Judge Rinder says Strictly’s professional dancers are more focused on winning than ‘the journey’ with their partners as abuse claims engulf the BBC show

Judge Rinder is the latest celebrity to speak out about the controversy surrounding Strictly Come Dancing, saying winning has become ‘more important’ to the show’s professionals than the ‘journey’ itself.

The 46-year-old lawyer and TV star said the competitive nature of ballroom dancers can “disrupt” the “emotional atmosphere of the room”.

And as a former contestant, he admitted he had a “completely different experience” to his female colleagues when he joined the show in 2016.

His comments came after 30-year-old professional Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show after claims he punched and spat at his dance partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals.

Weeks earlier, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC investigation was conducted into claims of off-screen misconduct by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celebrity partners

As a former contestant, he admitted he had a “completely different experience” to his female colleagues when he appeared on the show in 2016

Speaking of the Podcast from off airRinder said at the ‘beginning of the show’, it was about the ‘mind and the heart’.

He continued: ‘[It was] about the journey, about how you can change someone from an amateur who is a bit worthless into someone who has become better.

“And you know, I wonder if the challenges and the stresses that come with winning haven’t become a little bit more important as the focus has shifted more and more to the sport and especially with the presence and ubiquity of social media.”

As he thought, he continued, “And who knows, you know, maybe there’s never an excuse, but in a competitive environment where a lot of ballroom teachers are competitive people themselves, who knows how much that affects the emotional charge of the room?”

The TV personality, whose real name is Robert Rinder, competed in the fourteenth series of the BBC show in 2016 and was paired with 38-year-old Oksana Platero.

He said of the current drama: ‘It certainly seems like it’s in the crosshairs at the moment.

‘And you know, I have to be very careful because it is a subject of ongoing investigation. And I’m always alert to that.

‘We have to be very careful about drawing conclusions from public opinion when we know so little about the details.

The TV personality, whose real name is Robert Rinder, joined the BBC show’s 14th season in 2016 and was paired with Oksana Platero, 38

“And that’s especially important when it comes to people who, you know, make courageous choices to come forward and who also consider the justice of those who have been accused.”

He stressed: ‘It’s very, very important that we think about the legal issues and the current, well, difficult discussion that’s going on around Strictly.

“I can only speak about my own experience because that’s all I know. And in 2016 I had a great old time.”

Robert, who was eliminated in week 11, said his fellow cast members had a “really bonded” on the show, but admitted women have a different experience.

He said: ‘It was a big insight, maybe a little crazy when I think about it, because it would be so obvious to my godchildren and all the women in my family.

‘But one day I was in the car with Laura Whitmore and we were driving from the studio to It Takes Two. And there I was, you know, in my pyjama bottoms, rehearsing. I thought, ‘Oh, I’m so happy. All my life I’ve just wanted to go to Blackpool.’

He said he wasn’t using social media at the time, adding: ‘Nobody commented on what I was wearing.

“Nobody wondered if I was having an extramarital affair with Oksana.”

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

The scandal followed Amanda Abbington’s accusations that Giovanni Pernice had bullied her during rehearsals. He has strongly denied the claims

“I mean, the only person who would be happy about that is my grandmother, but for the general public it would be surprising, to say the least.”

Robert added: ‘But I was in the car listening to Laura, and she had a completely different experience, right? Because everything she wore was being judged.

‘The level of speculation when you’re a woman about maybe having an affair with your partner, how women are described and sexualized in that context. And that’s something I had to understand.

‘It is undoubtedly true that in that world men and women often have different schedules.’

Graziano’s surprise exit from the series was confirmed when Strictly bosses announced he would not be taking part in the upcoming series following his altercation with Zara, his partner in the 2023 series.

He is accused of ‘spitting and punching’ the former Love Island star during training sessions.

The investigation into his behaviour was sparked by Strictly’s attempt to clean up the show after fellow Italian Giovanni Pernice was accused of abusive behaviour by his 2023 dance partner Amanda Abbington, leading to him leaving the show. Giovanni denies the claims.

According to insiders in the show, the bosses had no choice but to cancel his contract because video footage showed Graziano abusing Zara.

Graziano’s shock exit from the series was confirmed when Strictly bosses announced he would not be taking part in the upcoming series following his altercation with Zara

After it was announced that Graziano had been sacked from the BBC, he wrote on Instagram that same day: ‘I deeply regret the events which have led to my departure from Strictly’

Zara broke her silence on Tuesday and admitted she was afraid to come forward and report Graziano for fear of her ‘future’

Graziano wrote on Instagram about his departure: ‘I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.

‘I understand that it would be better for the show if I stepped back, given the BBC’s personnel policies.’

He continued: ‘While there are aspects of this story that involve external influences that I cannot discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends.

‘I wish the Strictly family and the BBC nothing but success for the future.’

He concluded the message with: ‘I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share my story.’

Zara broke her silence on Tuesday and admitted she was afraid to report Graziano for fear of her “future.”

She also wrote on Instagram: ‘I felt it was right to post about the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl.

‘When I was invited to be on the show, it was truly a childhood dream come true. I fully understood how much dedication and hard work Strictly would take and I dedicated myself to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to do whatever it took.

‘And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could ever have dreamed of. The whole production team and everyone behind the scenes, as well as my fellow contestants, were so amazing to work with.

“My experience in the training room, however, was very different. There have been reports of my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some of the events, as well as videos of certain incidents that are incredibly painful to watch.”

Zara explained that she did not report the incidents at the time because she was “afraid” of negative reactions.

Instead, it was the junior production staff who came forward to tell what they had seen during the investigation into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

Graziano, who was set to star in his seventh series of Strictly before his dismissal, is taking legal action against the BBC, MailOnline reported on Monday.

The BBC has vowed to fight back after it emerged Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima is taking legal action against the broadcaster.

The Sicilian dancer believes he should have been ‘supported and helped’ over his behaviour after bosses warned him about his treatment of former Love Island star Zara.

But a BBC insider told the Mail that the broadcaster will defend itself, explaining: ‘Why would any workplace, particularly one that is funded by the public, support someone who is behaving in an undoubtedly appalling way?’