Ksi confirmed as permanent judge as Bruno Tonioli bows out of Britain's Got Talent
ksi will sit on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel full time for series 19, the show has confirmed, replacing Bruno Tonioli as Ant and Dec return to present the new season.
Ksi joins the panel for series 19
The YouTuber, boxer and rapper Ksi — whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji — moves from guest spot to permanent judge as Britain’s Got Talent begins its 19th season. The panel for the new run will feature Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden alongside the new addition, with Ant and Dec presenting. KSI previously appeared as a guest judge last year and will return full time on Saturday, February 21, when the show embarks on series 19.
Why Bruno Tonioli stepped down
Bruno Tonioli, a judge on the programme since 2023 who stepped into David Walliams' role and appeared across three series, has confirmed he will not take part in the latest season. He said he had to "walk away from a job which has opened my eyes to so much incredible talent" and is stepping down because he looks forward to filming a new series of Dancing with the Stars in the US, with diary clashes preventing a return. The show sent its own message of thanks, saying: "After three fabulous series, Bruno Tonioli is stepping down as a #BGT Judge due to filming commitments. His time with us has been truly SEN-SA-TION-AL! Thank you, Bruno, we'll miss you!"
What KSI brings to the show
Fans and critics have already reacted to KSI's appointment. One critic called him "the best thing to happen to Britain’s Got Talent since Susan Boyle, " praising the bluntness he brought to moments such as a parkour-dog routine that won loud applause from the audience while KSI remained unimpressed. Ksi himself said: "I'm so grateful and happy to be a part of the Britain's Got Talent team for another season. I had such a good time last year and I can't wait to see some more top talent. I'm full of energy, ready to go and can't wait to make this the most entertaining BGT season ever! Let's do this. "
KSI's background, businesses and private life
The 32-year-old rose to prominence in the early 2010s through online gaming content and the Sidemen group channel, which accumulated hundreds of millions of YouTube views. He has diversified into music, boxing and commerce, co-establishing Misfits Boxing and co-owning brands including Prime Hydration and Lunchly. In 2022 he co-launched the Prime energy drink with Logan Paul; that product has been banned in some schools amid concerns about high caffeine levels and long queues of buyers. Celebrity Net Worth values his fortune at approximately £75 million ($100m), placing him among the highest-earning internet personalities and earning him spots on lists such as Forbes' 30 Under 30 and recognition from the Sunday Times as one of Britain's most influential digital creators in 2019. He also bears the KSI moniker — standing for knowledge, strength and integrity — as a tattoo across his chest.
Private relationship and personal notes
KSI has been discreetly dating his partner for eight years; he says she works outside the entertainment world in a regular job and prefers to stay out of the limelight. Speaking on the Now You Know YouTube series, he said she "grounds me" and that they briefly split before he "begged" to reconcile. He added that he went to see a therapist to work on himself and better understand what he wants and needs in life.
The immediate schedule is clear: Britain’s Got Talent returns for series 19 on Saturday, February 21 with KSI joining the judges full time, while Bruno Tonioli will continue his work on Dancing with the Stars in the United States.
