Richard Madeley: ‘No One is Surprised’ by Strictly Come Dancing Scandal

Richard Madeley has weighed in on the ongoing scandal plaguing BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Last week, pro dancer Graziano Di Prima was dismissed over unspecified claims of “gross misconduct.” Allegedly, staffers who observed Di Prima’s rehearsals with his 2023 partner, TV star Zara McDermott, were “reduced to tears” by what they witnessed in training.

This development is just one in a series of controversies that have recently rocked the popular dancing contest, following the earlier dismissal of Giovanni Pernice.

On Good Morning Britain on Thursday (18 July), Madeley noted that individuals involved in the programme had known about these issues for years. “I have to say the people that I know involved in that programme all talk about these issues, and they say they’ve all known for years and years and years, but the lid has been kept on it, and now that lid is coming off,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to both contestants and also professionals about it. And I think no one has been surprised that this stuff has surfaced.”

He continued: “I remember somebody who worked on the show for years and years turning to me and saying ‘Strictly is a wonderful show with a dark heart,’ and I never really understood what that meant. But perhaps one of the things that meant is what you don’t see. And that is how intensively competitive that is.”

Earlier this week, the BBC introduced new precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of contestants, including the implementation of chaperones.

The initial investigation into training practices was launched after Sherlock star Amanda Abbington raised concerns about the alleged behavior of her professional partner Giovanni Pernice, which led to the pro dancer leaving the series earlier this year. Abbington described her time on the show as “tough” and “horrible.”

Following the departures of Pernice and Di Prima, reports have emerged that a third Strictly Come Dancing star has been identified as a “person of interest” amid an ongoing investigation into the BBC show’s off-screen rehearsals.

It’s been claimed that the unidentified professional was highlighted just days after Graziano Di Prima was dropped from the show when training footage allegedly showed him mistreating his celebrity partner Zara McDermott in last year’s series.

With these new safety measures and the ongoing investigation, it appears that BBC is committed to addressing these serious issues head-on and taking steps to improve the environment for everyone involved in the beloved show.

Source: Good Morning Britain