Overview

• Tonioli joined the judging panel in 2023, replacing David Walliams and sat alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon
• ITV’s decision to film next season’s auditions back-to-back over two weeks in Blackpool and Birmingham has created a direct conflict with his US commitments
• Insiders caution he would miss roughly half of the audition episodes under the revised format, making full-time judging untenable
• Singer and guest judge KSI has become a frontrunner after winning over viewers during last year’s Blackpool auditions and live semi-finals
• Comedian Alan Carr is also tipped to replace him thanks to his close rapport with Amanda Holden and longstanding ITV ties