Yahoo News Every key development in the Strictly scandal so far
With new details emerging about the BBC dance show seemingly every day, here is a breakdown of how the Strictly drama started.
New details about the Strictly Come Dancing controversy seem to be emerging every day.
The allegations about the conduct of some professional dancers in rehearsals has already led to the departure of two professional dancers from the BBC show, with rumours a third could also be caught up in the drama.
In response Strictly has announced changes to its duty of care policy to help protect celebrity contestants. And now it has been reported that professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova has contacted producers to talk about the situation.
With so many layers to the Strictly saga, it's almost easy to forget it all started as far back as October 2023 with a surprise exit by one of the celebrity contestants. If you are struggling to keep up with it all, here's a break down of the drama on the dancefloor, step by step.
Giovanni Pernice
Five weeks in to Strictly 2023 Sherlock star Amanda Abbington and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice were absent from the show. Co-host Claudia Winkleman told viewers the actor was unable to perform due to "medical reasons". A few days later Abbington announced she was withdrawing from the competition. A statement issued by Strictly bosses simply said she "unable to continue".
Abbington then released a separate statement on social media, saying she had left for "personal reasons". Rumours began to emerge of a rift between the actor and her dance partner Pernice, after she failed to name him in her messages of thanks to the show.
Then in January 2024 it was reported that Abbington had requested footage of her time in the rehearsal room with the Italian dancer from the BBC. It was also claimed she had met with Pernice's other former partners Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh to discuss their Strictly experiences, and they were even rumoured to be discussing taking legal action.
In June 2024 it was confirmed that Pernice had left the BBC dance show after nine years amid allegations of workplace misconduct during training. Pernice, 33, denies the allegations. Abbington has since publicly spoken about her "horrible" experience in the rehearsal room and said she would come home and vomit and cry. Head judge Shirley Ballas has spoken out in Pernice's defence, calling him an "absolute gentleman".
Graziano Di Prima
On 13 July is was revealed that Graziano Di Prima had quit the BBC dance show following allegations made about his behaviour by former Love Island star Zara McDermott, who was his partner in 2023. The Italian dancer has said in a statement he "deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly" after the BBC released a statement saying they were acting on duty of care procedures after "issues" had been raised.
Three days later McDermott broke her silence, issuing a statement on social media. She said: "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."
It then emerged that Di Prima had admitted kicking McDermott during training. A spokesman for the dancer said: “There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right.”
Unnamed third pro dancer
As the details of Di Prima's gross misconduct was still unfolding news broke that a third professional dancer, who has now left the show, had been named as a "person of interest" in the BBC's investigations into misconduct on the show.
A report in The Sun newspaper said that conversations were ongoing and a dossier of evidence was being compiled. It has been claimed there could be "a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals".
James Jordan training video goes viral
A video of former Strictly pro James Jordan went viral on social media, showing him and Casualty actor Georgina Bouzova in rehearsals for the show in 2006. In the video Jordan is seen throwing a chair and swearing.
Jordan, who left the show in 2013, said in a statement on social media the events were staged by the show for entertainment. He added: "You can see Georgina laughing about it in the studio and in the clips."
Chaperone shake up announced
As the allegations of misconduct continued to snowball, the BBC announced it was making major changes to its rehearsal process in order to increase its duty of care procedures. This would include the introduction of chaperones and welfare officers to protect contestants while in training.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing
Nadiya Bychkova reportedly meets BBC bosses
Nadiya Bychkova is the latest Strictly professional to be caught up in the drama. It has been reported by the Mail Online that the Ukranian dancer has asked to meet Strictly bosses to present her own personal complaint about the show. The report comes just a day after it was revealed Bychkova has split from fellow Strictly pro Kai Widdrington.
Bychkova, who joined the show in 2017, did not get a celebrity partner in 2023 and she posted a statement on social media at the time, admitting she was very disappointed.
Strictly stars start to speak out
The Strictly controversy has attracted major debate since the revelations about Di Prima and the unnamed third pro dancer. This has led to many celebrities speaking out about their own experiences of the show.
Former MP Edwina Currie claimed influencers don't realise how hard the show will be when they sign up. GMB presenter Rob Rinder said he does think female contestants on the show are under more pressure. While Reverend Richard Coles admitted admitted he had seen "tears and tantrums" behind the scenes but never witnessed bad behaviour.
This Morning presenter Alison Hammond, who did the show in 2014 with Aljaz Skorjanec has said she did not feel the need for a chaperone. And Vanessa Feltz, who was paired with Jordan on the show in 2013, said she was filmed in every minute of rehearsals. She added: "I didn't think anyone could get away with anything that wasn't on film. And therefore the bosses would have known what was going on."
Other professional dancers have spoken too.
Kristina Rihanoff, who left Strictly in 2015, said she found reading McDermott's statement "very disturbing". She added: "I think the show has moved on very different show now. I have to say when I was hired for show I had to go through strict process and being vetted." And Vincent Simone said he had seen a couple on the show who did get on being chaperoned when he was a choreographer on the show.
Laura Whitmore breaks silence
Former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore confirmed in late July 2024 that she had spoken to Strictly bosses about "concerns" she had about inappropriate behaviour from one individual she had experienced. The TV presenter was paired with Pernice on the show in 2016.
Whitmore, 39, shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram stories saying she was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people, "about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual".
She added: "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. My evidence is to support other people's experience. It's a shame it takes this for someone to be heard."
Strictly Come Dancing is due to return BBC One for its 22nd series in September, marking its 20th anniversary year.
