BBC director general Tim Davie is reportedly set to be dragged into the current Strictly Come Dancing crisis.
The show known for its family-friendly appeal has been thrown into chaos in recent weeks amid several abuse investigations and misconduct scandals.
Pro Graziano Di Prima, 30, has been eliminated from the upcoming series following reports he verbally and physically abused fellow celebrity contestant Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s competition.
This came after another professional, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended from the show last month over allegations of off-camera misconduct (which he denies) made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celebrity partners.
And now, according to MirrorWhen the corporation’s annual report is published on Monday, the crisis is sure to be addressed in a media Q&A with boss Tim.
BBC Director General Tim Davie to be drawn into ongoing Strictly Come Dancing crisis
Professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, has been eliminated from the upcoming series following reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s competition.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
Amanda will soon learn the outcome of the investigation she launched after reporting that her Strictly co-star Giovanni was harassing her in training.
But regardless of the outcome, bosses are said to be furious with the actress, who they now believe is encouraging other former contestants to interact with her lawyers during her time on the show.
In recent weeks he is believed to have been urging contestants who have taken part in Strictly over the years to speak to London-based law firm Carter-Ruck in a bid to find others with allegations of a toxic environment on the show.
A BBC source said: “Amanda appears to stop at nothing to ensure there is no dark cloud left hanging over Strictly.
“It seems like she has a real problem with the show. She’s been open about not enjoying her time on it, but why ruin other people’s lives?
“There doesn’t seem to be any irrefutable evidence in her complaint about Giovanni, so now she’s getting others to come forward and then it appears in the press, so the controversy goes on and on.”
Amanda is believed to have contacted actress Laila Rouass to encourage her to speak to her lawyers following an incident in 2009 when fellow contestant Anton Du Beke, now a judge on the show, described her as “looking like an idiot” after she had a spray tan.
This comes after another professional, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended from the show last month over allegations of off-camera misconduct (which he denies) made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other celebrity exes.
Anton Du Beke, 57, reduced contestant Laila Rouass to tears when he jokingly told her she “looked like an idiot” after her spray tan during the 2009 series (pictured together on the show)
Amanda Abbington claimed dancer Giovanni was “abusive, cruel and mean” (pictured, January 2023)
Strictly staff are outraged and say that much of the behaviour that is not as serious as Graziano punching and kicking Zara also risks diluting the real complaints.
One said: ‘How is Amanda helping to solve the real problems of bullying by fuelling incidents from a few raised voices or something that happened 15 years ago?’
Meanwhile, the Mail recently revealed that those familiar with the details of the evidence-based investigation into Mr Pernice say they believe the allegations are unlikely to be deemed proven.
This paves the way for the professional dancer, who has strongly denied any wrongdoing towards Ms Abbington, to be cleared three months after the investigation began.
With the trial due to take place just days away, Ms Abbington took the unusual step of speaking to The Sun on Sunday about Mr Pernice’s alleged behaviour.
Her critics believe she did the interview “to once again harm” the Italian dancer, as he is expected to be cleared of bullying her.
Abbington, who told the paper she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the programme earlier this year, claims Pernice was “abusive, cruel and mean”. However, she did not give any examples of his behaviour.
She said she filed the complaint because “I couldn’t stand by and let him do that to other people,” despite knowing she would face “backlash.”
She added: “I couldn’t have lived with myself thinking about the people who would be on that show in the future.”
Mr Pernice responded to the interview and his spokesman told the Mail: “The BBC has shared the allegations in the investigation with Giovanni, who has fully co-operated. None of the allegations published in the Sun on Sunday are included in any way.”
‘Giovanni rejects these allegations and denies any allegations of abusive or threatening behaviour. He has provided substantial evidence to the investigation and remains fully confident of clearing his name.’
A source said: “Amanda clearly feels very hurt by all this and is preparing for things in case the ruling doesn’t go her way.”
The fallout will continue this week as professional dancers begin training for the new series today.
Last week, The Mail on Sunday newspaper revealed that Di Prima was sacked for gross misconduct after kicking and punching McDermott. His dismissal was prompted by a group of production staff who showed BBC bosses a video of him assaulting her.
Giovanni, 33, has been suspended pending a BBC investigation into allegations made by Amanda and two other celebrity exes (pictured June)
His dismissal was prompted by a group of production staff who presented BBC bosses with a video of him assaulting her.
Zara released a statement saying that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of” inside the training room there were “particular incidents that are incredibly distressing”.
Previous complaints had been made to the Corporation about his verbal abuse and he was warned twice, yet he was invited on the post-show tour and was introduced as a member of the cast of professional dancers for the next series.
Old footage of former pro players James Jordan and Brendan Cole assaulting their celebrity partners has since resurfaced on the internet.
In one video Mr Jordan is seen threatening to drag actress Georgina Bouzova across the floor and shout at her if she did not stand on her left leg. Meanwhile, Mr Cole was seen shouting at actress Claire King in 2006.
Professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova also complained about the show to BBC officials.
