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Privacy Notice Ex-Love Island star Zara McDermott spoke out on Tuesday 16 July about her experience with professional dancer Graziano di Prima on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, and actress Amanda Abbington has also talked about her time on the series dancing with Giovanni Pernice, which she has since described as “brutal.” However, Zara and Amanda are not the first celebrities to claim that all has not been well in the Strictly rehearsal room over the years, as TV presenter Fern Britton related how she viewed her own experience with dance partner Artem Chigvintsev at an event hosted by The Times nine years ago. Fern, who is best known for her role as a host of This Morning from 1999 to 2009, appeared on Strictly in 2012, where she was eliminated in the fifth week. At an event three years later, she claimed that Artem would “kick and shove” her during training. “He was like ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you’… We did love each other for a moment or two, but he wasn’t charm personified,” she said, as reported by The Express in 2015. “I did kind of enjoy it but it was grim… We would be in hold and he would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.”
Fern Britton in 2013 with Artem Chigvintsev on Strictly
(Image: PA)
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At the time, Artem responded to Fern’s comments in a statement: “Recent statements apparently made by Fern Britton, whilst not reflecting any situation I recognise, are difficult to ignore. “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care, and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am. I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements which come as a shock to me.” Artem left Strictly in 2013 and has since been a professional dancer on the US version of the series, Dancing with the Stars. The BBC have confirmed both Giovanni and Graziano will not be on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Fern spoke out three years after she appeared on the dance show
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
Following recent claims of misconduct, the BBC has also announced that they will introduce chaperones for the upcoming 20th anniversary series of the show. A statement from the Corporation said: “The BBC is today announcing additional steps to strengthen welfare and support on Strictly Come Dancing. Concerns that have arisen in recent months have been fundamentally about training and rehearsals. The actions we announce today are designed to address that.” Measures will include a member of BBC production staff being present at all future rehearsals as well as the addition of two dedicated welfare producers, one for celebrities and one for the professional dancers.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnFern BrittonGiovanni PerniceZara McdermottStrictly Come DancingThis Morning
