Britain’s Got Talent: Alesha Dixon pays tribute to David Walliams after he was replaced with Bruno Tonioli

Alesha Dixon has paid tribute to her former co-star David Walliams, after he was axed from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

The singer and TV personality, 44, from Hertfordshire, took to her Instagram stories on Wednesday, as she began filming for the 2023 series, to thank David, 51, from Wimbledon, for “10 amazing years on BGT.”

The pair have been judges on the popular ITV talent show for a decade, having both joined the talent show’s judging panel in 2012.

David Walliams has now been replaced by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli, 67, after the popular children’s author, was forced to apologise for describing an elderly contestant as a ‘c***’, as well as making disrespectful sexual remarks about a woman taking part.

Bruno took on his new role alongside seasoned judges Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, 51, and the BGT boss, Simon Cowell, 63 at the London Palladium to kick-off the first auditions of the series, this week.

Bruno spoke of his new job, prior to filming: "I am so excited. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’m sure it’s going to be brilliant."

Following the auditions, Alesha expressed her love for her former colleague, by writing: "Thank you @dwalliams for 10 amazing years on @bgt." After which, she added: “I love you very much and will miss you dearly."

The heartfelt words were posted alongside a photo of herself and David posing together, where she is seen wearing a white silk organza and satin mini dress as David sports a smart blue suit.

David’s disrespectful comments were picked up by the show’s microphones during the auditions held at the London Palladium in January 2020.

After an audition by an elderly contestant, the pensioner left and David is said to have described the man as a ‘c**t’ three times.

Then on another occasion, after a female contestant had walked off stage, David remarked: “She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub, that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t.”

He later added: “I know, she’s just like: ‘Oh, f*** off!’ I was saying, she thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”

According to the MailOnline, a Britain’s Got Talent source revealed that David’s return to the show was “very much under threat,” with senior staff adamant that he should be axed immediately.

An ITV spokesperson stated: "We do not condone the language outlined in these allegations, and we have spoken to the producers of Britain’s Got Talent.”

Following his dismissal from the ITV show, the former Little Britain star, released a statement in The Guardian.

David wrote: "I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for [BGT] in 2020."

The comedian then went on to say that the comments made were “private conversations,” and were “never intended to be shared."  Further adding: "Nevertheless, I am sorry".