Strictly the Professionals stage tour cancelled amid bullying investigation
The Strictly Come Dancing tour featuring the show’s professional dancers will not go ahead next year.
As the BBC prepares to release a review into allegations of behind the scenes bullying on the TV series, promoters announced that the Strictly the Professionals tour would be “taking a break” in 2025.
The theatrical tour, launched in 2010, last took place in May. The line-up included Graziano Di Prima, who later left Strictly after admitting he had kicked his dance partner, Zara McDermott, during rehearsals.
The Sun reported that the tour had been cancelled in order to avoid any more bad publicity. “Strictly is trying to rebuild as a brand, and the Professionals tour was known as a hotbed of drinking and fun,” a source told the newspaper.
“The pro dancers work hard and play hard but, with everything that’s happened recently, it seems axing it eliminates the chance of any further issues.”
Tour insiders disputed the claim, saying many of the professionals were unavailable because they were performing in their own shows next year.
A tour spokesman said: “Due to artist availability, the UK tour of Strictly the Professionals is taking a break next year, and plans are currently being finalised for 2026.” The Strictly tour featuring this year’s celebrity contestants will go ahead as planned, the spokesman added.
The BBC is finalising its review into allegations made by Amanda Abbington, a contestant on last year’s show, against her partner Giovanni Pernice.
She alleges that he was abusive to her during rehearsals. Pernice strongly denies the claims, and has said he is confident he will be cleared. He left the show in the summer and announced this week that he has joined Ballando con le Stelle, its Italian counterpart.
The new series of Strictly starts on Saturday night, with this year’s contestants having said they are unaffected by the scandal.
Sam Quek, an Olympic medallist and former Question of Sport team captain, said: “There’s two sides to the truth. It shouldn’t take the shine off Strictly. It’s a positive show.”