Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli explains why you won't see him on stage

The live shows kick off tomorrow and they promise to bring drama, excitement - and maybe a bit of judge participation too. This year they’ve not been able to keep off the stage, much to everyone’s amusement, including .

But the Italian-born judge says he’ll be trying to keep out of the spotlight after terrifying past experiences. “I’m very happy for him to do that,” laughed Bruno, 69, about Simon’s dangerous encounter with a sledgehammer. “I think he's got a masochistic side of him because I've done it a few times. I got run over by a bike. I got thrown off. I mean, it's petrifying. He's very, very chilled about it. He loves it.”

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Bruno says he’s taking the lead from - who actively avoids all participation. “I’ve learned from Alesha, she has a sixth sense,” explains Bruno. “I can see her going... Her eyes are moving and she just runs. Because when those kind of moments come, there's no way she's going to get picked. So now I look at her and as soon as I get the uh-oh, this is going to turn, follow Alesha. She's on it like a car bonnet.”

Tomorrow we see eight acts take to the stage, including golden buzzers Vinnie McKee and Linda Mudzenda. We’ll also see the return of controversial Auzzy Blood, who’s eye-watering act sparked almost 800 complaints to Ofcom.

Bruno defended his performance, saying it’s exactly what the show needs. “It does make you cringe, but it's a very sophisticated act,” said Bruno. “His presentation, to me, was a bit like the Little Shop of Horrors. Some of these acts are huge in Vegas. It does make you squint, but it's not offensive. There is a lot of skill in what he does and the way he's presented is quite fascinating.

“I don't think it's that shocking, but that is my opinion and I respect everyone else's. The worst thing you can do is being boring, we’re definitely not boring. It created a reaction, but within that kind of act, it was very good.”

Boring is not a word you can associate with the judges, as Bruno promises to bring the fun with , Alesha and Simon, 65. “You don't want to be bland, do you?” laughed theatrical Bruno. “Maybe Amanda and I should do a Vegas act? She can sing, I can sing, we'll be kind of René and Renato. We could actually do it for a laugh. I actually suggested that we should enter , the four of us, like the new Bucks Fizz. That’d be hysterical.”

Although Bruno says he’s not putting himself up for a solo performance, like he did on , as he will be held to it by Simon. “I’m not mentioning because if I mention it, if you say anything to Simon, be careful, it would be used against you. Maybe five years later. I'm not even going there.”

Bruno promises to rival Amanda, 54, and Alesha, 46, in the fashion stakes, competing with Amanda’s often risqué outfits. “I’m going to measure her décolletage and I'm going to make sure the miles are deeper,” he teased. “But they look stunning. JI'm going to have to have surgery to stay next to them.”

For the first time in the show’s 18 series history, tonight will see the introduction of the Golden Buzzer to the live semi finals. It will give one judge or Ant & Dec the power to send an act straight through to the grand finale each week.

Bruno admitted his fears over the new feature. “I’m petrified about it,” he confessed. “I’m probably going to get it completely wrong.”

But he concedes it will bring an extra layer of intensity to the shows. “The excitement really is to see how they're going to raise the game because it's so competitive," he said. “There is always a danger. You do great and then when it comes to this occasion, they don't so well and then they freeze.”

Joining the show in 2023 to replace , the former Strictly Come Dancing judge quickly became at home on the panel, even though he’d never seen the show before. “I never watched it,” coughed Bruno. “It's too sad! But Simon made me watch it.”

And what’s his verdict? “I think it is a very, very good show!” he exclaimed.

Bruno says he loves the buzz he gets after a show. “I have such an adrenaline rush," he says. "When it finishes you feel you’ve been in a football match. The next day you need to recharge the batteries.”

So has Bruno committed his future to BGT? “I absolutely love it,” he beams. “You know, it's up to them to ask me. I have a fantastic time. Let's do this and see what happens.”

Britain’s Got Talent live semi-finals start tonight at 7pm on .

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