Lately, it appears as if dance present Strictly Come Dancing has a curse of its personal. There have been bullying allegations, romantic entanglements and fallings-out – and this week, there’s been a contemporary media storm about Welsh contestant Wynne Evans.
Evans was seen on Saturday night time’s present putting his hand across the waist of his accomplice Katya Jones. When she moved his hand away, the ensuing footage went viral on social media prompting apologies from each Evans and Jones, who insisted your entire factor had been a “joke.”
Evans informed BBC Radio Wales on Monday that he was “completely heartbroken by the issues which were written about me,” whereas Jones informed It Takes Two that she “can’t bear sitting right here watching this man being portrayed as somebody he isn’t”.
“Was it a foolish joke, sure, was it a nasty joke, sure.”
The furore – and fallout – over the clip speaks volumes about the place the present finds itself as we speak. For a light-weight selection present, Strictly isn’t any stranger to controversy. It’s well-known for its “Strictly curse” with a number of skilled and celeb dancers over time splitting from romantic relationships both throughout or straight after the present, however this yr has been notably tough for the present.
We’ve rounded up Strictly’s most controversial moments over the previous 20 years.
Amanda Abbington has informed the BBC she has “no regrets” about making complaints towards her 2023 Strictly dance accomplice Giovanni Pernice.
BBC
This all kicked off when actress Amanda Abbington lodged a proper criticism towards Strictly professional dancer Giovanni Pernice. Abbington stop the present final yr after solely 5 weeks and accused Pernice of being “abusive, merciless and imply” throughout their coaching collectively. Pernice left Strictly present forward of this season.
Extra stars then began coming ahead, together with Pernice’s former dance companions Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore. Pernice was been outspoken in his defence, saying that he’s a “perfectionist” and that he likes to win.
The controversy went up a gear when former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott launched an announcement final month about her 2023 dance accomplice, Strictly professional Graziano Di Prima. Di Prima was promptly dropped from the upcoming sequence, with McDermott making allegations that he spat on her and kicked her throughout coaching.
An impartial investigation was carried out, which cleared Pernice of the abuse allegations: complaints of verbal bullying and harassment had been upheld by the report, whereas claims of aggression and threatening behaviour weren’t.
The BBC additionally apologised to Abbington, which she known as a “vindication of [her] criticism”. A spokesperson for Pernice mentioned that he was “happy” the report “has not discovered any proof of threatening or abusive behaviour.”
Abbington additionally spoke out in regards to the abuse she’d acquired since making her criticism. “Within the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I have been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’. I’ve additionally acquired rape and homicide threats and a bomb menace was despatched to my place of business. My household and kids have additionally been subjected to threats and intimidation,” she mentioned in an announcement.
As a part of a raft of latest safeguarding measures, chaperones have now been put in place for coaching room rehearsals. The BBC additionally mentioned two roles had been created that had been “devoted to welfare help – a celeb welfare producer and an expert dancer welfare producer (each began work in August); and extra coaching for the skilled dancers, manufacturing group and crew.”
Arlene Phillips faces alleged ageism
Dave Benett
The choreographer and former skilled dancer was a decide on Strictly Come Dancing from its debut in 2004. Nevertheless, she was changed by Alesha Dixon who joined for the 2009 sequence. The transfer got here as a shock to many followers and pundits, with allegations that Phillips was dropped attributable to her age. The then 65-year-old was changed by a then 31-year-old Dixon, however the BBC vehemently denied that her contract was not renewed attributable to her age.
In a merciless accident, Phillips’ agent died the day earlier than she discovered she was not being invited again. She informed the Sunday Instances: “I now not had a spot on Strictly, however no agent, nobody, to cope with it.” She added: “It was a very terrible second. I cherished Strictly.”
It appears it was all in useless anyway, as Dixon stop the present after solely three seasons to affix the judging panel of ITV’s Britain’s Received Expertise.
John Sergeant quits for being… too good
Political journalist and broadcaster John Sergeant tangoed onto our screens in 2008 together with his skilled dance accomplice Kristina Rihanoff. Sergeant acquired persistently low scores from the judges, however was saved from elimination three weeks in a row by the general public vote.
His most memorable second? Dragging his dance accomplice throughout the ground in the course of the couple’s interpretation of a Paso Doble. On the time, he was dubbed “Winnie the Pooh in sequins” however decide Arlene Phillips hit out at his questionable success on the present saying: “Do I feel he may win? Oh, I might be desolate if he received. I personally wish to see him off the present.”
Her want was granted, as Sergeant determined to stop. He mentioned in an announcement: “I’m sorry to say I’ve determined to depart Strictly Come Dancing. It was all the time my intention to have enjoyable on the present and I hoped to remain in so long as potential.” He went on to say that he believed there was an actual probability he may win, and that even for him that may be a “joke too far”.
Ed Balls dances to Gangnam Type
BBC
Earlier than they began including social media influencers to the line-up, Strictly cherished inviting politicians onto the present. Ann Widdecombe, a part of John Main’s authorities within the early Nineties, was paired with Anton Du Beke in 2010. The next yr, former Conservative MP Edwina Currie waltzed onto the dancefloor.
In 2016, former Labour MP and shadow chancellor Ed Balls was the political selection for Strictly Come Dancing. Probably the most memorable second in the course of the politician’s stint on the present was dancing to the viral Okay-pop track Gangnam Type with professional accomplice Katya Jones. It was a sight to behold, with Balls at one level straddling Jones whereas performing the signature Gangnam Type transfer. Why was this controversial? Some viewers took exception to the politician raging round on TV whereas the Labour Occasion was in turmoil.
Nevertheless it needs to be mentioned that “Disco Balls” (as he grew to become recognized) received over the hearts of the nation and turned out to be a preferred contestant on the present. Len Goodman informed him after one efficiency: “You aren’t all the time the judges’ primary selection however 100 per cent you’re the individuals’s champion.”
Seann Walsh and Katya Jones are caught kissing
In maybe essentially the most heated controversy that Strictly noticed earlier than final yr’s allegations, comic Seann Walsh and his skilled dance accomplice Katya Jones set the web ablaze in 2018 with a scandalous kiss. Why so scandalous? Effectively, on the time, Jones was married to fellow professional dancer on the present Neil Jones, whereas Walsh was in a long-term relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries.
So as to add salt to the wound, the night time that Walsh and Jones had been noticed kissing was Humphries’ birthday — ouch. The controversy went from unhealthy to worse when Humphries spoke out about what had gone on, alleging that Walsh had known as her a “psycho” for suggesting that one thing is likely to be happening between him and Jones, regardless of followers noticing their unmistakable chemistry.
Walsh and Jones appeared on the BBC Two spin-off present It Takes Two to handle the scenario, however Walsh’s profession suffered and he acquired a barrage of abuse on-line. He has since picked himself again up, having appeared on ITV’s I’m A Celeb Get Me Out Of Right here in 2022 and welcoming his first baby earlier this yr.
James Jordan comes below hearth
BBC
Skilled ballroom dancer James Jordan was a Strictly professional from 2006 till 2013. Lengthy earlier than any of the complaints surfaced about alleged abuse between professional dancers and their celeb companions, Jordan already had a repute because the present’s “unhealthy boy” attributable to his no-nonsense perspective. He was dropped by the BBC as a professional dancer earlier than the 2014 sequence and seemingly was sad in regards to the resolution. He wrote on Twitter (now X): “Sure it is true I WILL NOT be returning to ‘BURN THE FLOOR’…. Sorry, I imply ‘Strictly Come Dancing’”
After leaving the BBC present, Jordan went on to win ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2019. Now, footage has resurfaced of his Strictly coaching from 2006 with celeb dance accomplice and Casualty actress Georgina Bouzova.
The footage was edited collectively by the manufacturing group of It Takes Two, and seems to point out Jordan poking enjoyable at his dance accomplice, saying: “Come on chubby”. After the footage resurfaced, Jordan was fast to take to social media and defend himself.
He claims that the footage was edited in a method that “they aren’t allowed to do … lately because it misrepresents what truly occurred”. He went on so as to add: “You’ll be able to see Georgina laughing about it within the studio and within the clips… And I’ve by no means acquired ANY complaints from any of my celeb dance companions within the 8 years I used to be on the present.”
Kevin Clifton, Karen Hauer and Stacey Dooley: the Strictly curse strikes once more
Earlier than Neil and Katya Jones ended their marriage in 2019, one other married Strictly couple additionally known as it quits below controversial phrases. Skilled dancer Kevin Clifton, who was on the present from 2013 till 2019, was married to fellow Strictly professional Karen Hauer from 2015 till 2018.
The pair appeared like a dream group, repeatedly performing in group dances collectively and delighting followers with their chemistry. Nevertheless, their marriage fell aside and so they confirmed their break up in 2018, however continued to work collectively on the present.
Hauer informed The Mirror final yr that she had wished to salvage the connection, saying: “I might have by no means let go of it” and that she would have fought for the wedding. Nevertheless it appears Clifton hadn’t felt the identical, beginning a relationship together with his dance accomplice Stacey Dooley shortly after the pair received the coveted glitterball trophy in December 2018. After a yr of relationship, Clifton introduced in 2020 that he wouldn’t be returning to the present and the pair welcomed their first baby, a daughter known as Minnie, firstly of 2023.