ALL the Strictly stars who HATED their time on BBC show revealed as Graziano scandal threatens to sink series
STRICTLY Come Dancing is one of the most loved programmes of all time.
However a number of the celebrities who have taken part haven’t enjoyed their time on the BBC show.
Last week fans were shocked when it was revealed that professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, was fired after bosses were shown shocking footage from rehearsals with his former partner Zara McDermot, 27.
He was fired by the BBC following claims he hit, spat at and kicked her during rehearsals.
Graziano has since said that he “deeply regrets” events that led to his departure from the series.
Zara later took to social media to share a lengthy statement in which said she was “scared to speak up”.
The fresh allegations have come during the inquiry into claims that another Strictly pro, Giovanni Pernice, 33, bullied his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington, 50, last year.
Let’s take a look at some of the famous faces who didn’t ..
Amanda Abbington
Amanda took part in the BBC series last year and was partnered with Giovanni.
After just a few weeks in the competition the actress quit the show, which were followed by rumours that she was feuding with Giovanni.
Then at the beginning of the year Amanda allegedly told pals that her time on the show had left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
She also demanded footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni, who left the show in May, and was seeking legal advice.
The BBC later launched an internal investigation into it all.
Giovanni has denied the allegations.
Nina Wadia
Former EastEnders star Nina was partnered with Neil Jones in 2021.
The pair were the first to leave the competition.
She later revealed that her shock dumping left her feeling very down and she found that the show was difficult.
She said: “Coming out of Strictly was a big shock because: A, I wasn’t expecting it to happen the way it happened, and it happened very quickly and it was all very surreal for me and when I came out I was very down.
“My mental health, I’ve got to tell, I was down. That was from a lot of different feelings.
“There was a feeling of embarrassment coming-out as early as I did, there was a feeling of did I let people down, did I let myself down.”
Speaking to The Lads Dads and a Couple of Beers podcast, she said: “All these questions going on in my head and then the people reaction at the back of it, to say well no.. you shouldn’t have come out you were robbed, and I’m like I needed that!
“I needed that kind of almost validation to think I wasn’t going crazy, I didn’t think I as that bad! then you realise ok hang on, I need to separate a reality show from what is actually real life. Reality shows are so the opposite of reality.”
Danny John Jules
Danny was paired with Amy Dowden in 2018.
The pair were involved in a bullying row during that time after sources said the actor left Amy in tears during training.
However Amy defended Danny and insisted she has never felt bullied by him.
Danny blasted the judges as imbeciles in a rant during the show’s after-party.
He later dropped out of the show’s spin-off It Takes Two after he was booted off the show following “bullying” claims.
Will Young
Will and Karen Hauer were on the show together in 2016.
He quit the competition after just two performances.
The singer later revealed it was due to his mental health.
He told Event magazine: “Mental illness is mental illness.
“I was unwell. In the weeks leading up to Strictly, all I could think about was how could I get out of doing the show.
“I knew I didn’t have the strength, that I wasn’t in the right place and that I would do myself real damage.
He told Event magazine: “Mental illness is mental illness. I was unwell. In the weeks leading up to Strictly, all I could think about was how could I get out of doing the show.
“I knew I didn’t have the strength, that I wasn’t in the right place and that I would do myself real damage.
Rachel Riley
Countdown star Rachel took part in 2013 with her now-husband Pasha Kovaley.
Rachel has since revealed that being on the show has left her with PTSD.
She told The Mirror: “I know from my time on 11 years ago, even the most sane, solid, grounded people, it can do something to you.
“And there’s so many people that I’ve seen in subsequent years that have that shared experience. I don’t think even production are aware of quite what it does to people.
“I needed cognitive behavioural therapy after competing in 2013 and developed post-traumatic stress disorder.
“If I heard the theme music, I’d start reliving the experience. It was scary and unnerving, so my way of dealing with it is to avoid watching.”
Laura Whitmore
Former Love Island host Laura was on the show with Giovanni in 2016.
However she didn’t have the best time on it.
She wrote for The Huffington Post: “I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.
“To the outside world, I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability, but it affected me deeply.
“My friends and family knew that I was struggling. And they were there for me.
“The media, however, saw me as blonde bait in a sequinned dress.”
Laura, Amanda Abbington and Ranvir Singh met up to discuss their experiences after Amanda came forward earlier this year.
A source said: “All three had difficult experiences with Giovanni, who is well known to be intense during training. They met in person to share their experiences.
“Their meeting was emotional but heart-warming. They now know they are there to support each other after their tough times with Giovanni. Tears were shed.
“There is every possibility all three could take it further and formally complain to the BBC, but for now they’re comforting each other.”
Greg Wallace
Masterchef presenter Greg was the first to leave in 2014.
He was paired with Aliona Vilani – and they didn’t appear to get on.
Speaking about his departure, he said: “I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me, then I would have done better.”
The dancer also liked tweets about her being given a better dancer.
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda and Darren Bennett danced together in the show back in 2009.
Her husband Michael Pattemore later opened up about their relationship in his memoir My Lynda after she passed away in 2014.
Michael wrote: She said her partner Darren Bennett was such a miserable git. There was no laughter, no fun.
“All the way through rehearsals she didn’t mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work.
“If Lynda had had a partner like Anton Du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together.”
Robert Webb
Funnyman Robert – who was partnered with Dianne Buswell – quit the show in 2021.
He withdrew after a few weeks due to previous heart surgery.
Robert described the programme as “weird”.
He said: “It is brutal. It is an absolutely weird show. It is not like it is an unpleasant environment, but they are long days and it is a long time to be nice.
“If we had longer to rehearse it would happen, but we get four days and one performance.
“At the end of that performance, you might get fired.”
Fern Britton
Fern danced with Artem Chigvintsev in 2012.
Three years later she claimed the dancer used to “kick” and “shove” her during rehearsals.
She told The Times: “He was like: ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.’
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier.'”
Artem denied the claims.
Fiona Philips
Fiona and Brendan Cole danced together in 2005.
Speaking with The Mirror in 2021, Fiona said: “I should never have done it.
“Even as a teenager I hated getting on the dance floor.”
Brendan left the show in 2018.
Fiona previously said to the Daily Star: “Brendan was a real bugger, actually.
“He wasn’t very nice. He was really naughty. He’s not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time.”