Strictly Come Dancing has been embroiled in a scandal, miring the wholesome BBC series in its biggest controversy in 20 years.
Since launching in 2000, the BBC dancing competition has defied the critics and fought off its ratings rivals to become one of Britain’s most-watched – and enduring – successes.
The only controversy the show faced was usually reserved to what has become known as “the Strictly curse”, in which celebrity contestants grow so close to the professional dancer they’re paired with that their real-life relationships are affected.
But that all changed in October 2023 when Sherlock star Amanda Abbington questioned her treatment while under the guide of her professional partner Giovanni Pernice – something that led to an investigation into the show’s duty of care protocols.
Earlier this month, Graziano Di Prima was dropped from the series for mistreating Zara McDermott in the rehearsal room, while other former contestants, including Paralympian Will Bayley, have spoken out about their respective negative experiences.
Below is a live update of the furore as it unfolds
Strictly Come Dancing scandal
Since January, Strictly Come Dancing has found itself at the centre of controversy – and things only seem to be getting worse.
We’ll be running through all the updates to keep you briefed on what exactly the scandal is about and will be reporting any developments as they occur.
For starters, here is a timeline detailing everything you need to know.
Jacob Stolworthy22 July 2024 10:36