Strictly Come Dancing has a “dark heart”, which is hidden from fans, according to one of the show’s stars.
The beloved BBC staple is in a state of crisis after it was claimed pro dancer Graziano Di Prima, 30, mistreated Zara McDermott, 27, on the show last year, with the Love Island star saying she was ‘too scared’ to come forward. It comes after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was also axed from the show after the broadcaster launched an investigation into his alleged ‘bullying’ behaviour in the training room with Amanda Abbington – which the Sicilian strenuously denies.
The show is now bringing in chaperones for all future training sessions – and Reverend Richard Coles, who was on the series in 2017, isn’t surprised.
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While conceding his experience dancing with Dianne Buswell on the show was “uniformly good”, he pointed out how “insanely competitive” the series is, telling Times Radio: “I remember somebody who worked on the show for years and years telling me Strictly is a wonderful show with a dark heart. And I never really understood what that meant, but perhaps one of the things that meant is what you don’t see, which is how intensely competitive it is. And also, I think the fact that it’s so important to the BBC, how much effort goes into maintaining the glitter on the glitter ball, if you see what I mean.”
Speaking about the recent allegations, which have put the show firmly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, he added: “I’ve spoken to both contestants and also professionals about it. And I think no one has been surprised that this stuff has surfaced. I think everyone’s just concerned to see that appropriate measures are put in to mitigate it.”
Also giving her take on the scandal is Childline founder, Esther Rantzen, who came eighth on the show in 2004. She said Strictly has become a “sacred cow”, “inflated beyond its worth”, adding: “The only worry I have is why it took so long for these complaints to surface.” However, she did concede that some dancers have a “horrible career”, pointing out the often low salary and constant worry of injury.
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In the wake of the claims made against Graziano and Giovanni, Strictly is now going to make sure there is a chaperone in every training session on the show going forward. A statement from the corporation on Tuesday 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.”
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The broadcaster said it would have a production team member present during training room rehearsals at all times, appoint a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare produce as well as deliver further training for the production team and crew.
However, Edwina Currie, who was on Strictly in 2011, is not convinced by the idea, telling Times Radio: “The thought of having chaperones in every rehearsal fills me with dread. I mean, you won’t be able to flirt. You know, what’s going to happen to those sort of little glances that make all those special arrangements…”
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