Strictly's Camilla Dallerup feels protective of fellow pro dancers
What did you miss?
Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Camilla Sacre-Dallerup has said she feels like a protective "mama bear" towards her fellow professional dancers.
The BBC dance show has been rocked by allegations of workplace misconduct, with the focus being on how the professional dancers treat the celebrity contestants during training. Camilla Sacre-Dallerup - as she has been known since she married Hollyoaks actor Kevin Sacre in 2010 - has said she feels sorry for the Strictly pros because they are under so much pressure to turn the celebrities into great dancers.
She said the controversy surrounding the show was "deeply upsetting" and "shocking" to her, as her experience of the show been about hard work, but also "fun".
What, how, and why?
Sacre-Dallerup appeared on Lorraine to discuss the ongoing Strictly scandal with host Christine Lampard.
The 50-year-old Danish life coach was one of the original Strictly pros and won the Glitterball in 2008 with Holby City actor Tom Chambers, before bowing out on a high. Asked how she thinks the controversy surrounding the show would be affecting the professional dancers, she said: "I feel very protective a bit like mama bear actually over the professional dancers because obviously some of them are my dear friends and colleagues even, from the past."
She added: "I really adore them and I know how hard they work to produce what we see every Saturday. Honestly, sometimes as a professional dancer you're part therapist, part motivational speaker and part teacher. So there's a lot going on when you have to really get somebody ready to go out there and perform as a beginner in front of 11 million people. You are really their person that they're leaning on. So I feel for a lot of my fellow pro dancers right now and I'm sending them lots of love for this series ahead."
Sacre-Dallerup said she hoped the increased measures to ensure the welfare of Strictly contestants was also extended to the professional dancers. She said: "I hope that all of the conversations that are being opened up now. I hope that it will be equally listened to whatever a professional would say or a celebrity. There has to be support for both, obviously. It can't just be one side."
Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted, said: "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.
"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."
What have other former pros said about the Strictly scandal?
Kristina Rihanoff has said professional dancers on the show are not always good teachers. The former Stritcly star said it was important to check the teaching qualifications of those taking part.
Former Strictly professional dancer Ian Waite joined Strictly in series two and made the final in 2005 with TV presenter Zoe Ball. He recently told GMB that when he was a child his teachers would physically grab and push him during training.
James Jordan has spoken out after a video emerged online showing him and Casualty actor Georgina Bouzova in rehearsals for the show in 2006. The video shows Jordan throwing a chair and swearing. But he has insisted it was staged for TV.
And Vincent Simone has said he recalled chaperones already being used for certain couples during his tome on the show.
Lorraine airs on ITV1 at 9am on weekdays.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/strictly-camilla-dallerup-protective-pro-dancers-101201909.html
