Strictly's Anton Du Beke has defiant response to BBC show's crisis

Watch Strictly's Anton Du Beke's defiant response to BBC show's crisis

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Anton Du Beke defiantly said Strictly will be no different this year, despite the crisis behind the scenes.

Strictly Come Dancing has been under the microscope since Amanda Abbington dropped out of the 2023 series and later accused her pro dancer Giovanni Pernice of bullying behaviour which he strongly denies. Then pro dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the 2024 line-up after he kicked his celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

At the time, Di Prima apologised with his spokesman telling the BBC: "There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. And he knows that. He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time."

The dancer later told the Daily Mail he had not meant to kick McDermott. "The only thing I can think of is the time I kicked the floor in frustration... I wasn't meaning to kick her," he said. "I'd never, never do that. My foot brushed her after I kicked the floor. Afterwards I hugged her and said I was sorry."

While we are just weeks away from the next series, BBC are still investigating what went on behind the scenes between Abbington and Pernice. As the time for Strictly nears closer, judge Du Beke made an appearance on Loose Women.

The professional had tried to waltz his way around the Strictly Come Dancing scandal while he was speaking about the 20th anniversary show on Loose Women on Thursday but he soon had to tackle it head on.

What, how and why?

Loose Women's spotlights were on Du Beke when he was asked point blank: "Strictly had it's troubles this year. Is it going to feel different?"

Now Du Beke no longer danced around the topic. Instead, the professional dancer put on a show of support saying that no the show would not feel any different in the wake of the scandal. "No. No." He said. "It will feel magnificent."

It's clear that the Strictly crisis hasn't dampened his enthusiasm for the show. He said: "It's going to be brilliant. You get a whole new cast. You know what it's like. Both of you know what it's like doing Strictly. It's fantastic."

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He went on: "The nerves build up but it's so exciting. The whole thing is like a juggle. It rolls forward. You've got to go with it. You have got to run as fast as you can. You go out on the first show and away you go.

"Then you dance and you hope you win. By winning you get through to next week. That's winning. Week one, 14 people win, one person loses."

Strictly puts on united front

All the Strictly Come Dancing stars are putting on a united front as it returns to our screens on 14 September.

Former professional Strictly dancer Janette Manrara was throwing support behind the show on Lorraine this week. She was helping drum up excitement, partly because her husband and fan favourite Aljaz has returned to his role as a pro and because she herself is hosting the spin off show It Takes Two. She told Lorraine: "Having this united front of joy and happiness and escapism that is really what Strictly is all about… that’s what the last 20 years have been about."

On Thursday, pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin too was sharing his excitement for the show and he spoke about his blossoming friendship with Layton Williams which was born out of Strictly last year. Of their friendship, he told Lorraine: "Yeah, he's my man. Yeah we are (really good pals). We just chatted yesterday, yeah, I had the best year. I owe so much to Layton. He's the best person. He's obviously a fantastic dancer but to have such a lovely guy who stands by your side."

Watch Loose Women every week day from 12.30pm on ITVX. Strictly returns in the autumn on 14 September.