Strictly Come Dancing has dominated headlines recently as the show was plunged into chaos over multiple “misconduct” claims, but the dance competition is looking to the future just weeks ahead of its usual launch slot.
While no celebrities have been officially been confirmed as taking part in this year’s series of the BBC show, Nick Knowles has reportedly “signed up”.
The DIY SOS presenter, 61, is thought to be taking part in the glitzy competition, which usually hits screens around mid-September.
Despite the ongoing misconduct scandal, it’s understood Knowles has agreed to compete after “months of talks”.
A BBC source reportedly told The Mirror the presenter is taking part in the show, while another insider told The Sun Knowles “has always loved Strictly” and that he’s “excited”.
They added: “He’s got a great personality, is incredibly driven and competitive and is up for giving anything a crack. He’s going on the show to entertain and to win. He’ll give it his best shot.”
DIY SOS star Nick Knowles is understood to be taking part in this year’s show despite the ongoing BBC Strictly scandal
BBC
It comes as the family show remains shrouded in scandal, with two professional dancers having left the show recently.
Following actress Amanda Abbington’s claims against her dance partner of last year, Giovanni Pernice, a BBC investigation was launched.
Pernice, 33, has left the show, and not long after, Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed. He later admitted to having “kicked” his celebrity partner of last year, Zara McDermott.
Strictly Come Dancing is in a period of chaos ahead of this year’s series
BBC
Krishnan Guru-Murthy told Abbington how she appears to have been “having a hard year”.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been easy. You start to think, well you know, am I going mad?” she responded candidly.
She went on: “But as you know I am not mad. It’s been brutal and relentless and unforgiving. The aftermath has been something that I wasn’t expecting.”
She went on to claim: “There are 50 hours of footage that is being blocked. 50 hours is a lot of footage and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic.
Nick Knowles is rumoured to be taking part in this year’s Strictly
Getty
In the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers and they quickly said they would put in a camera.
“Giovanni said he asked for them but he didn’t. I know he didn’t.
“Every Friday for the five weeks I would get the producers saying they had watched the footage and they were shocked and would apologise.
“There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I am not blocking it. It is bullying and aggressive behaviour and other things that were quite upsetting.”