BBC's Strictly Come Dancing has always been a favourite among viewers, but the 2024 season has been marred by numerous scandals and bullying allegations, shaking the show's reputation. The professional dancers for the 2024 show have already been announced, and a few famous faces will not be returning. Giovanni Pernice,who's name was recently cleared of several complaints made against him by Amanda Abbington, was replaced by Aljaž Škorjanec.
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After Amanda Abbington labelled Pernice ‘nasty,’ more and more celebs are coming forward to talk about their experience. Graziano Di Prima was also axed from the show after BBC bosses found footage of him kicking his partner Zara McDermott.
Strictly’s first female pro dancer accused of bullying
After Prima, a female professional dancer was also understood to be the next to face allegations of abuse. According to Mirror, a former Strictly celeb claimed that his pro dancer ‘screamed in his face in rage’ and accused her of bullying him.
Reports suggest that the dancer in question could be Janette Manrara, as her Strictly dance partner Will Bayley has come out with accusations against her.
The household name has claimed that he rowed with his partner every day and received no help from Strictly. His complaint do not include allegations of physical abuse.
The Strictly celeb is said to have criticised senior BBC staff for failing to support him after he left the show. A source told the publication:
The man in question felt very much victimised by the behaviour of his Strictly partner. He alleges that on several occasions she flew into a real fury when he couldn’t get the steps right, and on one occasion screamed full in his face. They rowed every single day.
He was left upset, struggling to sleep, and feeling isolated in the process. But even worse, he felt totally unsupported by Strictly. When he suffered the setback, it was clear he was struggling, but he felt there was no duty of care. After leaving the show, he was not contacted again, even by phone.
The source added that Bayley had been in a bad place and feared backlash if he spoke out. Reportedly, the show had a ‘serious impact’ on his life and affected his ability to work long after he had left the show.
During one of the dance routines, Bayley expressed his concerns for jumping from a table and says that BBC producers encouraged him to do it anyway. When he suffered an injury during the show, they made him feel like it was his fault. The table tennis player eventually pulled out of the competition due to his injury.
Janette Manrara's last season on Strictly was in 2019.
2024 could be last series for veteran Strictly dancers
Amidst everything that has been happening to Strictly, BBC bosses are doing everything to revive the show and its reputation. While it may be too late to make any changes to the show for this year, they are ready to make a fresh start next year.
This essentially means revamping the line-up of pro dancers and adding newcomers to the list rather than veteran stars who feel ‘entitled and untouched.’ A source told The Sun:
There isn’t much they can do to change the lineup for this year’s crisis-hit show, but the feeling is that Strictly needs to make a fresh start in 2025.
There’s the fear that being on the show leaves them more open to feeling entitled and untouchable. So for many of the pros turning up for rehearsals this week, it may be their last time.
It’s not a done deal, and it’s not just going to be a case of the oldest or longest-serving being shown the door. It would be a carefully considered process, with other factors taken into account too.
Additionally, BBC has said there will be chaperones in training rooms from now on ‘at all times.’
Read More
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Giovanni Pernice: BBC launches investigation into the Strictly dancer as he starts new company
Sources Used
Mirror: First female BBC Strictly Come Dancing star faces bullying claims as celeb makes complaint
Mirror: BBC breaks silence as Strictly's Janette Manrara is latest star accused
The Sun: Strictly stars face axe after show rocked by scandal as bosses consider culling five longest-serving dancers
