pandemic and also had commitments on the judging panel for the US version Dancing With The Stars.

It was claimed last month that Bruno had reportedly told pals he ‘can’t commit’ to the upcoming series.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Bruno travelled across the Atlantic to simultaneously film both shows. 

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Bruno can’t commit to both shows right now and is staying put in LA — it’s a better lifestyle there, with great weather, which is good for his health. 

‘He earns close to £1 million a series in America, so he has to prioritise that.

‘Of course, he’s still very much part of the Strictly family and is keen to appear on a video link several times through the series.’

MailOnline contacted representatives for Bruno Tonioli and Strictly Come Dancing for comment at the time.

Bruno was due to resume his panel duties on the semi-final last year but he and his bosses decided it would be safer for him to remain stateside and maintain his judging commitments on Dancing With The Stars.

The decision apparently meant facing a £125,000 pay cut from his reported £250,000 salary, and he instead appeared via satellite link.

A source at the time told The Sun: ‘He’s contributed less than he ­normally would with all of his Italian flamboyance and high- energy performances in the studio, so he was happy to take less than his usual wage.

‘After all, it was his ­decision to focus on the American show while keeping his toe in the UK. There’s no hard feelings.’

BBC bosses have reportedly warned Bruno he will not receive full pay again if he does not appear in person this year.

But the insider said the plan was simply to move ahead with the remaining judges—Craig, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas, after they successfully completed last year’s series as a trio.

It was also confirmed that Anton Du Beke will not be called up to replace Bruno on the judging panel for the remaining four weeks of the series, after he filled in for Motsi. 

Bruno was due to isolate for two weeks after returning from the US before making his comeback on the BBC1 series, yet the plan was thwarted.  

When it was reported in August that Bruno would make a comeback later in the series, insiders said BBC bosses were keen to get Bruno to the UK and hope that he could make a comeback for the final. 

Bill Bailey won the coveted Glitterball trophy alongside his professional partner Oti Mabuse, her second win in a row.