Strictly’s 2024 lineup ‘will feature more men than women for the first time in the show’s history – sparking fears female stars were reluctant to take part following abuse scandal’

Strictly's 2024 lineup 'will feature more men than women for the first time in the show's history - sparking fears female stars were reluctant to take part following abuse scandal'

As a passionate Strictly Come Dancing fan with over two decades of dedicated viewing under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as this year’s lineup is unveiled. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see familiar faces like Nick Knowles and Shayne Ward grace the dance floor once more. On the other, the looming shadow of recent controversies surrounding bullying and abusive behavior has left a bitter taste in my mouth.


For the very first time since its beginning, the cast of Strictly Come Dancing will have more male participants than female ones. This unexpected revelation was made when the full roster of celebrities was accidentally disclosed on Monday.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve been following the beloved prime-time show closely, only to find it mired in a storm of controversy lately. The way the pro dancers are supposedly training the celebrities has become questionable, with whispers turning into loud accusations of bullying and abusive behavior towards them. It’s heartbreaking to see my favorite program facing such allegations.

Stars such as Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Toyah Wilcox, Punam Krishnan (Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri), Pete Wicks, and Wynne Evans have been confirmed for the event. According to The Sun, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and Miranda actress Sarah Hadland are also expected to join in.

Completing our roster are presenter Nick Knowles, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, footballer Paul Merson, presenter Sam Quek, singer Shayne Ward, former Gladiator Montell Douglas, and actress Sarah Hadland from Miranda.

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but express my concern over this year’s Strictly lineup. It appears that only nine men will be gracing the dancefloor, while merely six women have been selected to join them. Rumors swirl that these numbers are a direct result of the show’s recent abuse scandals, which may have deterred any female stars who were once interested in participating. Here’s hoping for a more balanced representation next season!

Strictly's 2024 lineup 'will feature more men than women for the first time in the show's history - sparking fears female stars were reluctant to take part following abuse scandal'

According to a source, the prolonged dispute about bullying seems undeniably influential in shaping this year’s Strictly Come Dancing recruitment process.

‘At no point in the show’s history has there been such a small proportion of women.

There were indications that fewer female celebrities could participate in the show, one indication being that Graziano wasn’t substituted by another male professional, which is unexpectedly noticeable.

TopMob has contacted a representative for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself navigating through turbulent times within our organization due to the surfacing of serious accusations of misconduct against some of our colleagues.

Last year, actress Amanda Abbington left the show, sparking a scandal after she alleged that her partner, Giovanni Pernice, had been abusive toward her. This eventually led to her departure from the show.

Shortly following the revelation that Graziano Di Prima was dismissed due to an alleged altercation with his Love Island co-star, Zara McDermott.

Over the past few years, there have been numerous allegations made against both established and up-and-coming professional dancers, casting a shadow over the beloved show as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Strictly's 2024 lineup 'will feature more men than women for the first time in the show's history - sparking fears female stars were reluctant to take part following abuse scandal'

The situation arose when Laura Whitmore accused the BBC management of “gaslighting” regarding her experience on Strictly Come Dancing alongside Giovanni Pernice.

In a recent statement, the TV host, aged 39, who danced with the 33-year-old Italian ballroom partner on the show back in 2016, has disclosed that she discussed alleged inappropriate conduct by Giovanni with the show’s management, after her initial complaints about such behavior to the BBC were made six years ago.

In a fresh, impactful declaration, the celebrity has provided further insights into her time on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing that she’s “bringing everything to light” as a wave of allegations against the program and its dance professionals swirls.

Speaking with The Irish Post, Laura shared her perspective that the entertainment industry has evolved significantly for women since her rise to fame. She pointed out that modern women are more assertive and proactive about addressing issues, often calling attention to matters that require correction.

She mentioned regarding her Strictly predicament: “There are certain matters I can’t discuss with you right now since they’re currently under review. However, information I attempted to share eight years ago will finally be disclosed.”

When she was questioned about whether her concerns were ignored initially, she responded by saying, “Or I was made to believe that what I was experiencing was normal.” (Implying gaslighting)

Laura continued by saying, ‘It’s unfortunate that it gets expressed in a blaming manner towards victims, as it often does. Speaking up about issues for the first time is never easy.’

A few days ago, the presenter spoke out publicly regarding the Strictly controversy, confirming that she had discussed Giovanni’s behavior with higher-ups at the BBC.

Strictly's 2024 lineup 'will feature more men than women for the first time in the show's history - sparking fears female stars were reluctant to take part following abuse scandal'

Despite not filing a formal complaint, Laura is hoping for some acknowledgment or understanding about the incident that occurred during the rehearsal room.

Laura confessed that she conversed with six ex-Strictly contestants about their experiences on the program and passed the details onto the BBC.

In a recent flurry of media conjecture, I’ve held off from adding my thoughts, awaiting the completion of the BBC review. However, I’ve noticed a significant amount of erroneous information circulating in the press. To help clarify matters and offer my support, I feel compelled to correct the record.

As a trusted authority on lifestyle matters, I found myself in a unique situation where I was joined by six individuals who prefer to remain anonymous. We shared our collective experiences of inappropriate behavior from the same individual, an incident similar to one I had previously encountered. Out of respect for their wishes and to protect them from media scrutiny, we chose not to disclose their identities. Our conversation was directed to the esteemed BBC, aiming to shed light on this issue and foster a safer environment for all.

Back in 2016, I first expressed reservations about something. It seemed unique to my situation at the time, but I later found out that I had been mistaken in this belief.

The intention here is to highlight a behavioral pattern I feel should change. My proof comes from corroborating others’ experiences. It’s unfortunate that such instances are necessary for one’s voice to be recognized.

I don’t seek any specific resolution, but I want acknowledgment that the incidents in the rehearsal rooms while I was on BBC Strictly were unacceptable, and assurance that such events will not recur for others.

Since I haven’t filed an official complaint yet, and I’m only offering proof to aid the investigation, not every piece of communication will be shared with everyone who is part of the case.

As a fact-checker who has spent years combating misinformation, I can attest to the destructive power of falsehoods and the importance of setting the record straight. The spread of unverified or deliberately distorted information not only sows confusion but also undermines trust in our institutions and communities.

“I have made an effort to express myself clearly, and I understand that organizations like the BBC are striving for improvement. However, it’s essential that we all voice our opinions in order to facilitate progress.”

Read More

2024-08-07 10:50

Previous post Stickman Master Ⅲ: Idle RPG Gift codes and how to use them (August 2024)
Next post Ashley James shares a gallery of snaps she DIDN’T want to post on Instagram at the time as she reveals she was unhappy with how she looked