bruno tonilio
Bruno Tonilio almost quit Strictly BBC

It wouldn't quite have the same rhythm without the larger-than-life Bruno Tonioli. Strictly Come Dancing was said to have almost lost one of its most famous characters after the Italian judge was angered when producers decided to cancel last Sunday night's dance-off for the first time in the ballroom show's history.

The fiery choreographer was reportedly furious after bosses opted to cancel the results show dance-off between Anastacia and Melvin Odoom on 2 October. American singer Anastacia, 48, had ripped the scar tissue around her double mastectomy and was fearful of further injuring herself if forced to dance again.

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The singer was said to have been reduced to tears backstage – but it is believed that Tonioli wasn't on the same wavelength and did not agree with the decision – throwing a "tantrum" behind the scenes.

The drama continued as Tonioli was said to have stormed out of the BBC studios and filming allegedly ground to a halt as he got into his car and reportedly demanded to be taken home. Despite cancer survivor Anastacia being deemed medically unfit to repeat her routine with dance partner Brendan Cole, Tonioli was said to have thought she should forfeit her place.

A source told the Daily Star: "The studio audience had no idea about the backstage drama."

anastacia
Anastacia dances with Brendan Cole BBC

But after some gentle persuasion, it is believed that producers were eventually able to persuade the judge to return to the panel to finish filming the results episode.

Following the cancellation of the dance-off, radio DJ and television presenter Odoom was sent home based on the original public vote.

Anastacia received some good news this week after being given the all-clear by doctors and will be competing in the show this weekend.

IBTimes UK has contacted the BBC and Tonioli's rep for comment.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.20pm.