Once the jewel in the BBC’s crown, Strictly Come Dancing has been marred by a series of controversies in recent months.
Allegations first surfaced in January when Sherlock star Amanda Abbington requested footage of her tense rehearsals with professional partner Giovanni Pernice during the 2023 series, prompting a misconduct investigation. Since then there has also been the dismissal of Graziano Di Prima, who was paired with Love Island star Zara McDermott last year.
Abbington claimed she has been diagnosed with PTSD since participating in the show, describing her experience with Pernice as "tough" and "horrible."
Meanwhile, McDermott revealed in a social media statement that she struggled to speak out about her "incredibly distressing" experience with Di Prima, fearing “public backlash” and potential “victim shaming”.
In the wake of the allegations, the BBC announced it is tightening its duty of care protocols and future Strictly stars will be assigned chaperones to attend every dance rehearsals.
As Strictly navigates this period of turmoil, here is a timeline of the dance competition’s ongoing scandals:
October 2023: Amanda Abbington quits Strictly
In October, British actress Amanda Abbington and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice were climbing the Strictly leaderboards, with some even predicting they might reach the final.
However, Abbington abruptly quit during the show’s fifth week, citing "medical reasons”. Despite the explanation, her departure from the BBC ballroom fuelled rampant speculation when her farewell message notably omitted any mention of Pernice.
January 2024: Giovanni Pernice rehearsal footage is requested
At the beginning of the year, reports surfaced that Abbington had requested rehearsal footage from her time on the show and was allegedly seeking legal advice.
Later that month, the Sherlock star disclosed that she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD following her Strictly experience.
Additionally, she reportedly met with two of Pernice's former dance partners, Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, for a "tearful summit" where they discussed their "difficult experiences."
May 2024: Giovanni Pernice ‘quits’ Strictly and denies allegations
Things took a turn for the Italian dancer several months later when a report suggested that her had quit the series.
At the time, the BBC neither confirmed nor denied the speculation, only stating that the line-up for the 2024 season would be released “in due course.”
In the wake of the reports about his teaching style, Pernice addressed the speculation in a lengthy statement on his Instagram account, vehemently denying the claims.
He wrote: "I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.
"Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade know that I am passionate and competitive. No one is more ambitious for their dance partners than me."
June 2024: BBC confirm Pernice will not be returning for 2024 series
It was confirmed by the BBC that the Sicilian-born performer, who picked up the glitterball in 2021, wouldn’t return to the series for the 2024 instalment when they released the professional line-up and his name was omitted from it.
July 13 2024: Graziano Di Prima allegations emerge and he issues a statement
The BBC’s misconduct probe into Strictly brought further allegations to light, leading to the dramatic departure of another dancer, Graziano Di Prima.
Production members reportedly spoke out after witnessing his behavior towards his dance then partner Zara McDermott during last year’s show amid the internal investigation.
The Sun claimed that Di Prima's departure from Strictly was due to multiple incidents involving McDermott.
A source told the paper that footage of the alleged altercation “reduced those who have seen it to tears.” However, the video in question has not been made public or republished.
BBC bosses reportedly made the decision to remove the Italian professional dancer from the upcoming series after viewing footage of the incident.
Di Prima announced his departure from the programme on Saturday, initially without providing a reason for his exit before the next series.
Responding to his sacking, Di Prima, who joined Strictly in 2018, said that he “deeply regret[s] the events that led to my departure from Strictly”.
He added in his social media statement, shared on Sunday, that “intense passion and determination to win might have affected [his] training regime” and acknowledged that “it’s only right for the sake of the show that [he] step[s] away”.
The BBC said they “would never comment on individual cases”, but stressed that they have “established robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate”.
July 16 2024: Zara McDermott breaks her silence
Following Di Prima’s sacking from the series, Zara McDermott broke her silence about her experience on the show.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the Love Island star began: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl.“When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true. I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took.
“And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with.
“However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.
“I have wrestled with the fear of opening up- I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I've gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
“The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I've seen through working with countless women on my documentaries.”
McDermott also thanked the BBC and BBC Studios, which makes Strictly, for their “swift action and incredibly high level of support”.
The BBC has said if issues are raised with it, it will “always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate”.
July 16 2024: BBC announce chaperones to be brought into Strictly rehearsals
Following McDermott’s statement, the BBC announced that a member of the Strictly Come Dancing production staff would be put in all future rehearsals amid the furore.
The corporation announced new measures due to “concerns that have arisen in recent months” that have been “about training and rehearsals”. Support for the celebrities and dancers will also be increased with the addition of a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer.
The production team and crew will also undergo further training.
Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of unscripted, said: “The decisive steps we have taken and are announced today, act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production.”
July 17 2024: Third Strictly professional identified as ‘person of interest’
In the wake of the investigation into the off-screen rehearsals, it was reported that a third Strictly professional had been identified as a 'person of interest'.
A source told The Sun: “A professional’s name has come up, alongside Giovanni and Graziano. He is no longer part of the show but he has been named as a person of interest. Conversations are ongoing and there are more people who need to be spoken to.
“A dossier is being compiled which will be handed over to the BBC. What is becoming clear is that there appears to be a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals in training,” the insider added.
“And the more people who come forward, the clearer the picture is becoming.”
The BBC told The Standard: “We will always listen if people want to make us aware of something or raise it with us directly.”
July 17 2024: Former pro James Jordan slams resurfaced training footage
Former Strictly professional James Jordan hit back after footage emerged of him telling a celebrity partner he would “drag her across the floor” if she forgot moves amid the claims of a third professional no longer part of the show was being investigated.
The footage was filmed during a training session with actor Georgina Bouzová and shown on Strictly spin off It Takes Two during the 2006 series.
Jordan, who was on the BBC dancing competition from 2006 to 2013, can be heard criticising his celebrity partner’s weight and threatening to “drag her across the floor and scream at her.”
In another part of the footage, the former pro throws a chair and declares he “doesn’t care” if the former Casualty star is “physically broken.”
“I will push her to her limit. She will go through that pain, and as far as I’m concerned, tough luck. Unless she’s actually physically broken a rib, I don’t care. Unless her feet are bleeding I don’t care, if they are sore, dance through it,” he said.
Jordan addressed the video on Instagram, denying any wrongdoing and claiming that the BBC team shot and edited the footage 18 years ago “for the purposes of entertainment.”He added: “I strongly suggest that nobody attempts to link this edited BBC VT with the current alleged reports of abusive behaviour taking place behind the scenes by other Strictly professionals.
“There is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the highly produced and exaggerated VT from the BBC archives that is featuring on social media. To be clear, I deplore bullying or abusiveness in the workplace.”
July 18 2024: Di Prima’s confirms dancer ‘kicked’ McDermott
Di Prima’s agent Mark Borkowski confirmed the dancer, who has returned to Italy to work since he was dropped after the incident last year, “made a mistake”.
The BBC star’s spokesperson said he has been left “in a very vulnerable state” after allegations came to light.
Borkowski said: “This week, the news agenda has focused on an isolated incident that Mr Di Prima deeply regrets and apologised for at the time.
“The deluge of commentary, too often without context or nuance, has provoked a pile-on that has left a young man in a very vulnerable state. In this case, like in many others, media and social media have immense power to build and destroy careers.”
He previously told the BBC News: "He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time."
Di Prima is now working on a remote farm, he said. "He has literally cut himself off from civilisation,” he said.
"I think that's a wise thing to do, supported by his wife. He's coming to terms with his mental health issues.""
July 24 2024: Ex Strictly star Will Bayley comes forward
Paralympian Will Bayley, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, spoke out about a severe knee injury he sustained during rehearsals.
The Table Tennis player, was forced to withdraw from the competition after six weeks due to the injury, which he describes as "horrific" and something he will "never get over."
He attributed the injury to a jump he was required to redo after a “rubbish” attempt with Janette Manrara, though he emphasises that his issue is not with her personally but with the pressure from the show's producers.
Bayley said he “didn’t have an issue” with Manrara, who now co-hosts Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, but attributed the blame to the pressure the show’s producers put on the professionals.
A spokesperson for Manrara said: “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.”
July 24 2024: Abbington breaks her silence
Amanda Abbington revealed that she and her lawyer are attempting to obtain 50 hours of rehearsal footage from her Strictly Come Dancing training, which she has described as "toxic” in an interview with Channel 4 News.
She told Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who was also a contestant on 2023’s installment: “Every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘We just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry’. That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.
“It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he [Giovanni] doesn’t want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he’s got nothing to hide.”
Abbington also disclosed that she received rape and death threats directed at her children in the wake of the BBC’s internal investigation. She continued: “The aftermath has been something that I wasn’t expecting. The death threats and the rape threats towards not only myself but my daughter, and the threats of death to my son.”
Pernice has strongly denied all the allegations. A spokesperson for the dancer said: “We are co-operating fully with the BBC’s review process. All parties have been asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media before it concludes.
“We will continue to respect the integrity of the investigation and believe it is the right forum for all the evidence to be reviewed.
“As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us. They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form.
“Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.
“We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.”
July 25 2024: Abbington reported issues during the first week of rehearsals
Abbington then revealed on ITV’s Lorraine that she reported her concerns about Giovanni Pernice’s alleged behavior during the first week of their rehearsals to Strictly producers.
She claimed: “Week one, third day. I’ve got texts to the producer on day three going ‘This is awful, he hates me, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m trying my best, I promise you’. So that was the first week.”
July 27 2024: Laura Whitmore speaks out for the first time
Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore alleged that she was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
The 39-year-old was partnered with Pernice in 2016, and was the seventh celebrity eliminated. Whitmore, who battled through an ankle injury during the early weeks of the BBC One show, claims she “raised concerns” at the time.
Pernice, 33, has previously rejected “threatening or abusive behaviour” allegations made by Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, who was partnered with him in 2023 before he exited the show.
In an Instagram story, the Irish presenter wrote: “I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.
“I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong.
“The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.”
Adding: “I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.”
Whitmore did not name any specific names but said she was providing evidence of her experience to support the BBC’s investigation.
“I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up,” she said.
August 2, 2024: Guru-Murthy raised concerns about Abbington's Strictly experience to BBC
During an interview on BBC Radio 4, Krishnan Guru-Murthy discussed his experience on the series and how he raised concerns to production regarding the difficult time Abbington was experiencing.
The Channel 4 News presenter noted that all the celebrity contestants found the competition challenging, each for different reasons. He also discussed how they often shared their experiences and supported each other via a WhatsApp chat but quickly noticed Abbington was struggling.
He shared: "I set up a chat on WhatsApp I think on our first day when we all met and it was very lively and we all shared our experiences of Strictly and afterwards.
"And it was full of ‘This is difficult’, ‘This is a nightmare’ and all the rest of it. We would share our trials and tribulations and Amanda did as well.
“So, yes there were messages that she posted that made it very clear that she was struggling and having a very hard time,” the 54-year-old continued.
“We were all having a hard time, you know, because it's tough, but it was different in terms of what she was saying.”
The broadcaster, who has mostly spoken positively about his time paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley, continued: “I did speak to people at the time about the fact that I was worried about Amanda and that they should speak to her.
“And they reassured me that they were in close contact with her.”
The broadcaster went on to explain that after voicing his concerns about Abbington’s especially challenging experience compared to the rest of the cast, he focused his attention back to his own journey.
He continued: “For four days of the week you're buried in the Strictly experience with your dance partner and just concentrating on that, you don't have time to think about anything else. So I raised it, I talked to them about it, they said, ‘Yes we're on it, don't worry’.”
August 3, 2024: Whitmore speaks out again
On August 3, Whitmore spoke out again and said she felt “gaslit” when she first raised concerns about her Strictly Come Dancing experience.
Speaking to the Irish Post, she said: “The stuff I’m not going to talk to you about now, because it’s under review, that’s all coming out now, the stuff I tried to speak about eight years ago.”
Asked if she felt she had not been listened to when she first aired her concerns, she clarified: “Or (I was) gaslit to make it seem normalised.”
Whitmore added: “It’s a shame that it has to come out in such a victim-shaming way, which it always does. And being the first person to speak up about anything is always hard.”
The Standard has previously contacted the BBC and Pernice’s representatives.
September 1, 2024: Abbington ‘questioned again’ amid ‘new evidence’
Amanda Abbington reportedly was questioned for a second time by BBC bosses regarding her allegations against Pernice, following the emergence of "new evidence."
According to The Sun, as the BBC was nearing the end of its investigation, the TV star provided text messages that allegedly show the pro dancer “crossed the line of what is acceptable.” The messages reportedly stalled the investigation's conclusion.
Additionally, The Sun on Sunday claimed that the probe's findings were further delayed due to the scandal involving former newsreader Huw Edwards, who pleaded guilty to creating indecent images of children.
September 10, 2024: BBC staff reportedly have communications searched
BBC staff have had their emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages searched as part of the Strictly bullying investigation, according to The Mirror.
The outlet reported that crew members' phones were reportedly examined for any references to Pernice or Abbington.
The subject access request, believed to have been made by Abbington’s team, aims to uncover any personal data or information that might clarify their relationship.
A source told the publication: “People complied in the hopes of dismissing any claims of a cover-up.”
September 12, 2024: Debbie McGee approached to give evidence in investigation
Debbie McGee shared that she had been approached to participate in the BBC’s investigation into Pernice.
McGee was partnered with the dancer in 2017, just a year after her husband, magician Paul Daniels, passed away. The duo enjoyed great success on the show, reaching the final but ultimately finishing as runners-up to Holby City actor Joe McFadden and his partner Katya Jones.
When asked if she had been approached to give evidence in the probe, she told GB News: “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say or not, but yes, I have.
“It’s all very secret, and I’m sure everybody else who’s ever danced with him, and people that have worked alongside him, would have been asked to give evidence, too, so I just hope it all turns out well for all parties.”
The TV star said she believes the broadcaster will be conducting the investigation “very thoroughly” and thinks “a lot of people” will be invited to share their experience on the show.
She added: “I don’t want anyone to be bullied, I’m really against all of that, but we are all different. People can react differently to different circumstances, or you just don’t have chemistry with somebody that somebody else might have chemistry (with).
“So, I don’t know what went on, but I’m sure that they will go into it in a lot of depth before making any decisions.”
Looking back on her own Strictly experience, McGee said: “I had the most amazing time. Giovanni was my partner, and it’s still a life-changing experience.
“And at that time in my life, as well. It was a year after Paul, my late husband, had died. It was a tough, tough time, and it just totally brought me out of all my grief. And everyone on the programme is just so lovely, and it’s like a big family.
“And my experience of Giovanni, I know other people have said they’ve had a different experience, but mine was he really looked after me in my grief, and we had a great time. Great memories.”
