Strictly Come Dancing: Why isn't Bruno Tonioli on Strictly tomorrow? Will he be replaced?

For the first time in the show’s 15-year history, judge Bruno Tonioli will be absent this weekend.

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson told The Sun: “As was always the plan, Bruno is not on the judging panel this weekend due to a very busy work schedule.

“He will be back as normal for our Halloween special and the rest of the series.”

So far on this series, Bruno has stirred up even more controversy than usual.

In the first week he groped Shirley Ballas’ breast while giving feedback on Alexandra Burke’s performance.

“Oh, you make me feel so good,” he told The X Factor winner, adding:“Touchy, feely, so good,” as he stroked the new head judge.

Host Tess Daly was quick to give Bruno a telling off for his inappropriate behaviour, which reportedly earned 20 complaints.

Last week, the flamboyant Italian compared Davood Ghadami and Nadiya Bychkova’s dance to “a race to the bedroom”.

Brendan Cole slammed the comments, writing in his Best magazine column: “If it was said about two single people, like Mollie and AJ, then maybe it would have been OK – but both Davood and Nadiya have partners and children. 

“Strictly’s also a family show – imagine your kid asking you what ‘race to the bedroom’ means?”

Brendan and Bruno had already clashed a week earlier, after the professional snapped back at Shirley during judging and had to be reminded to “be respectful”.

Bruno juggles his Strictly duties with a spot on the panel of its US counterpart, Dancing With The Stars.

He sits alongside Len Goodman, who acts as head judge.

Will Bruno be replaced on Strictly?

With Bruno away for only one week, BBC bosses have decided not to replace him on the panel, leaving Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell to judge the 12 remaining couples.

Previously, the BBC has drafted in Dirty Dancing actress and Dancing With The Stars winner Jennifer Grey to fill in for Len Goodman when he was absent for one week in 2011.

In 2014, Donny Osmond joined the panel as a guest judge for one week, making the maximum score available 50 points.

What time is Strictly on this weekend?

Strictly continues tomorrow (Saturday October 21) at 6.35pm on BBC One.

The fourth couple will be eliminated in the results show on Sunday at 7.15pm.