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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Michael Hogan

‘Incredibly distressing’: what do the latest misconduct allegations mean for Strictly’s future?

Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima dance together on Strictly Come Dancing 2023
‘As embarassing as it is unsavoury’ … Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima dance together on Strictly Come Dancing 2023, prior to her allegations of training room ‘incidents.’ Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC

To lose one dancer over allegations of abusive behaviour may be considered a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness. This weekend, the Strictly Come Dancing crisis deepened. Graziano Di Prima was fired following allegations that he mistreated his most recent dance partner, Love Island alumna Zara McDermott. Perhaps the BBC hoped we would all be too distracted by the Euro 2024 final to notice.

The 30-year-old is the second male professional in a few months to face misconduct accusations and depart the ballroom under a cloud. This has undoubtedly become the biggest scandal in Strictly history. Can the show weather the storm? Or is it the death knell for a formerly beloved franchise which is now irreparably tarnished?

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