Strictly Come Dancing returns this weekend after months of controversy following a BBC investigation into the programme.
The Latin and ballroom competition has come under fire following a bullying scandal erupted, after Amanda Abbington, 50, claimed that her experience on the BBC series left her with PTSD after working with Giovanni Pernice.
Giovanni – who has left the show – denied allegations after she described his approach as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’, while Graziano Di Prima also left after allegations he kicked his celebrity partner Zara McDermott.
In response to the accusations, the BBC has introduced new measures for this year’s series.
The broadcaster also issued a wider warning across the board to its staff, which warned against the ‘abuse of power’ when using ‘celebrity status’.
What are the BBC’s new measures for Strictly 2024?
For the new season of the dancing competition, there will bechaperones at each rehearsal at all times.
The show has also appointed welfare producers for celebrities and professionals, in addition to a psychologist on hand.
The BBC’s director of unscripted Kate Phillips outlined the decision to introduce safeguarding measures including welfare support in rehearsals.
‘Whilst we know our shows have been positive experiences for the vast majority of those who have taken part, if issues are raised with us, or we’re made aware of inappropriate behaviour, we will always take that seriously and act,’ she said in a statement.
‘Concerns that have arisen have been fundamentally related to training and rehearsals.
‘The decisive steps we have taken and are announced today, act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production.’
The celebrities taking part in the new series have praised the ‘quite remarkable’ atmosphere producers have created for this year’s show.
‘I’m really, really sorry about what’s happened to certain people but I would say Strictly is getting it right,’ Toyah Willcox told the Mail.
‘The things they have put in place are breathtaking. I’ve never met a team like it. We have a psychologist with us. We have talent management with us. They listen with a quality I’ve not experienced in a long time. They respond. It’s been quite remarkable.’
Miranda star Sarah Hadland added that ‘it feels like everything has been done to make sure that any of those situations don’t arise’, while DIY SOS host Nick Knowles is happy with the ‘help and support available’.
He told the outlet: ‘I think it’s important that people are listened to and they’re taken seriously, which it appears they have been. There is any amount of help and support available, both mentally and physically.
‘Bits of me are knackered but they’ve already made sure I’ve got physio support. I’ve spoken to psychologists about my state of wellbeing. I know who I can talk to if I have issues. So, yeah, all I can say is that everything appears to be in place.’
What was the BBC’s warning about ‘abuse of power’?
In July, the BBC issued a warning across the board to all of its staff that using ‘celebrity status’ to influence people to make a decision in your favour is ‘an abuse of power’.
The Managing Personal Relationships at Work Policy also gives examples to staff of what to be on the look out for including ‘signs or evidence of potential grooming’.
The document advise employees to raise concerns if they hear about ‘rumours or evidence of a potential relationship involving an imbalance of power’, ‘coercive behaviour’ or ‘inappropriate gifts,’ and report them, or discuss them with a line manager.
It lists abuses of power, for people in public facing roles or with ‘celebrity status’, as sexual harassment, bullying and ‘unreasonable demands’, grooming ‘inside or outside the BBC with the intention of personal favours, relationships or to harm to others,’ and influencing ‘others to make a decision in your favour’.
When does Strictly Come Dancing 2024 start?
Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday, September 14 at 7.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Who won Strictly Come Dancing last year?
Last year, Coronation Street star Ellie Leach won the Glitterball trophy with her pro partner Vito Coppola.
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They faced fierce competition, with Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier – who were paired with Dianne Buswell and Nikita Kuzmin respectively – finishing as runners up.
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