Britain’s Got Talent loved KSI so much they already want him to replace Bruno Tonioli.
The 31-year-old YouTube star made his debut on the panel during Saturday night’s launch show as he stepped in for the regular judge at the Blackpool auditions.
The former Strictly panelist was in the US filming Dancing With The Stars, and so KSI has been filling in alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
The 31-year-old influencer spent three days in the hot seat for the auditions, and after his appearance viewers were delighted.
They heaped praise on his enthusiasm and ‘hilarious’ comments, with some wanting him to get the job full time.
‘#BritainsGotTalent How hilarious is KSI lmfao can we keep him as a full time judge,’ wrote fan @blake_scarlett on X.
‘KSI so much better than Bruno,’ added @TuckfieldMark, as broadcaster Paul Ryder agreed: ‘I prefer KSI to Bruno on #BritainsGotTalent 👀’
And @Imtherealanon quipped: ‘Can we vote whether we want KSI or Bruno? My vote goes to KSI. ##BGT #BritainsGotTalent’
Others said KSI brought ‘the fun’ element back to the show, and the consensus might give producers something to think about.
‘I LOVED @KSI as a judge last night on #BritainsGotTalent,’ wrote @BR0KEN_ASH. ‘His reactions made everything feel fresh and funnier. Need him full time. #BGT’
During Saturday’s launch, KSI joined his fellow judges in praising holiday rep Vinnie, 29, after his operatic cover of The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) delighted the crowd.
Simon was swayed by the audience and hit his golden buzzer to send the singer straight through to the live shows.
He was left ‘speechless’ by the performance, while KSI said Vinnie’s ‘outstanding’ audition ‘blew everyone away’.
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‘Your voice is just superb,’ declared Amanda, as Alesha added: ‘Throughout that whole audition, you were trying to prove yourself and you really, really did.’
KSI, an English social media influencer, professional boxer, and musician, previously weighed in on his approach to being a judge before the auditions.
‘Everyone thinks I’m going to be an evil judge, I’m going to be a villain,’ he told Capital FM.
‘I’m going to just press the red button as soon as they walk out. I might do that every now and then, but I’m just going to have fun with it and we’ll just see what happens.’
Across his three YouTube channels, KSI now has over 41million subscribers, with BGT bosses keen to capitalise on his popularity and attract a younger audience to the ITV show.
‘There’s been kids hysterically crying, parents doing whatever they can to get their kid down to the judges’ seats,’ a source told Metro.
‘He can’t even go to the loo during filming without the audience running to try and get photos.’
Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV1 and ITVX.
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