Strictly Come Dancing bosses accused of leaving celebrities woefully unprepared for the impact BBC show will have on their lives as former contestant says ‘producers have only themselves to blame’

A former Strictly contestant has claimed that BBC bosses are leaving celebrities woefully unprepared for the dramatic effect that signing up for the show will have on their lives.

The primetime family favourite is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach the celebs, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour.

And now the star, who took part four years ago, suggests the scandal was inevitable due to the laidback attitude of producers who dismiss the gruelling training regimes as an occupational hazard of showbusiness. 

Wishing to remain anonymous, they claimed the celebrities are merely asked if they are ‘OK with their life being in the limelight’ before agreeing to take part, adding: ‘Those in charge only have themselves to blame for this scandal.’

It comes as the BBC faces further questions over why psychological tests are not carried out with potential competitors, after actress Amanda Abbington complained that professional dancer Giovanni Pernice bullied her during their rehearsals. He strongly denies her allegations.

Amanda Abbington with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy following an interview for Channel 4 in July

‘This downfall has been years in the making,’ said the former contestant, who appeared with a female pro dancer.

‘Producers have only themselves to blame. This didn’t start yesterday – it happens every season on Strictly.

‘When you go in through the door, they say, “Listen, there is going to be a lot of intrusion in your life. You’re in the limelight for everyone to look at.”

‘And then they say to you, “Are you OK with that?” 

‘That’s all they do, and the reality is, if you say “no” they are not going to put you in the show. 

‘You have taken the money and they have said to you, this is showbusiness – if you don’t like it, go and get a job selling flowers. There’s no such thing as a free dance.’

A former Strictly contestant has claimed that BBC bosses are leaving celebrities woefully unprepared for the dramatic effect that signing up for the show will have on their lives 

The claims appeared to echo those made last week by Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood, who revealed as a young dancer his teacher would ‘whack us with a cane’ as punishment for mistakes

He added: ‘These are accidents waiting to happen. You’ve got [professional dancers] who have been put through the mill to get where they are.

‘It’s not easy to make it as a professional. I’m not surprised we are where we are today.’

The claims appeared to echo those made last week by Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood, who revealed as a young dancer his teacher would ‘whack us with a cane’ as punishment for mistakes.

The former contestant also said there were ‘obvious’ cultural issues at play, pointing out that Latino male dancers seemed to be singled out for more complaints.

The BBC last night said it will ‘always listen if people want to make us aware of something’ and there are ‘procedures and processes in place to manage this’.