The latest season of Britain’s Got Talent kicked off with a surprise for fans, as Bruno Tonioli was notably absent from the judging panel during the first round of auditions. 

Taking his place temporarily was YouTuber, musician, and boxing star KSI, who stepped in as a guest judge. 

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly opened the show by addressing the change, reassuring viewers that Bruno’s absence was only temporary while introducing KSI as his stand-in.

“Bruno can’t be here in Blackpool,” they announced. “The good thing is we’ve got a great replacement.”

With Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon still in their usual seats, KSI took on the role of guest judge, adding his own flair to the panel.

KSI’s Experience on the Britain’s Got Talent Judging Panel

KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, has built an impressive career spanning YouTube, music, and boxing. Despite his confidence in those fields, stepping into the Britain’s Got Talent judges’ chair was a completely new experience for him.

Speaking about his time on the show, KSI admitted that he initially tried to hold back and not impose himself too much.

“To start with, I didn’t want to impose myself too much,” he explained. “I kind of wanted to see everyone’s chemistry and gel with that rather than try to stand out. And then, once I figured out what made sense and my place, I just ran with it. I got more and more comfortable and came into my own.”

Despite his initial hesitation, KSI quickly embraced the role, making sure to offer his honest opinions rather than simply agreeing with everything.

“I wasn’t afraid to buzz, and I wasn’t afraid to give my opinion,” he said. “I wasn’t just there liking everything and saying, ‘everything is great’ because that’s kind of boring. I was myself, especially after the first day.”

KSI also reflected on how the high-energy atmosphere of the live audience reminded him of performing on stage or stepping into the boxing ring.

“It kind of reminded me of when I perform or even when I’m boxing,” he shared. “I’d hear people screaming, shouting my name. It was craziness like that, but it was cool. Even while I was sitting there, hearing people shout my name was surreal.”

Bruno Tonioli’s Thoughts on His Temporary Replacement

Bruno Tonioli, a former Strictly Come Dancing judge who joined Britain’s Got Talent last season, later shared his thoughts on KSI stepping into his shoes. He praised the YouTube star for staying true to himself rather than trying to mimic anyone else’s judging style.

“The good thing about it, as we always say, he was himself. And that is the best way of doing it,” Bruno said. “You do it from your point of view. He’s a very cool, very nice man. I think he was totally dazzled by all the acts we had on stage.”

Bruno also spoke about the high-energy audience in Blackpool, where the auditions were being filmed, describing the electric atmosphere as similar to that of a rock concert.

“It was like a rock concert! I love that because they’re really listening, they’re really into it. They pay attention. They were very vocal, very supportive—or booing us!” he joked. “It’s great because when you’re on stage and performing, you can feel the audience. That is the best possible feeling you can have as a performer.”

KSI’s Growing Presence in Mainstream Entertainment

KSI’s guest appearance as a Britain’s Got Talent judge is yet another example of his growing influence in mainstream entertainment. What started as a YouTube career focused on gaming and comedy has evolved into a multi-faceted empire that includes chart-topping music, boxing victories, and now, television appearances.

His ability to adapt to different entertainment fields is a testament to his versatility and work ethic. While it remains to be seen if he’ll return to Britain’s Got Talent in the future, his guest-judging stint proved he can hold his own among some of the UK’s biggest TV personalities.

For now, fans can look forward to the rest of the season with Bruno back in his seat, but KSI’s short time on the panel certainly left an impression.

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