Anton Du Beke addresses Bruno Tonioli feud rumors, admitting the former Strictly judge hasn't spoken to him since panel shake up

Strictly 2022 hasn't even started and yet there are already rumors of feuds, drama, and awkward replacements. One such example is allegations of rocky waters after Anton Du Beke took over from veteran judge Bruno Tonioli.

Don't even bother thinking about the potential drama between the Strictly 2022 contestants, because reports of drama behind the judging table are providing far more juice this year. However, fan-favorite Anton is quick to put any nay-sayers in their place, putting rumors of a feud between him and Bruno Tonioli to bed.

The Strictly judges 2022 lineup will see Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse all reprise their seats on the panel, as Anton takes Bruno's space on the bill.

Previously Bruno spoke in an interview with The Sun, on hearing Anton was to take his spot in the 2021 series. The former judge said, "good for him, he needs the money." Fans of the star and colleagues, including Anton, know that this was all said in good humor. 

Speaking to The Sun in a recent interview Anton said, “I think he was just mucking around. I can imagine him saying it. I think it looked more punchy than it was. So I didn’t get the hump over it at all. It actually made me laugh.”

On top of dismissing any suggestions of unrest between the pair, Anton said that he knew he was potentially on borrowed time when he took the position. Furthermore, he would have relinquished his role should Bruno have returned as a judge.

“I was only stepping in. If Bruno had wanted to come back, the bosses couldn’t say to him, ‘We don’t want you’," he said. "If it had been the other way around and that had happened to me, I would have been really disappointed."

In the hypothetical situation that the role had been taken away, Anton said he wouldn't have turned his back on the series. Instead, he'd return to being a professional dancer again, adding, "I can’t think of anything better than being on Strictly.”

Despite all being well between he and Bruno, the Strictly judge admitted, “I haven’t spoken to him. I haven’t spoken to any of the judges," explaining of his return to the panel, “It was all down to circumstance really." 

"The situation with flying still isn’t ideal - we all know how many flights are being canceled - and Bruno said to the BBC, ‘Listen, I can’t do both shows. Thank you very much and good luck.'"

Fans of the hit show will be delighted to hear that after nine long months, the wait is over and Strictly Come Dancing 2022 will hit screens this September.