Strictly star says producers were ‘pushing him’ to perform jump that caused life-changing injury
A Strictly Come Dancing star has said BBC producers were “pushing” him to perform a risky jump which resulted in a life-changing injury, marking the latest safeguarding incident to engulf the show.
Will Bayley, 36, a British Paralympic table tennis player, said he was encouraged to leap from a table as part of a dance routine despite telling producers it was too dangerous.
However, after hearing his leg crack and suffering horrific pain, Bayley claimed he was not taken to hospital, instead having his knee treated with ice in a hotel room.
He said the BBC subsequently made him feel responsible for having torn his knee ligaments, which forced him to pull out of the series in 2019.
Bayley, who was born with a debilitating limb condition, claims bosses and Janette Manrara, his professional dance partner, ignored his concerns about the jump.
He had previously told them he was unable to perform leaps as he has no ankles.
The Paralympian’s injury left him depressed and bedridden, as well as impacting his sports career.
Bayley told The Sun: “Now feels like the right time to speak up. I hope what I went through never happens to anyone else. I think the show thought they were being inclusive by casting me, but I actually felt pressured.
“I have got a serious disability and I don’t think anyone was really looking out for me when I injured myself, leaving me with injuries that still affect me to this day.
“No one has ever contacted me from the BBC or said sorry. There was no duty of care. I should have been taken to hospital as soon as I had the accident, but all they cared about was trying to get me to dance.”
Bayley was awarded an MBE in 2017 and made it to week six’s Halloween episode of Strictly.
Speaking about the jump, he said: “The plan was for me to jump off a high table. In rehearsal all week, we hadn’t jumped it … I just mimed it.”
He told the newspaper: “A table for me to jump off was brought out and I said: ‘I’m not sure I can land safely.’ Everyone assured me I would be fine. I didn’t want to do the jump, and my coach said before: ‘He can’t do jumps.’
“We practised a few times and I was really careful. But then Janette said my jump was ‘rubbish’ and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion.
“I was really determined, so I went for it and smiled at the camera. When I landed I just had the most horrific pain. I still have flashbacks now.
“I was lying on the floor thinking my whole career was over. I heard my leg crack, I couldn’t breathe.”
Compensation denied
Asked about his relationship with Manrara, he added: “Ultimately, I think she was under a lot of pressure by the bosses to perform a certain way and I think it was them pushing me that caused the accident.”
Bayley said his knee pain was an ongoing issue despite having surgery in 2020 which was paid for by the BBC.
He was invited back to the series finale, when his leg was in a brace. Afterwards, he tried to gain compensation for loss of earnings from the BBC but was denied.
It comes as the corporation grapples with a crisis over Strictly’s future following a slew of allegations about bullying and violence doled out by the show’s professional dancers.
Earlier this month, Graziano Di Prima quit the show after a video of him kicking his dance partner Zara McDermott, a television presenter, was shown to BBC bosses.
A spokesman for Di Prima admitted he “crossed the line” in the 2023 incident but had been left in “a very vulnerable state” by the fallout.
Di Prima’s exit followed that of Giovanni Pernice, who is under investigation by the BBC over his alleged behaviour towards Amanda Abbington, his partner last year.
He has branded the claims against him as “false” and vowed to clear his name.
A BBC spokesman said: “We have longstanding protocols for dealing with injuries if they occur and that includes contestants receiving all necessary treatment and support as required.”
A representative for Manrara, said: “Her celebrity partner’s safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly. Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.”