BBC Director General Tim Davie has reportedly been dragged into the ongoing Strictly Come Dancing crisis.
The series, known for its family appeal, has been thrown into chaos in recent weeks amid investigations into abuse and misconduct scandals.
The 30-year-old Pro Graziano Di Prima was axed from the upcoming series following reports that he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s competition.
This came after another professional, Giovanni Pernice (33), was suspended from the show last month following allegations of off-screen misconduct – which he denies – by Amanda Abbington (50) and two other former celebrities.
And now, according to The mirrorWhen the company’s annual report is released on Monday, the crisis will no doubt be discussed in the media question-and-answer session with boss Tim.
BBC Director General Tim Davie reportedly being dragged into ongoing Strictly Come Dancing crisis
Pro Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the upcoming series following reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s competition
MailOnline has asked the BBC for comment.
Amanda will soon receive the results of the investigation she launched after she complained that her Strictly partner Giovanni was bullying her during training.
But regardless of the outcome, bosses are said to be furious with the actress, who they now believe is encouraging other former contestants to contact her lawyers during their time on the show.
They believe she has been encouraging Strictly contestants to contact London law firm Carter-Ruck in recent weeks, in the hope of finding other candidates who claim there is a toxic atmosphere on the show.
A BBC insider said: ‘Amanda seems to be doing everything she can to ensure there remains a dark cloud hanging over Strictly.
“She seems to have a real problem with the show. She’s been open about not enjoying her time, but why would she ruin it for everyone?
‘It doesn’t seem like there’s any evidence for her complaint about Giovanni, so now she’s trying to get others to come forward and later it’s in the press. So the fuss continues.’
Amanda is said to have contacted actress Laila Rouass to encourage her to speak to her lawyers following an incident in 2009 when her partner Anton Du Beke, now a judge on the show, described her as “an ap***” after she had a spray tan.
This came after another professional, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended from the show last month over allegations of off-screen misconduct – which he denies – made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celebrity partners
Anton Du Beke, 57, reduced contestant Laila Rouass to tears when he jokingly told her she ‘looked like a P***’ after her spray tan during the 2009 series (pictured together in the series)
Amanda Abbington claimed dancer Giovanni was ‘abusive, cruel and mean’ (pictured January 2023)
Strictly staff are furious, saying much of the behaviour, while not as serious as Graziano hitting and kicking Zara, also risks watering down the genuine complaints.
One of them said: ‘How does Amanda, by raising incidents where a few people raised their voices or something that happened 15 years ago, help address the real issues of bullying?’
Meanwhile, the Mail recently revealed that those familiar with the details of the evidence-based investigation into Mr Pernice believe the allegations are unlikely to be proven.
This clears the way for the professional dancer, who strongly denies any wrongdoing towards Ms Abbington, to be acquitted three months after the investigation began.
With the verdict just days away, Ms Abbington took the unusual decision to speak to The Sun on Sunday about Mr Pernice’s alleged behaviour.
Her critics believe she did the interview to “re-hurt” the Italian dancer, who is widely expected to be acquitted of bullying her.
Ms Abbington, who told the newspaper she suffered from PTSD as a result of the show earlier this year, claimed Mr Pernice was “abusive, cruel and mean”. However, she gave no examples of his behaviour.
She said she filed the complaint because “I couldn’t stand by and watch him do that to other people,” despite knowing she would face “backlash.”
She added: “I couldn’t live with myself if people went to that show in the future.”
Mr Pernice hit back at her interview, with his spokesman telling the Mail: ‘The BBC has shared allegations from the investigation with Giovanni, who has co-operated fully. None of the allegations made in the Sun on Sunday have been recorded in any form.
“Giovanni refutes these allegations and denies all allegations of abusive or threatening behavior. He has provided substantial evidence to the investigation and he remains fully confident that he will clear his name.”
A source said: ‘Amanda clearly feels aggrieved by all this and she is pre-empting matters in case the verdict doesn’t go her way.’
The fallout from this is expected to be felt this week as the professional dancers begin training for the new series today.
Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Di Prima had been sacked for gross misconduct after he kicked and punched Ms McDermott. His dismissal was prompted by a group of production staff who showed BBC chiefs a video of him attacking her.
Giovanni, 33, has been suspended while a BBC investigation continues into allegations made by Amanda and two other former celebrity partners (pictured in June)
His dismissal was prompted by a group of production staff showing BBC directors a video of him attacking her
Zara released a statement saying that while much of her time on Strictly was ‘everything I could have imagined’ in the training room, there were ‘particular incidents that were incredibly painful’
Complaints had previously been made to the Corporation about his verbal abuse and he had been warned twice, but he was invited back to tour after the show and was revealed as a professional dancer for the upcoming series.
Since then, old footage has surfaced online of former pros James Jordan and Brendan Cole using foul language towards their famous partners.
In a clip, Mr Jordan is seen threatening to drag actress Georgina Bouzova across the floor and shouting at her if she didn’t stand on her left leg. Meanwhile, Mr Cole shouted at actress Claire King in 2006.
Professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova has also complained to BBC bosses about the show.