Strictly bosses ‘force all professional dancers to have anti-bullying training’ after Giovanni and Graziano scandals
STRICTLY Come Dancing professional dancers will be ‘forced to have anti-bullying training’ amid show scandals.
BBC insiders have revealed that the dancers’ contracts have been amended to enforce the mandatory training.
According to sources, bosses are taking the new rules “very seriously” after a misconduct investigation was launched.
The show was plunged into chaos this year after Graziano Di Prima was sacked for abusing partner Zara McDermott.
Colleague Giovanni Pernice is also being investigated following similar complaints from his partner Amanda Abbington.
Giovanni has denied these claims.
After Graziano’s exit, BBC chiefs said chaperones would be introduced to the training room.
They also said welfare staff would deliver “further training” to cast and crew.
A BBC insider told The Mirror: “By making this training compulsory, the BBC are sending a crystal clear message to everyone involved in the show that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
“The recent allegations and complaints have rocked Strictly, but they are determined it will not be derailed.”
“They are going to do everything they can to prevent misconduct in future. They are taking these new rules very seriously indeed and anyone who does not comply will be gone in an instant.”
The Sun has approached the BBC for comment.
Strictly's full scandal so far
Strictly Come Dancing's scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what's happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for “gross misconduct” after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he “deeply regrets it”, adding his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime.”
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were “amazing to work with”, she found the rehearsal room “completely different”, confirming there’s footage of “certain situations”.
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his “1970s attitude” and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a “p***” after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year’s series.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after ‘an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio’.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is ‘deeply sorry’, adding: “Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
“At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.”
24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the ‘humilation being of a sexual nature’.
27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong”.
She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others.
28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she “never felt pressured” by him and “personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day”.
This comes after it was revealed that Zara danced on a broken leg after brutal training sessions.
Zara only recently revealed the injury to the show inquiry.
After the injury, Zara needed painkillers to get through ten-hour training sessions.
The ex-Love Islander told Graziano of her agony ahead of last series’ Halloween special.
The pair agreed to plough on before losing a dance-off — with Zara then going to hospital.
An insider explained: “Zara had started getting injured in the build-up to the Halloween dance then something went on the morning, meaning she danced with a fractured leg all that week.
“It was a literal horror show in every sense of the word.”
An X-ray revealed severe ligament damage plus a stress fracture on her left tibia.
Show bosses learned the full extent of the injury only two weeks ago when Zara spoke to private investigators amid the inquiry into dancers’ behaviour.
Giovanni’s former dance partner Amanda Abbington has also claimed she was left suffering from PTSD after her stint on the show.
Other celebrities have also stepped forward and made complaints about the pro.
The list of celebrities signing up for this year’s show has been revealed.
Coronation Street hunk Shayne Ward and Sarah Hadland appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to share their excitement.
Shayne, 39. told host Christine Lampard: “My kids are at home watching this, we’ve watched it for so many years, I feel massive admiration for people who take part because it’s not easy.
“I’ve always loved watching the progress to the next stage. But for me honestly I always felt like I was nervous to do it, like I couldn’t do it, like I wasn’t good enough.
“But now after many years I feel in my gut this is the right time, I’m excited for it, I’m hungry!”
Miranda actress Sarah, 53, who is best known as Stevie Sutton in the beloved BBC sitcom, admitted she hadn’t told her mum the news yet.
She told Christine: “I’m doing it finally, every year she says, ‘do you think you’ll do it this year? And now I can say yes I will. Massive morning for my mum.”
Christine said to the pair: “We know Strictly has been in the press for the wrong reasons, how does it feel to be in the new series?”
Shayne, who has been focusing on his drama The Goodship Murder, said: “I’ve been away hiding for three months so I haven’t seen anything. I’m just focused on meeting all the dancers and the rest of the contestants and having the most amazing experience.”
Sarah replied: “I’m just happy to be covered in glue and rolled in glitter and tan.”
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and Towie legend Pete Wicks also confirmed they will be appearing on the 20th series of Strictly.
And swimmer Tom Dean announced he has signed up after reaching the final of the men’s 200 metres individual medley in the Paris 2024 Olympics last week.
