Strictly announces major changes in wake of Graziano Di Prima allegations
The BBC has announced big changes to Strictly Come Dancing in the wake of the Graziano Di Prima allegations.
Strictly is the BBC's biggest Saturday night show but it was plunged into crisis this week when BBC bosses sacked Graziano Di Prima over allegations about his conduct towards his 2023 partner Zara McDermott. The broadcaster has said it has robust duty of care procedures when it comes to its shows and this year producers are taking extra measures, including chaperones and two dedicated welfare officers.
A new statement from the BBC said: "The BBC is today announcing additional steps to strengthen welfare and support on Strictly Come Dancing. Concerns that have arisen in recent months have been fundamentally about training and rehearsals. The actions we announce today are designed to address that."
Reports suggested BBC bosses took action and sacked Di Prima 48 hours after seeing video evidence. After the news about his exit, Di Prima said: "My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime."
McDermott broke her silence, saying: "Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch."
It comes as the BBC is conducting an investigation into the show after Amanda Abbington left Strictly early and later claimed Giovanni Pernice's teaching methods were "militant". Pernice said he is a perfectionist but rejected allegations that he displayed "abusive or threatening behaviour". The dancer left the show after nine years.
So what are the new duty of care procedures for 2024 that are being rolled out?
Chaperones
One of the ways BBC is boosting its duty of care package is by having chaperones during rehearsals. There will be production staff present in all future rehearsals. They will be on site to support the celebrities and their professional dance partners throughout the series.
Reports this would become a possibility was first reported in The Times earlier on Tuesday. It quickly become widely talked about, with This Morning also picking it up as a news item.
Having competed on the show herself, Alison Hammond backed the calls for chaperones on Strictly but she did admit personally she wouldn't have wanted one herself. She said: "What the BBC are discussing now is having chaperones in the training room, which I actually think is a good idea."
O'Leary asked her of her own time on the 2014 contest: "Would you have wanted a chaperone when you did it?"
But she replied: "Obviously not, no, I don't want a chaperone, you just want to enjoy yourself. But to be fair there was always people present. Out of the five days training a week you probably had cameras with you maybe three of the days."
Two dedicated welfare producers
Strictly has been assigned two dedicated welfare producers for the show. This has been announced as part of the extra measures. There will be a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer on board the Strictly team.
More training
BBC bosses also have set out to offer more training for the production team and crew.
Kate Phillips, the BBC's director of unscripted content, 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 else had TV bosses been considering?
It had been reported in June that TV bosses had been considering on-call counsellors and the option for post-show therapy if required.
The Sun also reported that there would be cameras to film all training. Up until now, some of the rehearsals had been filmed with footage being used for both the main show as well as its spin off show It Takes Two.
Yahoo has reached out to the BBC for further comment.
