Strictly Come Dancing, once the crown jewel of BBC's entertainment lineup, now faces an existential crisis as mounting scandals and high-profile departures threaten to extinguish its famous sparkle.
A Troubled History: From Family Favourite to Scandal Magnet
Just a few years ago, Strictly represented the gold standard in family entertainment. The show delivered consistently strong ratings, attracted eager celebrities willing to undergo the rigorous training and spray-tan rituals, and maintained an atmosphere of genuine warmth that set it apart from more exploitative reality programmes.
However, the programme's reputation has suffered devastating blows in recent months. In October, The Sun reported that a Strictly star had been arrested on suspicion of rape, with Hertfordshire Police confirming a man was taken into custody regarding an alleged incident from last year. The individual was released on bail while investigations continue.
This marked the second such arrest involving a Strictly professional in recent months, following another male star's detention in August on suspicion of rape and "non-consensual intimate image abuse". The Metropolitan Police confirmed both investigations remain ongoing.
Deepening Problems: Beyond the Dance Floor
While the "Strictly curse" - referring to relationships ending during the competition - once added harmless gossip value, recent controversies have taken a much darker turn.
Earlier this year, former contestant Amanda Abbington revealed she'd been diagnosed with mild PTSD following her time on the show and later accused professional dancer Giovanni Pernice of bullying. Although Pernice strongly denied the allegations, an internal investigation upheld complaints of verbal bullying and harassment, leading to his removal from the programme.
The scandals continued with professional Graziano di Prima admitting to kicking celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals, resulting in his departure. Meanwhile, the Strictly live tour faced its own controversies when Wynne Evans was dropped by the BBC for making "inappropriate and unacceptable" remarks, and 2024 contestant Jamie Borthwick was suspended after using a disability slur on set.
Adding to the show's troubles, the BBC launched an investigation into alleged drug use by two Strictly stars in August, further damaging its family-friendly image.
Presenters Depart as Questions Mount About Show's Future
Against this backdrop of continuous controversy, longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced in October they would both step down at the end of the 2025 series. While their farewell message remained positive, many speculate whether the constant scandals influenced their decision to leave.
Nina Sawetz, a reputation and crisis adviser, notes that "Strictly has been living off its legacy for a while, but the problem now is the accumulation of negative stories. When a show designed to be warm, familiar and cosy becomes defined by uncertainty and disruption, it not only starts to drag the programme itself, but its talent and the wider corporation."
The departure of the show's iconic hosts raises difficult questions about who would want to replace them. Sawetz suggests that "big-name presenters won't want to inherit instability, even for a show as big as this."
David Frossman-Miller, global media director at W Communications, believes the BBC faces a difficult decision. "Cancelling a hugely loved show, a staple of Saturday night TV, is a huge call to make," he says, but acknowledges that "the repeated issues have been a huge internal headache for the BBC" and that continuing bad publicity "makes this show ending sooner a necessary reality."
While viewing figures remain relatively strong despite a gradual decline in recent years, many note that Winkleman's other hit show, The Traitors, appears to have captured the public's imagination in a way Strictly no longer does.
With 21 years on air and an increasingly tarnished reputation, industry experts suggest the BBC might look to ITV's experience with The X Factor as a cautionary tale about keeping a show running past its prime. The recent announcement of a new "Instant Dance challenge" has been interpreted by some as a desperate attempt to generate positive headlines.
As Frossman-Miller concludes: "Strictly's off-screen issues have overshadowed the show, and will likely in turn be the nail in the coffin." The question now isn't just who will replace Daly and Winkleman, but whether anyone should bother at all.
