BBC bosses break silence on Strictly Come Dancing abuse complaints – ahead of Giovanni report being released

BBC bosses have broken their silence on the Strictly Come Dancing abuse complaints.

The dance competition has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a string of female celebs came forward to complain about their treatment on the show.

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Graziano Di Prima was sacked after dance partner Zara Mcdermott made a complaint he had physically and verbally hurt her[/caption]

Now, BBC boss Charlotte Moore has candidly addressed the recent claims.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival today, she said: “Let’s just put it in perspective – this is a show that has given so much joy to the nation, to people taking part in it, frankly as well as audiences, so it’s a really important show for us.

“I want to make sure that it’s a positive experience for everyone that takes part, from the crew, to the make up artist, to the celebrities, to the dancers.

“It needs to be a positive experience.”

She continued: “So I can’t talk about the individual cases, that’s very important, I think everybody deserves a fair and confidential process.

“But of course, it’s incredibly important this year because of the recent concerns that people have had.

“We have made sure that there is a welfare producer not just across the whole show but there’s one for the dancers, there’s one for the celebrities.

“They will be checking in throughout the process.

“We will make sure there is extra training for dancers and we have made sure that people feel there really is a way for them to talk and come out about any concerns.

“We know the training rooms have been an area of concern so there will always be someone from production in the training rooms.”

Since launching in 2000, Strictly has become one of Britain’s most-watched shows.

But everything changed in October 2023 when Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, 50, quit the series just five weeks in.

Amanda then launched a complaint against her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, accusing him of being “abusive, cruel and mean”.

The dancer, 33, who quit the BBC show after nine years in May, has denied any wrongdoing.

It is believed six people were spoken to during the probe, including Laura Whitmore, Giovanni’s dance partner in 2016.

The BBC spent three months investigating the dancer and the report was due to be revealed earlier this month.

However, the date clashed with disgraced Huw Edwards‘ court case over child abuse images.

Speaking on the situation, Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood said: “We want the results sooner rather than later.”

But he added: “It’s not just the BBC, though, is it? The BBC is in the public eye because of its public funding. ITV has the same issues.”

Last week, Amanda handed in more bombshell messages with fresh revelations over Gio’s behaviour.

A source said: “It has turned the course of the probe.”

Amid the investigation, fellow Strictly pro Graziano Di Prima was sacked by the BBC for gross misconduct after it emerged he kicked his celebrity partner Zara McDermott last year.

The Sun went on to reveal how the BBC received two complaints about him but they were swept aside.

He has since returned to his normal job, working for £6 an hour on a farm in his native Italy.

A source told us: “Graziano has lost everything.

“He is in pieces and filled with remorse. He knows, quite rightly, there is no way back for him in showbiz in the UK. His Strictly dancing career is over.

“He’s fled back home and is living on a farm, earning a pittance, and throwing himself into manual labour.

“He says he is literally living next to some cows- it’s an astonishing fall from grace.”

New line-up

Earlier this month, the full 2024 lineup was revealed for when the show returns to screens later this year.

Only six women are competing in this year’s programme and there are nine men taking part.

That means 40 per cent of celebrities in this year’s show are women, while in most years it has been roughly a 50/50 split between the sexes.

A TV insider said: “Looking at the figures, it’s hard to see how the ongoing controversy over bullying could not have affected the recruitment process for this year’s Strictly.

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

“It probably wasn’t the landmark number they wanted, given the show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.”