Strictly Come Dancing fails to address its year of scandal after claims of abuse by professionals – as the BBC show returns for another series
As a longtime fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I must say this year has been quite the rollercoaster for the beloved show. With its 20th series approaching, the once-loved Saturday night juggernaut seems to be grappling with more than just dance moves these days.
In its return to British television for the 20th anniversary season on Saturday, Strictly Come Dancing chose not to tackle its recent controversies directly.
This year, marked as a significant milestone for the BBC series, has been tarnished by scandal. In October, unexpectedly, actress Amanda Abbington left the show, later alleging that her partner Giovanni Pernice had been abusive towards her.
The show encountered another round of controversy when Graziano Di Prima was terminated in July due to allegations of physically abusing his partner, Zara McDermott, who is a well-known contestant on Love Island.
However the BBC dodged the controversy during its launch episode of the new series on Saturday.
This year, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly enthusiastically welcomed the new cast of celebrities, revealing their dance partners – however, any debates from the previous year were not brought up in their introduction.
The 20th anniversary celebration for Strictly has been overshadowed by controversy following allegations made by actress Amanda from Sherlock against her dance partner Giovanni. She accused him of using harsh and abusive teaching methods, describing them as unnecessary, cruel, and mean.
Johnny, aged 33, is currently on leave as an investigation by the BBC is ongoing regarding accusations from Amanda and two ex-celebrity associates.
He has vehemently denied the claims.
It is said that Amanda feels greatly disillusioned with the BBC leaders as she worries they are shielding the dancer during the ongoing investigation into his alleged bullying behavior, with the report on his misconduct expected soon.
Top executives at the BBC are discussing different strategies for presenting their results, as they are concerned that either Amanda or Giovanni might take legal action if they’re dissatisfied with the final decision.
After Giovanni, the show was hit with a fresh wave of scandal when Graziano Di Prima was sacked.
In simpler terms, his previous famous companion, Zara, said that she didn’t disclose the events immediately because she was ‘afraid’ of negative reactions.
As the investigation into pro dancer Giovanni unfolded, it was members of the junior production team who stepped forward to reveal what they had observed.
Zara shared with her audience that although her experience on Strictly was everything she had imagined, there were specific instances within the training room with Graziano that were extremely upsetting.
During the summer, Strictly has found it challenging to avoid media attention, as an increasing number of former participants have shared their experiences with the public.
In 2014, Steve Backshall expressed concerns to the BBC regarding his dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing, Ola Jordan, alleging that she had been harsh or overly critical towards him, which some might interpret as bullying.
While Ola’s spouse, James, was left enraged, a video resurfaced showing him threatening Georgina Bouzova by saying he would forcefully drag her and shout at her for forgetting her dance steps.
46-year-old ballroom dancer and choreographer expressed strong criticism towards the BBC, claiming that many of the circulating clips had little or no connection with Georgina, in response to the recent controversies involving Giovanni and Graziano.
Professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova also met with BBC bosses to complain about the show in July.
According to reports from The Mail, it was uncovered that the Ukrainian beauty reached out to leaders at the Corporation, following which she was promptly asked for an in-person meeting to address her issues.
She expressed strong feelings of disappointment concerning specific issues surrounding the Saturday night dance program, and she was eager to bring these topics up with the BBC.
The cloud of controversy surrounding the show has become a significant factor discouraging women, who once adored it on Saturday nights, from watching due to its increasingly toxic environment.
As a result of the revealed star roster, an unprecedented gender imbalance emerged, with six females contrasted against nine males.
It was widely believed that influencer Grace Keeling (GK Barry) and ex-singer of Girls Aloud, Nicola Roberts, were likely to join the project.
Former Lioness Jill Scott, known for being a staunch feminist, was also in the running.
It appears that Shini Muthukrishnan, the latest Blue Peter presenter, was almost set to join, yet none of them formally agreed.
The new series also features no same-sex couple for the first time in five years,
Earlier this month, it’s thought that producers made a decision, possibly as a means to bring back the popular BBC1 program to its original essence after a succession of major controversies.
According to a source, although the broadcaster aims to project an image of being ‘open-minded and forward-thinking,’ they understand that not all viewers may approve of same-sex relationships depicted on screen.
This past year was challenging for the show, but it found reason to rejoice this week, as it won the Talent Show category at the National Television Awards on Wednesday evening.
Among Britain’s Got Talent, The Great British Bake Off, MasterChef, and The Voice, it was the BBC show that emerged victorious, claiming one of the evening’s major awards.
The National Television Awards (NTAs) are decided by the general public, and the victory for Strictly Come Dancing indicates that fans continue to support the program as it gears up for its 20th season this coming Saturday evening.
Stepping into the limelight, I found myself gripping onto my gratitude as I addressed the sea of faces before me. With a warm smile and heart full, I expressed our collective sentiments: “From each member of this team, we extend our deepest, sincerest appreciation to every viewer at home who cast their vote in our favor – your support means the world!
This coming Saturday marks our 20th anniversary celebration at Strictly, where we’re kicking off with our debut event. What a fantastic present it will be!
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2024-09-14 23:19