Sunday in the UK has brought another quiver of bad headlines for the BBC’s beleaguered dance show Strictly Come Dancing, mothership of 60 spin-off versions across the world including the US’s Dancing With the Stars, previously the broadcaster’s jewel in its entertainment crown, and otherwise expected to be happily marking its 20th year on our screens.
Dancer Giovanni Pernice has already left the show, but an investigation into his behaviour is ongoing, after his celebrity partner last season left the show for “medical reasons” and claimed she was suffering PTSD after his treatment of her.
Today’s The Sun newspaper has an interview with Abbington, expanding on her allegations, calling Pernice’s behaviour “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean.” She adds that she feared a backlash if she came forward with her complaint, but that she looks forward to the CCTV of their rehearsals being released: “I know what is on those tapes and I’m not frightened of those tapes being seen.”
However, the Daily Mail claims it has an exclusive that Pernice, who has denied all the allegations made against him, is expected to be cleared following the drawn-out investigation.
Meanwhile, other dancers’ names are now in the frame for bad behaviour, and the show’s other stars have been drawn into the debacle – yesterday dancer-turned-judge Anton du Beke faced fresh fire for a racist remark he made and apologised for in 2009, and today one of the hosts, Claudia Winkleman, faced calls to explain herself after an old clip of her spin-off show was shared on social media.
In the show dating back to 2006, producers aired a VT of a rehearsal session in which dancer James Jordan dragged his partner, actress Georgina Bouzova across the floor, and added the soundtrack of Duran Duran’s song Wild Boys. Winkleman said: “What better way to launch a new show than with a visit from the wild boys of Strictly.”
Her colleagues have been quick to defend her in today’s press, one telling The Daily Mail:
“Claudia was doing her job at the time when clearly the BBC thought such behaviour was acceptable. She was reading what was on a script. But she does make light of the behaviour and it hasn’t gone unnoticed across online platforms. Undeniably, they were different times but unfortunately it now is being looked at through today’s lens. Of course Claudia would not ever think treating someone like that was okay.”
This story about the UK’s biggest entertainment TV juggernaut is showing no signs of going away.