Fern and Artem competed in the show in 2012 (Image: BBC/Guy Levy)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 Notice Fern Britton previously claimed that professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev “kicked and shoved” her during their Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals. The former This Morning presenter, who appeared on the BBC dance show in 2012 and was eliminated in week five, made the allegations at a Times newspaper event in 2015, three years after her stint. She claimed: “He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.” She continued: “[He would say] ‘You just stand there and don’t move, I dance round you.’ He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.’ I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier.’ Or what was his other one? If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well I won’t correct him on that one.”
Artem said the statements ‘came as a shock’ to him
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
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“We did love each other for a moment or two but he wasn’t charm personified… I did kind of enjoy it but it was grim at the same time,” she concluded. In response to these accusations, in 2015, Artem told the Daily Express: “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.” The BBC series has recently been under scrutiny after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima exited the show following allegations of misconduct with their previous celebrity partners. Allegations first emerged in January when Amanda Abbington reportedly asked for footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni. This is then said to have prompted a misconduct investigation and the axing of Strictly pro Graziano, who was dancing with Zara McDermott.
Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show following gross misconduct towards celebrity dance partner Zara McDermott
(Image: Instagram)
Amanda, known for her role in Sherlock, has since disclosed she’s been diagnosed with PTSD following her stint on Strictly, labelling her time with Giovanni as “tough” and “horrible”. Giovanni has strongly refuted any claims of “abusive or threatening behaviour”. Graziano, on his part, has expressed deep remorse over the circumstances surrounding his exit. His 2023 dance partner Zara confessed she hesitated to come forward fearing “victim blaming”. In response to the controversy, Strictly is set to introduce new measures as the BBC vows to “toughen up” its duty of care policies. The broadcaster announced on Tuesday that changes are coming to Strictly to “strengthen welfare and support”. These include having a production team member present at all rehearsal sessions and the introduction of two new welfare roles: a Celebrity Welfare Producer and a Professional Dancer Welfare Producer, plus additional training for the production and film crew.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnFern BrittonStrictly Come Dancing
