Since airing in 2000, the programme Strictly Come Dancing has surpassed expectations and become one of the most beloved shows on the BBC. Celebrities are paired with professional dancers from across the world to dance their way to the final and hopefully take home the winning glitter ball. However, months of allegations concerning two of their male dancers’ behaviour have made headlines, revealing negative celebrity experiences.
Two professionals, Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice, have both left Strictly amidst the scandal and will not be returning. The allegations have had the nation in shock, even leading the BBC to publicly confirm that the show will not be cancelled and return this fall. In September, the 22nd series will return, and according to the BBC, a member of the production team will chaperone all future rehearsals in response to the recent events. Both dancers have been accused of unacceptable behaviour towards their partners in training, including confirmation from Di Prima’s spokesperson that he kicked Zara Mcdermott in rehearsals last season.
Strictly Come Dancing has never been shy of making scandal headlines. From Dame Arlene Phillips being shockingly sacked as judge back in 2008, to the infamous ‘Strictly Curse’ on relationships, somehow this scandal feels more threatening to the show’s reputation. In a media sense, drama has always always added a layer of excitement and intrigue to the show. Viewers can become more emotionally invested in watching with a new sense of knowledge into their personal lives. This is whether it be feuds and disagreements with others, personal adversity or blossoming romances with other Strictly personalities. The media buzz and viewers’ natural human interest keeps the show in the spotlight.
Yet these allegations have done more to tarnish the show, this may be because there’s one feature of Strictly that feels extremely important to remain without controversy – the bond between the dancer and the celebrity. So when did all the drama begin?
On October 23rd, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington withdrew from the show in week 6, after not performing the week prior. Partnered up with Giovanni Pierce, she expressed her ‘deepest regret’ to make the decision. Pernice also commented on Instagram, writing: “I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.” Celebrities pulling out of the show for ‘personal reasons’ is not an uncommon occurrence. Everything seemed pretty normal until January 2025, when the Sun reported that Abbington requested training room footage.
She also said she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD after her time on the show, leading rumours to began to swirl in the mainstream media about Giovanni’s behaviour towards the Sherlock Star. She later accused Pernice of ‘cruel and mean’ behaviour. Despite Giovanni saying he was ‘looking forward to clearing his name’ and denying any reports of bad behaviour, Giovanni Pernice, a favourite, was out of the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing line up.
The drama only got worse from here, when in May, Graziano Di Prima was also announced to be out of the lineup. Zara Mcdermott spoke up shortly after, describing some of the incidents she went through in the training room were ‘incredibly distressing’. The confirmed kick Di Prima gave Mcdermott gave the public an insight into what she went through during her time on the show.
Many Strictly personalities began to comment on the events unfolding. Judge Craig Revel Horwood says the complaints are a ‘shock’. Meanwhile, Laura Whitmore who was partnered with Giovanni in 2016, spoke about how spoke up about ‘inappropriate’ behaviour from the proffessional years ago. On the 23rd of July, BBC director general, Tim Davie apologised over all concerns expressed, adding he is ‘disappointed’ by them. As more and more people spoke up and expressed their concerns and opinions, it was noticeable that this controversy might have a lasting effect on the future of Strictly. The relationship between the celebrity and the professional dancer is probably one the most romanticised aspects of the show. They are immediately presented as best friends, a team, with the common interest to grow and improve to go as far as they can in the competition.
Seeing these depicted relationships crumble in the media over the past many months, feels like such a core part of the show has been broken. Especially when Strictly, where some aspects represent a carefully curated reality TV show – where the roles of the contestants, dancers and judges are so closely knit. So given all of the scandals, where exactly does the show go from here?
Obviously, it has been put on the BBC to take action and do something in response to misconduct claims. Their response was in training chaperones. This comes as a wellbeing precaution to look after contestants. The response of course makes perfect sense – someone watching the sessions to prevent future acts like Graziano. However, it makes us wonder whether professionals may lose touch of their unique teaching styles to avoid controversy. Though the safety and comfortability of the celebrities ranks as more important than this, the new rule has been received positively.
It may also be surprising that the training sessions have never been watched over before, outside of the small filming that lets audiences see short clips of the rehearsals every week. The drama may have casted a shadow over the show’s 20th anniversary, aside from Di Prima’s and Pernice’s personal behaviour, it raises questions about the culture of the show in general, in terms of winning and the forever growing pressure on celebrities on the show to try and get their ‘deserving’ professional as close to the final as possible.
September 2024 will see the new season and with Giovanni and Graziano dumped, it feels like a fresh start. It’s likely that with the love for Strictly that doesn’t seem to die, the show can move past this and continue to operate with its known glamour. However, it will be interesting to see if viewers feel any different watching the show, knowing what they now know.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 returns on September 14th 2024. The full celebrity line-up can be viewed here
