Strictly’s Will Bayley demands apology from BBC and says they have ‘a lot to learn’ from training injury on This Morning
STRICTLY’s Will Bayley has demanded an apology from the BBC, saying they have “a lot to learn” from his training injury.
Paralympian Will, 36, detailed the “traumatic” aftermath of severely hurting his leg while rehearsing for the dancing show with his pro partner Janette Manrara.
The table tennis player, whose torn knee ligaments forced him to pull out of the series in 2019, spoke on This Morning today after exclusively telling The Sun about his experience.
Will, the latest celeb contestant to raise concerns over the programme, praised Janette for her handling of the situation but criticised the Beeb for their lack of communication.
He told hosts Alison Hammond and Joel Dommett that he’s written to the corporation with the hope they’ll take “responsibility”, adding that he’s “got to live with this forever”.
Speaking from Slovenia, he said: “I think there’s a lot of things to learn from my injury and from jumping off the table that I did. I don’t think that’s on [Janette] at all.
“People said I’m woke for saying this, but I think people with disabilities, like mine, have got severe arthritis and awful limbs.
“There has to be some kind of, like, you know, someone to help those dancers, because it’s a massive burden to have to take on to look after someone with a disability.”
He added elsewhere in the interview: “We were practicing the dance, and it was my favourite dance. I was so gutted that I didn’t get to perform it.
“I was Casper the Friendly Ghost, and it was the jive. And, like, we had a jump in the sort of… I knew there was going to be a jump, but we didn’t practise it in rehearsal, and then I did it in the dress rehearsal, and that’s when the… I jumped off the table in the dress rehearsal, and that’s when the accident happened.
“And, yeah, it was just really, obviously, it was traumatic for me, because having a disability anyway, having Tokyo coming up, that obviously got delayed since, so I was so lucky about that, that I got a chance to compete.
“But, like, it was hard. It was really, really hard for me at the time. Obviously, I’ve been through a lot worse.
“Everyone who knows my life story knows that I’ve been through a lot worse, but, I mean, it was still very challenging, especially on that massive – like you say, everyone knows about the Strictly.
“It’s a massive show. Under that sort of scrutiny, then not being able to walk for six months, having that recovery time, feeling lonely at times, it was mentally hard, not just for me, but probably more so for my family, who had to put up with me struggling.
“How can we support people with disabilities going into these shows? And, again, I’m scared to say it, because I sound woke saying it, some people say it, but, I mean, Jesus, you can’t say that then, I don’t know what you can say, really, to be quite honest.”
When asked what the care like on the show after he received the injury, he replied: “Well, I was grateful that they covered my surgery. I think I just felt that there wasn’t a lot of communication after the surgery, and it was just like, ‘Get on with the recovery,’ and I just felt there could have been a bit more there.
“I felt like immediately after my fall, I did just go to a hotel room, and I didn’t – and I got ice, got onto my knee, and I just felt like if that was my daughter or something, I’d like her to be taken to hospital and checked out straight away.
“And I had to sit there all night, and I was calling my mum, and I’m not a baby, I’m an adult, but I was put in a big situation, under a lot of stress.
“I was put in a hotel room after tearing my ACL, and I felt like that probably wasn’t the best move, but like, just – that’s just my opinion, and maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m deluded, but I just – that’s how I felt.
“Can I say, I’m not bringing this up now. Like, people say you’re joining the bandwagon. I’ve written to the BBC, like, not me personally, but I’ve asked someone to help me write a letter.
“People say I’m joining the bandwagon. I’ve had loads of people, like, Strictly supporters and stuff saying, ‘You’re disgusting for joining this bandwagon.’ My situation’s so unique.
“Every disability is so unique. And I’ve said this for years, but like, because there’s other things coming out, people are starting to listen to what I’ve got to say for the first time, but like, I’ve said this for years.
“And also internally as well, I did write a letter and all that stuff. So I just wanted to say that, because I’ve had so many people, like, so negative about what I’ve said, and it’s not about that, it’s how they move forward with it.
“I mean, it’s not my, it’s really not my personality to be negative. I just want to move forward, but like, learn, any good corporation would learn from these kind of mistakes.
“And I’ve got to live with this, I’ve got to live with this injury, you know, forever. So I have to deal with it.
“And I think some kind of responsibility, some kind of sorry would have been amazing for me.”
Will previously accused Janette, who is now a host on the BBC spin-off show It Takes Two, of branding his jump “rubbish” — before he severely hurt his leg trying to perform it better.
A spokesman for Janette told us: “Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was doing their contemporary couples choice.
“Her celebrity partner’s safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly.
“Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.”
‘No duty of care’
This week, the BBC insisted it has “long-standing protocols for dealing with injuries and that includes contestants receiving all necessary treatment and support as required”.
It’s after Will told The Sun on Sunday: “Now feels like the right time to speak up. I hope what I went through never happens to anyone else.”
He was hurt during a studio rehearsal with Janette watching from the sidelines as he went through the routine with fellow pro Nancy Xu.
“The plan was for me to jump off a high table. In rehearsal all week, we hadn’t jumped it — I just mimed it,” explained Will.
“We practised a few times and I was really careful. But then Janette said my jump was ‘rubbish’ and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion.
Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
“I was really determined, so I went for it and smiled at the camera. When I landed I just had the most horrific pain. I still have flashbacks now.”
He added: “No one has ever contacted me from the BBC or said sorry.
“There was no duty of care — I should have been taken to hospital as soon as I had the accident, but all they cared about was trying to get me to dance.”
Now Will is adding his complaint to an investigation into the show, claiming a lack of duty of care.
Lawyers are handling allegations of misconduct towards Strictly contestant actress Amanda Abbington, who claims she suffered PTSD after dancing with pro Giovanni Pernice.
He quit the show in May and denies any wrongdoing. Dance pro Graziano Di Prima has been sacked over a video in which he kicks partner Zara McDermott. He has apologised for his “mistake”.
Dancer-turned-judge Anton Du Beke has also been dragged into the row, after his former dance partner Laila Rouass complained about language he used in 2009. He has also apologised.
The BBC has launched an investigation and there will now be a chaperone “at all times” in training.
