Rylan Clark-Neal thinks Cheryl is the right person to replace Bruno Tonioli on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 64-year-old judge may not be able to sit on the panel for this year’s competition as the coronavirus pandemic restricts him from flying back and forth from the US to judge ‘Dancing with the Stars’, but he has since approved Cheryl to take his place.
And Rylan, 31, thinks the former Girls Aloud star would be the perfect replacement having previously judged on ‘The X Factor’ and ‘The Greatest Dancer’.
The ‘It Takes Two’ co-host told OK! magazine: "If Bruno does have to stick with ‘Dancing with the Stars’, it’ll be really sad and he’ll be really missed.
"But Cheryl would be great and is lovely. I’ve met her a couple of times and she’s always so sweet, and talks to everyone. But I am very low down in the ‘Strictly’ chain, so my opinion won’t matter at all!"
Bruno – who has been a judge on ‘Strictly’ since 2004 – is expected to stay in the States for the time being, which would mean he will miss out on the BBC Latin and ballroom competition later this year.
A source said: "Things have been up in the air as everyone works out what is going to be possible. But Bruno has had to make a decision.
"There is no way to travel back and forth at the moment, so he’s told bosses in the UK that unfortunately he will be staying over there.
"He spends a lot of his time in the States now, and the truth is he does earn a lot more from the US version.
"The hope is things might change and he’ll be able to make at least a guest appearance."
He has previously been temporarily replaced by Alfonso Ribeiro mid-series, but it looks unlikely that anyone will be drafted onto the panel instead of him this year.