Strictly Come Dancing returns tonight, but not every celebrity-pro partnership has been a match made in heaven. From Amanda Abbington's harassment claims to Zara McDermott's abuse allegations, some pairings have been marred by controversy.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington were partnered in 2023, but it took merely weeks for their partnership to crumble. Amanda, 52, withdrew from the programme during week five and subsequently accused Giovanni of harassment, alleging his conduct had resulted in her developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
The BBC initiated an inquiry into her allegations and found in favour of six of the 17 grievances she submitted. The controversy eventually resulted in Giovanni's exit from Strictly after nine years, with the dancer later revealing the experience had driven him to contemplate suicide.
Giovanni Pernice and Laura Whitmore
A pairing that seemed doomed from the start was Giovanni Pernice and Laura Whitmore's, with the Italian professional confessing in his recent autobiography that they "didn't like each other from day one". The Irish television host, 41, subsequently claimed that Giovanni made her weep "every day" and lodged a complaint with the BBC regarding his "inappropriate" conduct during their stint on the programme in 2016.
Following Amanda Abbington's grievances, she stated: "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 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."
Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden
While they perhaps didn't despise one another, speculation swirled around Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden's pairing in 2018. A bullying controversy consumed the duo, with insiders alleging the actor had reduced Amy to tears during rehearsals. The Welsh professional maintained she never felt intimidated by her celebrity partner, though further doubts arose when Danny withdrew from appearing on It Takes Two after their elimination from the show.
The Red Dwarf star spoke candidly about their disagreement in 2020, insisting there was more to the saga than had been disclosed. He said: "I'll tell you exactly how that difference of opinion came, it was very simple. For two weeks I didn't have my partner because she had an injured leg. No one knows because they don't put that, the one thing they keep away from the public is injuries. For two weeks I wasn't even dancing with my partner until the night. No one said that though did they? The week that I made the mistake that everyone came down like a ton of bricks, the judges knew that I hadn't danced with my partner that week."
Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace became the opening contestant to be booted off Strictly in 2014. It seemed he didn't gel with his dance partner Aliona Vilani, with Gregg slamming their collaboration when discussing his exit. He confessed: "I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me, then I would have done better." Aliona also reportedly liked posts on X, previously known as Twitter, about being assigned a superior celebrity partner.
Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett
Viewers were oblivious to any friction between Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett during their 2009 stint together until her husband, Michael Pattemore, shed light on their partnership in his memoir. He penned: "She said her partner Darren Bennett was such a miserable git. There was no laughter, no fun."
"All the way through rehearsals she didn't mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work. If Lynda had had a partner like Anton Du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together." Michael published the memoir, Loving and Losing My Beloved Wife, Lynda Bellingham, in 2015, a year after the actress passed away from cancer at the age of 66.
Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev
Fern Britton joined Strictly in 2012 and was teamed up with Russian dancer Artem Chigvintsev. Three years later, she made several explosive revelations about her experience on the show, including allegations that Artem "kicked" and "shoved" her during rehearsals. In her memoir, the 69 year old presenter alleged that Artem told her he was "used to someone with some dance ability, and younger".
Recalling another supposed incident, Fern said: "Late one evening, when I simply couldn't get the steps in my head and we were both tired, he looked at me and said: 'Go home before I kill you.' It was a joke. I laughed. 'Kill me, please'."
Fiona Phillips and Brendan Cole
Former GMTV host Fiona Phillips took part in Strictly in 2005, partnered with Brendan Cole. Years later, Fiona claimed that Brendan wasn't particularly pleasant towards her and described his Strictly dismissal as "karma". "Brendan was a real bugger, actually. He wasn't very nice. He was really naughty," she told the Daily Star. "He's not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time."
Despite describing Fiona as a "lovely girl", Brendan also claimed she was "the worst partner he had ever had" across his three series on the show.
Brendan Cole and Lulu
Brendan's perspective on challenging partnerships likely shifted in 2011, when he was teamed up with singer Lulu. The duo were voted off six weeks into the competition, with the New Zealand dancer confessing he was relieved to see the partnership conclude. Things had become so strained that Brendan admitted he couldn't stand to be in the same room as his celebrity partner.
"There was one year I was absolutely delighted because I couldn't even be in the same room as my celebrity partner," he told Entertainment Daily. "It was Lulu. We did not gel. We did not see eye to eye at all." He confessed he wasn't keen on Lulu's conduct, while recognising she likely harboured similar feelings towards him. "I didn't like the way she behaved and she probably didn't like the way I behaved. I'm not a saint. The relationship just didn't work and that made it very, very difficult," Brendan added.
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima
2023 proved an especially tumultuous year for Strictly, with Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima becoming embroiled in their own scandal. The duo initially seemed to have developed a strong partnership, yet it subsequently came to light that the reality was vastly different away from the cameras. The ex-Love Island contestant levelled accusations of physical and verbal abuse against Graziano, claiming he had kicked her while training.
The Italian professional acknowledged kicking Zara on one occasion, though he refuted further allegations, including suggestions he had spat at her. He was later dismissed from the programme.
