Strictly Come Dancing professional Vicky Hope has broken her silence after her dance partner Graziano Di Prima was dramatically axed from the hit BBC show. The stunning development comes just weeks before the new series is set to launch, sending shockwaves through the Strictly community.
Vicky expressed her heartbreak over the situation, revealing she's been left 'devastated' by the sudden departure of her colleague. 'I'm absolutely devastated,' the dancer confessed. 'Graziano and I had built such a strong partnership and were so excited about the upcoming series.'
Behind the Scenes Turmoil
The BBC confirmed Di Prima's exit following serious misconduct allegations related to his behaviour on the show. While specific details remain confidential, insiders suggest the decision came after an internal investigation into multiple incidents.
Hope, who had been preparing intensely with Di Prima for the new season, admitted the news came as a complete shock. 'We'd been training hard and had so many exciting routines planned. To have it end like this is heartbreaking,' she shared.
Strictly's Replacement Scramble
The BBC now faces a race against time to find a replacement professional dancer with the new series scheduled to begin in September. Production teams are reportedly scrambling to reorganise partnerships and choreography with the season premiere just weeks away.
'The show must go on, but this has definitely created some challenges behind the scenes,' an insider revealed. 'Everyone's pulling together to make sure this doesn't affect the quality viewers expect from Strictly.'
A History of Controversy
This isn't the first time Di Prima has faced scrutiny on the show. The Italian dancer previously received complaints about his teaching methods during his partnership with Love Island star Zara McDermott in the 2023 series.
The BBC released a statement confirming: 'We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series. While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures.'
As the Strictly community reels from this dramatic development, fans are left wondering how this last-minute shake-up will affect the dynamics of the new season and which professional will step into the vacant spot.
