A former Strictly Come Dancing contestant has recalled having a “frustrating” experience on the show, comparing it to a “pressure cooker”.
Olympic boxer turned wrestler Anthony Ogogo told Sky News that participants are part of a “fishbowl of… emotion” and even “strong-willed” people like him could buckle “under that pressure”.
Ogogo added that although he was encouraged to take part in the BBC show despite a shoulder injury, production staff then suggested he leave when the injury became “bad”.
But the support of his dance partner Oti Mabuse had been “brilliant” and nothing but positive and, despite the scandal now engulfing the show, he would take part again.
He took part in the beloved BBC show in series 13 in 2015, three years after he’d bagged a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
At the time, he was recovering from a shoulder injury and waiting to be able to fight again so decided to take part in the show.
Ogogo described parts of the eventual experience that saw him kicked out in week three as “frustrating”.
He said: “It’s a funny one the Strictly experience. They got me on the show when I was injured. I’d just had shoulder surgery.
“It was weird, they really encouraged me to do it, said the shoulder wouldn’t be an issue, and then when I got on the show, the shoulder was the reason I left the show.
“When I did it, they were like ‘oh your shoulder’s bad, maybe it’s time to go home’, that’s the impression I got. It was frustrating. It could’ve been amazing.”
Ogogo and his dance partner Oti Mabuse in 2015. Pic: PA
He said he was at odds with Strictly over the scars on his shoulder – following an infection caught after surgery.
Ogogo said: “I wanted the scar to show how much pain I was going through but they covered it up and they made a point one day saying ‘we don’t want it on TV’.
“I said ‘I want to show the public to know how much pain I’m going through’ and they made a comment, they were like just ‘cover the scars’. They made it clear I had to cover the scars.”
Ogogo won a bronze medal at London 2012 Olympics. Pic: PA
The popular show has been mired in controversy in recent weeks as two male dancers have left the show amid allegations of misconduct – including an allegation one dancer kicked his celebrity partner.
Today, BBC director-general Tim Davie addressed the controversy surrounding the hit show at a news briefing following the release of the broadcaster’s annual report, saying the organisation “will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour” and that “the line should never be crossed”.
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The broadcaster has announced it will introduce production staff to chaperone all rehearsals from next series as well.
Ogogo backed the introduction of chaperones, saying he didn’t know why it had taken such “massive allegations” for the idea to be “spoken about”.
Despite his experiences and the recent scandal, Ogogo said he wouldn’t hesitate to compete once more in the show.
He said his experience with his dance partner Mabuse had been nothing but positive, and lauded those who had spoken up.
He described Strictly as a “pressure cooker” and added: “I’m not saying you lose free will but you’re very aware you’re in this intense fishbowl of pressure and emotion.
“It’s live TV, the BBC… you want to do really well.
“I’m a strong-willed person and even I buckled under that pressure.”
The BBC has been contacted for comment.