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Privacy NoticeThe BBC has spoken out about the future of Strictly Come Dancing as the show finds itself in the midst of a series of allegations involving two former dancers. An investigation was launched by the BBC show after receiving complaints from ex-contestants. Amanda Abbington, who competed on the show last year, filed complaints against her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, accusing him of “threatening and abusive behaviour” during their practice sessions, which she claims resulted in her suffering from PTSD. Giovanni has vehemently denied these accusations. More recently, fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima was axed from his role on Strictly following allegations of gross misconduct towards his former dance partner Zara McDermott. A representative for Graziano has now addressed the incident, confirming that the dancer kicked Zara once during rehearsals, recognising his “mistake” and expressing regret for his actions. The BBC has now confirmed the show will be back on air as usual in September, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returning. According to The Sun, the BBC announced: “Strictly Come Dancing will be bringing the sparkle back to Saturday nights on BBC One later this year. And in advance of this year’s live shows, we have an exciting opportunity to experience a taste of the magical studio experience by applying for tickets to watch our Strictly pros in action!”, reports the Mirror.
The BBC has confirmed Strictly will be back on air as usual in September, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returning
(Image: BBC)
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Today, a spokesperson for Graziano Di Prima confirmed he kicked celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals last year. “There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right,” Mark Borkowski told BBC News. “And he knows that. “He knows he’s made a mistake. He apologised at the time.” Following the news that Graziano had been dismissed from Strictly for alleged “gross misconduct,” Zara, 27, released a lengthy statement on Tuesday 16 July to her fans. While she said that her time on the show was something she had always dreamed of, she also commented on her experience in the training room with Graziano. Her statement said, in part: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl. When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true.”
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima on the show last year
(Image: PA)
“I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took. And 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.” She continued: “I have wrestled with the fear of opening up – I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show. “The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I’ve seen through working with countless women on my documentaries.” This week, the BBC also announced that a member of the production team will be present “at all times” during training room rehearsals on Strictly. The corporation said it is announcing “additional steps to strengthen welfare and support” after concerns “have arisen in recent months” that are “fundamentally about training and rehearsals”. The new measures include the addition of a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer. The BBC has also said the production team and crew will undergo 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 OnStrictly Come Dancing
