Strictly Come Dancing: How the saga unfolded on the BBC’s hit show

Strictly Come Dancing has been one of the BBC’s most iconic and beloved shows for the past 20 years.

But recently, it has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, amid allegations concerning two of its professional dancers.

Both men – Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima – have now left the show. Both have denied any suggestions of abusive or threatening behaviour during rehearsals.

The BBC, for its part, has insisted it has robust duty of care procedures, which it has bolstered with a series of new measures including giving stars chaperones in rehearsals.

But the saga has raised question marks over what’s really happening behind the scenes.

Here’s how events have unfolded over the past year.

The Sherlock actress pulls out of the show in week six, having missed the previous weekend’s show for medical reasons.

Abbington was paired with Italian professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

A day after the BBC announced that Abbington had withdrawn, the star took to Instagram to express her “deepest regret” at having to leave.

Her post cited “personal reasons” for being “unable to continue”.

She added that she “did not come to this decision easily or lightly… I’m so sad I am unable to go any further”.

Pernice also commented on Instagram, writing: “I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”

Pernice says he is “surprised” by media reports about his teaching methods and rejects “any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour”.

The dancer added that he was looking forward to clearing his name.

Legal firm Carter Ruck said it had contacted the BBC regarding “numerous serious complaints” about his alleged behaviour while filming Strictly.

It has been widely reported Abbington had experienced difficulties with Pernice.

The BBC promises to handle any complaints with “care, fairness and sensitivity” to all sides, following reports about Pernice’s teaching methods.

The BBC issued a statement addressing “media reports about a high profile show”, which was believed to concern Strictly.

It is confirmed that Pernice will not return to Strictly Come Dancing for the next series.

The BBC did not announce the star as part of its line-up of professional dancers for 2024, following reports that he would not compete.

Di Prima confirms that he is leaving the show.

In a statement on Instagram, he said he “deeply regrets” the events leading up to his departure and acknowledged that his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime”.

A BBC spokesperson confirmed that Di Prima was “no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series”.

Last year, Di Prima danced with TV presenter Zara McDermott.

McDermott posts a statement that says she was involved in incidents in the Strictly training room that she now finds “incredibly distressing” to watch back.

The former Love Island star and documentary maker also said she had “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her experiences because “I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming”.

The BBC subsequently announced it would put a member of production staff in all future rehearsals.

There will also be two new dedicated welfare producers, as part of a string of extra measures.

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