For 20 years, Strictly Come Dancing has taken the UK by storm, with millions of viewers tuning in over the years, to see their favourite celebrities paired with some of their favourite professional dancers; this year however, it seems as though play time is finally over as footage emerges from the rehearsal rooms to right in front of our eyes.
Details have been released more frequently regarding the treatment of the professionals towards the celebrity contestants, but what has actually happened and why is it coming out now?
Two professional dancers have already left the BBC dance competition after the allegations went public, and a third unnamed dancer has been mentioned, however the name is yet to be revealed despite speculation.
The show has announced that they have changed the duty of care policy which is put in place to protect the celebrity contestants, and one of the professionals, Nadiya Bychkova has spoken to the producers of the show in regards to the situation, although it is unclear exactly what has been mentioned.
The Strictly taboo first started at the end of 2023 when actress Amanda Abbington left the show when it was airing, viewers were first told that Abbington had left due to medical reasons but she later released a statement saying it was for personal reasons instead.
Fans of the show started to speculate that it was because of a disagreement between herself and her partner Pernice, as she failed to mention him in the statement, beginning of this year, she then asked the show for footage of he time in rehearsals and meeting Pernice’s previous celebrity partners where the rumours started that she was planning taking legal action.
Denying the allegations, Penice still left the show June 2024, due to the allegations of workplace misconduct. Abbington later spoke about her ”horrible” experience in rehearsals and how she would come home crying and throwing up.
A month later, July 2024, another professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima had also quit the show after further allegations about his behaviour to Lover Island star, Zara McDermott.
McDermott issued a statement: “So much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with.
However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”
Di Prima admitted to kicking McDermott during training, that is when the news of a third dancer leaving the show was mentioned as a ”person of interest” during the ongoing investigations of the show.
Viewers have found leaked footage of various professionals over the years, one being ex Strictly pro, James Jordan, throwing a chair. Jordan has since spoke out and said how it was staged for entertainment, and how his partner, Georgina Bouzova was laughing in said clips.
Former celebrity contestants have spoken out such as former MP Edwina Currie who has claimed that the influencers on the show don’t realise how hard the show will be when they sign up. Presenter Alison Hammond also said how when she was on the show in 2014, she didn’t feel the ned for a chaperone.
Laura Whitmore has broken her silence, confirming that she has spoken to Strictly bosses about her ‘concerns’ about inappropriate behaviour and that her and six other people have shared their similar experiences with the same individual.
Strictly will return to our screens in September for it’s 20th anniversary, with the new celebrity lineup recently being released.
