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Bruno Tonioli, the flamboyant judge of popular dance competition show, “Strictly Come Dancing,” recently received a telling off from Simon Cowell after a blunder on “Britain’s Got Talent.” The Italian dance expert had been invited as a guest judge on the talent show, but his over-enthusiastic critique led to Cowell calling him out for being too harsh. This incident has sparked debate among viewers and sparked interest in how guest judges are chosen and what their role is on the show. In this article, we will dive into the importance of guest judges on popular talent shows and the repercussions of overselling their critiques.


Italy-born Bruno Tonioli made his debut as a judge on Saturday night’s series premiere of Britain’s Got Talent. While judging a performance by wacky auditionee Mikko Rautiainen, who played on a recorder that he had stuck up his nose, Tonioli did not push his red buzzer during the act’s performance but pressed it after it finished. Head judge Simon Cowell ticked Tonioli off for pushing the buzzer incorrectly by saying he could have just said no. Tonioli, a former judge on Strictly Come Dancing, admitted he hadn’t watched the ITV talent show before and caused more chaos by pressing his golden buzzer during a performance by Ugandan dance act Ghetto Kids before the act had finished their routine.

While viewers responded on social media with confusion and glee about the blunder-prone new judge, Tonioli’s errors raised some serious questions about the role and purpose of TV show judges. Do they really know what they’re doing, especially in shows that are designed around audience participation and their votes? What is the purpose of having judges who often take highly subjective decisions, and can we rely on them to be rational and professional in their performance?

It is a fair question to ask without being contentious about whether the judge delivered a good job or not. A judge’s role is about assessing performance in accordance with set criteria and relating that assessment to the public with some degree of eloquence, impartiality, and expertise. Judges must understand why the showrunner brought them on in the first place, anticipate the key aspects of their roles, and be prepared to work within those frameworks. Judges must display competence, and fairness in their assessment, as well as provide informed opinions to the viewers about the performance.

However, the hiring process for judges on TV talent shows is not entirely clear. Shows need to have a panel of judges and host that will elicit the best results and entertain the audience, but do they have to find true talent in those positions, or would a charismatic, recognisable face from a popular TV show suffice? In some cases, producers look for judges that have experience or acumen in a particular area, but in many other cases, they want well-known personalities who do not necessarily have any background in the field.

The more recent trend on TV talent competitions is the use of guest judges who have no idea what they’re doing, no understanding of the requirements, and who have never seen the show in question. Some guest judges are even encouraged to bring drama to ensure the episode is entertaining. These “celebrity judges” can be a hindrance to the integrity of the show or develop into ambassadors of the brand who showcase their eccentricities and appeal to a new audience.

The way TV talent shows are built around the public’s sentiment is that the audience votes take precedent over anything the judges might say. So, judges have little influence on the show’s outcome, except for appearing to be the gatekeepers of excellence, expertise, and credibility. In this regard, judges are dispensable but function as promotional faces that draw people’s attention to the show. While some entertainment formats rely on the expertise of the judges, these formats are often overwhelmed by the desire to provide viewers with an experience they will remember. The success of a TV talent show is ultimately decided by the public and by extension, its commercial value.

On one hand, the judges’ choice of talent does foster career opportunities, but on the other hand, it is also true that such a decision does not necessarily have any justification beyond what’s popular in that moment. Judges can operate as the comforting voice for the auditioners, a positive force that creates a sense of camaraderie, a crowd pleaser or an assessor of talent. They can sometimes be a mentor or a critique for learning new things or bettering one’s self. But most importantly, they are the vehicle by which commercial entities can sell voted talent or create a platform that advertisers are willing to support.

By all accounts, the role of the TV talent show judge is a peculiar one. It’s a subjective role that can be used to create TV moments that will entertain and keep the viewers coming back, but that doesn’t necessarily provide any deeper insight or purpose beyond the commercial objectives of the brand. It’s a role that relies on the audience’s sentiment but also relies on the judge’s ability to create an impression of their expertise and ability to assess the performance. It is a fine balance between entertainment and contest whilst bearing in mind the interests of the viewers and commercial value. It is, therefore, this challenge of balancing different interests that makes the TV talent show judge both a potentially interesting position and an enigmatic role in today’s popular culture.


In conclusion, it’s clear that Bruno Tonioli made a mistake during his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent. However, it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes, even the most experienced TV personalities. While Simon Cowell’s telling off may have been harsh, it’s a reminder that in the world of entertainment, every moment counts. Hopefully, Tonioli will take this experience as a learning opportunity and continue to bring his infectious energy and enthusiasm to the small screen. Until then, let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy the unpredictable world of live television.