Strictly scandal – Laura Whitmore addresses ‘inappropriate behaviour’ for first time

Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, who was partnered with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice in 2016, has alleged she was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” while on Strictly Come Dancing.

It had been reported that Whitmore had made a complaint in the past – but this marks the first time she is publicly commenting.

The presenter, who had an ankle injury during the show, says she “raised concerns” at the time.

Pernice has previously denied “threatening or abusive behaviour” allegations made by Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington, who was partnered with him in 2023.

In an Instagram story shared on Saturday (27 July), Whitmore wrote: “I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong.”

“The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.”

She said: “I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.”

The television presenter went on to say she had not made an official complaint and was providing evidence of her experience to support the BBC’s investigation.

“I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up,” she said.

The Independent has contacted the BBC and Pernice’s representatives for comment.

Graziano Di Prima’s family have said they are “deeply concerned” for his welfare following his axe from Strictly.

They told The Mirror: “Graziano is currently under medical supervision, with the stress of the situation causing significant concern for his family, who are monitoring him hourly.

“The unrelenting feeding frenzy over these accusations and his mental state leaves him at this time unable to defend himself.”

His axing from the show arrives after he admitted to kicking his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, in the rehearsal room during last year’s series.

It’s being reported that Zara McDermott danced on Strictly despite having fractured her leg in rehearsals.

According to The Sun, the season 21 contestant made the decision alongside her professional partner, Graziano Di Prima. The injury occurred before Halloween Week, which is when McDermott was eliminated.

Producers are said to have only just become aware of the injury.

Amanda Abbington has alleged Strictly’s pro dancers texted her saying “I’m so sorry” after they discovered she was partnered with Giovanni Pernice ahead of last year’s series.

After the Sherlock star made the claim to her fellow 2023 contestant Krishnan Guru-Murthy during a Channel 4 News interview, he replied: “That’s a really odd thing to do.”

A tearful Abbington said people warned her it would be “tough”, but that she thought she could handle it “because I’ve been around the block a bit, you know?”

Find out all of the allegations as the show continues to be under intense scrutiny.

“While other reality shows seem to traffic in exploitation and misery, Strictly has always felt like a beacon of niceness,” writes Katie Rosseinsky. “Strictly’s sparkle has been tarnished by alarming accusations concerning at least two of its most popular professional dancers, a double whammy of scandal that has put its status as one of the nation’s best-loved comfort watches in jeopardy.”

Strictly is facing a fresh batch of claims today as former crew members from the production team allege sexist and sexualised comments, and a “tense, toxic and uncomfortable” working environment.

A source has told The Sun that the BBC probe into Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour could conclude “within the next week”.

Speaking to the newspaper, the anonymous source said: “Internal meetings are happening on an almost daily basis, and BBC execs are living in fear of a ­‘smoking gun’ moment – something that irreversibly undermines and damages the entire brand, and brings Strictly crashing down.

“They are doing all they can to detoxify the show – new measures and protocol are in place to safeguard – and they hope to formally conclude the on­going probe within the next week.”

The Independent has contacted the BBC for comment.

In a new interview, Abbington’s father John, 77, said he is “worrying” about his daughter all the time.

“It’s the after-effects I worry about too. Will she be able to carry on with her career?’’

He said his daughter is “no snowflake” and has “thick skin” from her days training at drama school.

John said he and Abbington’s mother, Patsy, were looking forward to seeing their daughter on the dancing show, but it quickly transpired she wasn’t enjoying it.

“We were all looking forward to it. After the first show, she came back and said it was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Things only got worse from there,” he said.

“I knew something was wrong with her because I could see the change in her,” said Patsy. “She had completely changed.”

John said that Abbington’s partner, Jonathan Goodwin, had to “coax” the actor into the car each day to get her to the Strictly training rooms because she “hated it so much”.

“She missed a week because she was not well, and went back for one week and realised then that she could not take what was happening to her,” John explained. “Then [her doctor] diagnosed her with post traumatic stress disorder.”

A former professional dancer on Strictly has said she is “shocked” by the recent complaints of abusive behaviour facing the show.

Chloe Hewitt, who worked on the show in 2016 and 2017, said her experience was “positive” and “genuine”.

She told BBC Radio Stoke that the professionals worked closely and were all “tight-knitted”.

“Anything like this as a show, there’s a pressure to always want to do your best,” she said.

“It always seemed like everyone was working together when I was on the show.

“My experience was nothing more than positive and genuine.”