The Strictly Come Dancing professionals returned to work on Monday ahead of the 2024 series with Kai Widdrington, Nikita Kuzmin and Neil Jones seen at the studio.
The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni Pernice was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was ‘cruel and mean.’ He denies the claims.
It was followed by Graziano Di Prima’s sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals. Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it.’
Heading to rehearsals this week, the dancers brushed off the drama, with smiling Nikita offering a peace sign.
Also heading to the north London studio was Johannes Radebe, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley.
The Strictly Come Dancing professionals returned to work on Monday ahead of the 2024 series (Kai Widdrington pictured)
The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni Pernice was suspended and Graziano Di Prima’s sacking, but smiling Neil Jones and Nikita Kuzmin brushed it off
Kai will be retuning to the series following his split from fellow show dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
MailOnline confirmed the former couple, who both compete on the BBC series, split after two years together in June, at the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic.
The show’s ‘golden couple’ were reportedly ’emotionally drifting away’ from each other, leading to their shock split after two tears together.
It has now been reported the couple were battling off-stage problems during their tour, and the pressure of being in each other’s space 24/7, eventually ‘took its toll’ on their relationship.
On Friday that Ukrainian dancer Nikita, 26, revealed he was getting ready to head back into the Strictly Come Dancing training room ‘in five days time’.
He made the comment while performing his last show with Layton Williams, where he confirmed he was preparing to meet his new celebrity partner, The Sun reports.
There was yet more drama for Strictly over the weekend as Amanda lodged new complaints and a female dancer was revealed to be facing allegations of bullying.
Speaking in her first interview since quitting Strictly Come Dancing in October, the actress, 50, said Giovanni’s behaviour was ‘unnecessary.’
The group were also join by Carlos Gu, who looked stylish in a vest op and jeans
Lauren Oakley and Johannes Radebe made their way to practice with Kai
On Friday that Ukrainian dancer Nikita, 26, revealed he was getting ready to head back into the Strictly Come Dancing training room ‘in five days time’
Kai will be retuning to the series following his split from fellow show dancer Nadiya Bychkova
MailOnline confirmed the former couple, who both compete on the BBC series, split after two years together in June, at the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic
Lauren looked chic in a cropped vest top and pin striped trousers as she arrived at rehearsals while Carlos also showed off his sense of style
She looked in good spirits as she chatted with her co-stars
The dancer’s carried some lunch from Whole Foods
There was yet more drama for Strictly over the weekend as Amanda lodged new complaints, and a female dancer was revealed to be facing allegations of bullying
Amanda abruptly left the BBC show citing ‘personal issues’ and hasn’t been seen on screen since, even quitting social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner’s sacking.
Giovanni, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is underway over allegations made by Ms Abbington and two other former celebrity partners.
In an interview with The Sun, Amanda said: ‘I found Giovanni’s behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people.’
She continued: ‘I had to think long and hard about making a complaint because I knew the backlash I would get. But I would not have been able to live with myself for future people going on that show.’
‘It’s insane what has happened to me, with the death threats and backlash. I know the BBC have known about his behaviour for years, people had complained about him and flagged his behaviour to producers in the past and nothing was done.
‘It wasn’t an isolated experience with me. I should never ever have danced with him.’
A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline in response: ‘The BBC has shared allegations from the inquiry with Giovanni, who has cooperated fully.’
They added: ‘None of the allegations carried in the Sun on Sunday are included in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes these allegations and denies any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour.
‘He has provided substantive evidence to the investigation and he remains fully confident of clearing his name.’
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline but a spokesperson previously stated: ‘We will not be commenting on individuals or engaging with speculation.
‘However, as we have said previously we will always listen if people want to make us aware of something or raise it with us directly and we have appropriate procedures and processes in place to manage this.’
Meanwhile, more shocking details of Graziano ‘aggressive’ treatment of Zara have since been reported.
Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it.’
Reports allege he ‘called her nasty names, asked if she had gained weight and was forceful’ leaving her ‘visibly demoralised’ and ‘in tears.’
Zara herself previously claimed in a statement there had been ‘particular incidents inside the training room which were incredibly distressing.’
She did not report the incidents at the time as she was ‘scared’ of backlash, instead it was junior production staff who came forward.
It is not just male dancers who are now facing allegations of abusive behaviour. A former dancer has claimed tonight that a currently unnamed female Strictly dancer screamed in his face and berated him off-camera.
The Daily Mirror reports that the household name’s allegations do not include physical abuse.
Giovanni was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was ‘cruel and mean.’ He denies the claims (Giovanni and Amanda seen in October)
Speaking in her first interview since quitting the BBC show in October, the actress, 50, said the professional’s behaviour was ‘unnecessary’ (pictured in January 2023)
It was followed by Graziano’s sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals. Graziano has apologised (pictured together)
A source said: ‘The man in question felt very much victimised by the behaviour of his Strictly partner.
‘He alleges that on several occasions she flew into a real fury when he couldn’t get the steps right, and on one occasion screamed full in his face. They rowed every single day.’
MailOnline revealed on Friday that the allegations have left some male professionals from the BBC show concerned about how or if they will be affected.
A source told MailOnline on Thursday that the male dancers are ‘very concerned and worried how this is going to affect them’ and are said to be ‘feeling like it’s the new #MeToo’.
MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment at the time.
Then on Wednesday the scandal deepened after unearthed footage revealed former professional dancer James Jordan telling his partner he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves.
The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina Bouzova.
He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.
James, who left Strictly in 2012 after appearing on eight series, also banned Georgina, who formerly starred on BBC medical drama Casualty, from eating sweets and chocolate and would only allow her to buy pineapple and ham when they visited a supermarket together.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has furiously hit back after unearthed footage emerged of him telling his partner he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves
However James has furiously hit back after the clip from Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two resurfaced.
The ballroom dancer and choreographer, 46, has slammed the BBC saying most of the footage ‘was not related to Georgina at all’.
Sharing a raging statement on Instagram he said that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.
He said there ‘is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the VT’ – while insisting none of his celebrity partners ever complained about him during his eight years on the show.