Bruno Tonioli makes showstopping return to Strictly Come Dancing

Bruno Tonioli made a showstopping return to Strictly Come Dancing for the Christmas Day special.

The former judge, 67, entertained viewers as he performed a rendition of Don’t Leave Me This Way by The Communards.

The Italian choreographer quit the show after 18 years in May, admitting that flying back and forth between the UK and the US for the show had become ‘too much’ for him.  

He’s back! Bruno Tonioli made a showstopping return to Strictly Come Dancing for the Christmas Day special

Bruno donned an all-white outfit for the show, sporting a sequinned blazer with a matching shirt and trousers.

The dancer was last a regular judge on Strictly during series 17 in 2019 and was absent the following year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bruno had been juggling his role on the BBC dancing show with his stateside judging gig on Dancing With The Stars since 2005 and it was simply exhausting him. 

Following his departure from Strictly, Bruno said he ‘just can’t do the 10-hour flights anymore and was done.’

Performance: The former judge, 67, entertained viewers as he performed a rendition of Don’t Leave Me This Way by The Communards

Bruno has been at the heart of the BBC dance show since its 2004 launch.

However, he hadn’t been a regular on the panel during the pandemic due to travel restrictions amid his filming on Dancing With The Stars.

Last year, Bruno was replaced on the UK judging panel by Anton Du Beke amid difficulties jetting back and forth.

While the year before that, Bruno appeared via video link due to the same issues.

Style: Bruno donned an all-white outfit for the show, sporting a sequinned blazer with a matching shirt and trousers

It was previously suggested by Craig Revel Horwood that Bruno could return to judge alongside Anton, but now it appears that he’ll stay put in the US.

Bruno formed part of the original Strictly line-up alongside Craig, Arlene Phillips and his Dancing With The Stars co-star Len Goodman. 

Earlier this year, the star ruled out a more long-term return to the show in an interview with MailOnline.

Decision: Bruno in May, admitting that flying back and forth between the UK and the US for the show had become ‘too much’ for him (pictured on Strictly in 2019)

He said: ‘Well I always will miss it, it’s my family, but I mean we’ll always be friends and you never know what’s going to happen.

‘At the moment, you know it’s just as impossible, you know the situation is too complicated but they’re all my brothers and sisters, we’re all loving each other, you know, no hard feelings, they’re great, they do a great job.’

But offering hope for Strictly fans he added: ‘You know what’s going to happen, no one knows what’s going to happen in the future, but at the moment I do the American show but I can’t do the travel, it’s impossible.’

New line up: Bruno was replaced on the UK judging panel by Anton Du Beke amid difficulties jetting back and forth (L-R Shirley Ballas, Anton, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse)