Behind-the-scenes crew on Strictly have reported ‘verbal abuse’ while working on the BBC show (Image: PA)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeThe BBC’s flagship show Strictly Come Dancing has been hit by scandal this year, following reports from celebrity contestants of bullying behaviour by some of the professional dancers on the series. Now, crew members behind the scenes are speaking out, too, detailing “verbal abuse” and “shouting and screaming” aimed at staff members backstage. In a story for BBC News, reporters spoke to crew members who have worked on the series about conditions behind the scenes. One, a runner named Oscar, speaks of a “toxic” culture on the show, and describes one of his worst moments when a celebrity contestant flew into a rage as he told them some simple instructions before a live show. “He was shouting and he was so close up in my face, I had to close my eyes as his spit flecks were hitting me,” he says. The celebrity later apologised to him, but Oscar realised it shouldn’t have happened in the first place and left the series shortly afterwards. Sign up to OK’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Crew members have spoken out about their time on Strictly Come Dancing
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
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Production staff like Oscar, who work long and anti-social hours, often for low pay, have spoken anonymously to reporters for the story to protect their careers in the industry. While some have positive stories to tell about dancers, celebrities and staff who were welcoming and easy to work with, there are other stories about workers who were shouted at by professional dancers on the set. Another runner who used to work on Strictly described working on the show as “exhausting,” and added that one of the male dancers, who no longer appears on the series, was “disgusting and chauvinistic.” She added: “We’d be warned about working with him.” In response to the new allegations, a BBC Studios spokesperson said: “The welfare and safety of our crew on each series has always been, and remains, our utmost priority. We do not recognise these anonymous claims nor will hundreds of production personnel who have worked with us through multiple series and across the two decades the show has been on air.” “Using our industry-leading initiative The Pledge on all our productions, including Strictly, we proactively encourage everyone on set to raise concerns of inappropriate behaviour via several avenues, including anonymously to an external third-party whistleblowing service independent of the BBC/BBC Studios. We act speedily when any issues are raised, and have thorough, effective, and longstanding processes to manage them and we’re sorry if anyone didn’t feel able to talk about their experience on-set at the time.”
Amanda Abbington was the first celebrity to come forward about her experiences on the show
(Image: PA)
BBC News spoke to 15 current and former crew members for their report, which comes just as Strictly is announcing this year’s crop of celebrity contestants, including singer Toyah Wilcox, Love Island ’s Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks and comedian Chris McCausland. Recently, the show has come under fire for reports from previous celebrity contestants including Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Zara McDermott about how they were treated while on the show. In July, show bosses announced that new measures would be put in place to protect both professional dancers and celebrities competing in the series. Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of unscripted, said at the time: “Whilst we know our shows have been positive experiences for the vast majority of those who have taken part, if issues are raised with us, or we’re made aware of inappropriate behaviour, we will always take that seriously and act.” There will be a celebrity welfare producer at all times, and also a professional dancer welfare producer, and chaperones will be present for all training sessions and rehearsals. The production team and crew will also be given further training.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnLaura WhitmoreZara McdermottStrictly Come DancingAmanda Abbington
