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Privacy NoticeThe BBC has announced that they will introduce chaperones to Strictly Come Dancing – amid the news that professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima will not return for this year’s series. 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.” Support for celebrities and dancers will also be increased with the addition of a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer. The production team and crew will also undergo further training. The announcement comes after the news that Giovanni and Graziano were both axed from this year’s series.
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima during the 2023 series of Strictly
(Image: PA)
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Zara McDermott’s statement in full over ‘experience in training room’ with Strictly’s Graziano
Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of unscripted, said: “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. “Concerns that have arisen have been fundamentally related to training and rehearsals. “The decisive steps we have taken and are announced today, act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production.” Zara McDermott, who was partnered with Graziano last year, spoke out about alleged incidents that took place in the Strictly training room that she now finds “incredibly distressing” to watch back. On July 13, news broke that Graziano had been ‘axed’ by the BBC, following allegations of misconduct towards Zara, 27.
Zara McDermott has opened up about her time on Strictly following her former professional partner Graziano Di Prima’s exit from the show
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
It was confirmed that the Italian dancer is no longer part of the 2024 professional line-up and Di Prima has said his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected” his training regime. The dancer then released a statement admitting he had serious regret over the events leading to his exit from the popular BBC dance show. He confessed: “My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime”. Graziano went on to say: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly…while respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away.” Breaking her silence on 16 July, Zara told her followers: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports.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. “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.”
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington on last year’s Strictly
(Image: Ray Burniston/BBC/PA Wire)
Giovanni Pernice has also been removed from the line up of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing amid allegations about his teaching methods, which he rejects. The dancer 33, underwent a BBC investigation following claims of “abusive or threatening behaviour” towards his celebrity partners during the show. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, 15 June, Giovanni wrote a lengthy statement and said he looks forward to “establishing the truth.” “As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour. The latest accusations are simply false,” he insisted. But his dance partner during the latest series, Amanda Abbington, claimed he was “nasty and awful”. Amanda said that it was her idea to have the rehearsals taped, telling the Mail+: “I asked for them to be recorded, it was me. Giovanni is nasty. He was awful to a few of us, a group of us.” Describing the toll it has taken, she continued: “You don’t understand how awful this all is. Giovanni’s fans have started trolling me now. I have had to come off social media and I’m getting death threats.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnGiovanni PerniceZara McdermottStrictly Come Dancing
