The BBC has announced that professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing will no longer be left alone with contestants during training, as part of a series of measures to address concerns over behaviour. A production team member will now be present in the training room at all times, and two dedicated welfare producers will be appointed.
The decision follows the departure of two male dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima, after complaints about their conduct. Pernice, 33, has been accused of “threatening and abusive behaviour” by his former partner, actor Amanda Abbington, who quit last year’s series after five weeks. Di Prima left the show over the weekend, saying his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime”.
Former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott, who was partnered with Di Prima, said she found it “incredibly distressing” to watch back footage from the training room. In a statement, she said that while most of her experience was “amazing”, inside the training room “was very different”. She added that she had been scared of a potential backlash if she spoke out.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted, said the broadcaster takes issues seriously and acts when made aware of inappropriate behaviour. “The decisive steps we have taken and are announced today act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production,” she added.
