Oh, for those halcyon days when Strictly’s only scandal was the fact its contestants kept cheating on their spouses. In the last two years, the Saturday night show – which returns next month – has become the subject of much darker behind-the-scenes business that has tainted the 22-year-old programme’s wholesome brand of glittering escapism and feel-good fun.
In 2024, junior staffers spoke of a “toxic” on-set atmosphere, while 2023 contestants Zara McDermott and Amanda Abbington both raised serious concerns about their dance partners’ conduct. It emerged that Graziano Di Prima “kicked” McDermott during rehearsals, for which he apologised and left the show, while Abbington made 17 allegations of bullying, abuse and physical violence against Giovanni Pernice after abruptly withdrawing from the competition despite predictions she’d make the final. Pernice has always denied all allegations and rejected “any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour”.
Pernice, who had joined Strictly in 2015 and quickly became its star dancer, was dropped from Strictly’s 2024 line-up, with the BBC’s investigation upholding six of the verbal bullying and harassment complaints while clearing him of the most serious accusations of physical aggression. Abbington, best known as Mary Morstan in the BBC’s Sherlock, received a five-figure payout, and the BBC announced a set of new duty-of-care measures for Strictly including supervised training and welfare support roles.
