Strictly bullying probe ‘delayed’ as BBC thrown into chaos after Jermaine Jenas texts scandal
THE probe into bullying and misconduct at Strictly Come Dancing has been ‘delayed’.
The investigation setback comes as the BBC has once again come under fire after the Jermaine Jenas texts scandal.
The Corporation was previously expected to reveal the findings of their earlier this month.
It spent three months reviewing pro dancer Giovanni Pernice after Amanda Abbington and several other former celeb partners made complaints.
The 33-year-old dancer quit the long-running BBC show after nine years in May and has denied any wrongdoing.
Graziano Di Prima was also axed from the celebrity dancing show after claims that he kicked and spat at partner Zara McDermott in rehearsals.
But it has now been reported that the publicly funded corporation is unlikely to make the findings public until at least next week at the very earliest.
It has also been said that the probe could even stretch into the next month.
A show insider apparently told Mail Online: “The BBC are caught in a perfect storm right now. It’s one disaster after the next.
“They’ve had to deal with Huw Edwards and now the Jermaine Jenas scandal has come at them from almost out of nowhere.
“They are acutely aware they need to announce the findings of the Strictly Come Dancing investigation and that all eyes are on them.
“They know there will be a lot of scrutiny over whatever they decide to say, so they need to get the timing right and to ensure any questions people have about the investigation can be dealt with.”
However, a show insider told The Sun: “There’s absolutely no link between the Strictly investigation and what’s unfolding with Jermaine Jenas and the BBC.”
Jermaine, 41, was given the axe from his positions on The One Show and Match Of The Day.
As the texting scandal rocked the BBC, in an interview with The Sun, he has since denied being a sex pest and insisted he did nothing illegal.
A female One Show colleague raised concerns over after the on-screen personality allegedly sent her unsolicited flirty texts.
Strictly's full scandal so far
Strictly Come Dancing's scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what's happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for “gross misconduct” after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he “deeply regrets it”, adding his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime.”
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were “amazing to work with”, she found the rehearsal room “completely different”, confirming there’s footage of “certain situations”.
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his “1970s attitude” and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a “p***” after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year’s series.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after ‘an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio’.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is ‘deeply sorry’, adding: “Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
“At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.”
24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the ‘humilation being of a sexual nature’.
27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong”.
She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others.
28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she “never felt pressured” by him and “personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day”.
August 10: Graziano breaks his silence on his Strictly axe, saying “these vile, false allegations have ruined my life.”
He also told of the “shocking” end to his friendship with Zara McDermott.
Other women have since come forward amid a probe into the messages said to have been sent by the married ex-footballer.
In an exclusive interview, the presenter told us: “I am sorry for what I have put them through.
“I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self- sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help.
“I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard.
I know I need help and I am getting help.
Jermaine Jenas speaking to The Sun
“Before any of this became public, I saw my private doctor and after a long discussion, booked in for therapy to try and address these issues, where they stem from, and why I have been doing this and hurting the people I love.”
Jermaine added: “I’m not proud of what I wrote and what I said. And I do consider it cheating, yes, although nothing physical ever happened.
“This is all on me and I fully accept there is a level of responsibility that needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC.
“And I fell below those standards. I must take the responsibility.
Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
“I was given an incredible opportunity and I know it’s on me that right now I feel I have lost everything. I feel like people are judging me and that I am the number one target right now in the country.”
The star revealed that he was sacked by the BBC on Monday, five days after the initial HR consultation process began.
The BBC’s Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski informed all staff of his sudden dismissal, only after The Sun broke the story online.
Jenas admitted that he knew one of the involved women through work and she gave him her mobile number at a boozy work event.
These were two consenting adults I was speaking to.
Jermaine Jenas to The Sun
They then ‘frantically’ sexted over a period of 24 hours but he claims it ended amicably.
He insisted: “These were two consenting adults I was speaking to. With one she made it clear she was interested. I don’t want to start going down the ‘who pursued who’ road, but when people are saying things that are wrong and false information is being spread, I do have to kind of defend my space.
“In that particular instance, there was an adult conversation that took place in a bar in London where that person made it very clear that they had an attraction to me.”
He added: “Yes there was alcohol involved but I take full responsibility. I feel people don’t know the truth and are forming opinions about me that aren’t accurate.
“I wasn’t going through some kind of BBC vault trying to get women’s numbers. I’m obviously going to say I’m not a sex pest.”