'We do talk about Bruno!': Strictly fans remember Bruno Tonioli in 'Encanto' dance

Movie week on Strictly Come Dancing opened with a performance to Encanto's 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' - which prompted viewers to remember former judge Bruno Tonioli.

The beloved animated film was the inspiration for the pro cast's opening number, which cast Graziano Di Prima as the character Bruno, and host Claudia Winkleman couldn't resist a joke about the song.

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As she began the show by thanking the dancers, she said: "And just for the record, we do talk about Bruno - all the time."

Bruno Tonioli had been a long-serving member of the judging panel from the first series in 2004 until 2019, but during 2020 pandemic travel restrictions forced him to stay in the US, where he judges Dancing With The Stars, although he dialled in to the Sunday results shows.

Last series, Tonioli was replaced by former pro cast member Anton Du Beke, who has returned as a permanent fixture in place of Tonioli this time.

Of course, Strictly fans were also talking about Bruno after the show dance.

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One viewer tweeted: "If Bruno Tonioli doesn't burst out of that door this was a waste of time."

Someone else wrote: "The irony of not talking about Bruno on #Strictly lost on none of us."

Another person commented: "Poor Bruno! He’s only on DWTS, you can talk about him."

Someone else tweeted: "The #BBC #Strictly throwing shade at Bruno with the starting we don't talk about Bruno."

The Encanto themed dance was a huge hit with viewers, particularly the casting of Di Prima as Bruno.

One fan tweeted: "Right… Graziano absolutely has to play Bruno in a live action remake don’t even @ me."

Another person added: "Graziano is a perfect choice for Bruno."

Someone else agreed: "Inspired casting to have Graziano play Bruno."

Movie week will see the couples take on dances inspired by famous films, with Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice opting for The Lion King, Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer performing Flashdance, and Will Mellor and Nancy Xu going for Dirty Dancing.

The second couple of the series to be voted out will be announced in Sunday's show.

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