Strictly Come Dancing Aljaz Skorjanec denies behaving aggressively backstage

Strictly Come Dancing star Aljaz Skorjanec has denied claims he behaved aggressively backstage on the show.

The 32-year-old Slovenian dancer has just become the latest dancer to quit the BBC dance show after nine years as a professional partner, and The Sun reported there had been allegations of Skorjanec losing his temper with crew members on the last series.

A spokesperson for the dancer told HuffPost UK: “Aljaz has the utmost respect for everyone working on the show and it is untrue to say he acted in an aggressive manner at any time.”

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara pays tribute to husband Aljaz as he quits show

An anonymous source claimed to the newspaper that the dancer had "verbally lashed out" at staff.

The last series saw Skorjanec placed eighth in the competition with his celebrity partner Dragon's Den star Sara Davies.

In his debut year in 2013 he won the glitterball trophy with model Abbey Clancy.

His other celebrity partners have included This Morning presenter Alison Hammond, model Daisy Lowe and soap actor Gemma Atkinson.

Skorjanec announced on social media: "A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last...

"Being a part of a group of professionals that inspire and push you to be better every step of the way is humbling and I will carry that inspiration with me forever."

Strictly executive producer Sarah James said: "We are so sad to be saying goodbye to Aljaž after almost a decade as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing.

"He will be missed by his Strictly family, both on and off the dancefloor, and we wish him only the very best as he embarks on his next chapter."

His wife Janette Manrara has expressed her "sadness" that he was leaving, saying he is what the show "is all about".

Strictly: It Takes Two co-host Manrara, 38, herself stepped down as a professional dancer on Strictly last year after taking over from Zoe Ball as co-host of BBC2 Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two with Rylan Clark-Neal.

Read more: Rose Ayling-Ellis' silent Strictly dance nominated for TV Bafta

The couple are professional dance partners. They became engaged in 2015 and married in 2017.

Watch: Dragons Den's Sara Davies said she loved working with Aljaz on Strictly