Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has admitted she has sidelined two professional dancers at the centre of the BBC scandal.
The 40-year-old mother of one said she has not tried to contact Graziano Di Prima or Giovanni Pernice since allegations of their “abusive” behaviour came to light.
Despite sharing “great” friendships with the former Strictly professionals, Janette said she is a “girl’s girl” when speaking about the “complicated” and “messy” scandal.
She said: ‘I’ve tried to stay out of it. It’s complicated and I’m a girl-to-girl kind of girl. I just don’t know.
“They were very good friends and I am very saddened by everything that is happening, not only with them but with the celebrities involved. We are living in a very difficult time.”
Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara, 40, has admitted she cut off two professional dancers at the centre of the BBC scandal.
The mother-of-one said she has not attempted to contact Graziano Di Prima or Giovanni Pernice since allegations about their “abusive” behaviour came to light.
The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington left the show last year after claiming she was abused by her partner Giovanni, subsequently quitting the show.
Shortly afterwards it emerged that Graziano had been sacked for “kicking” his fellow Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Elsewhere in the interview, Janette revealed the two-word response she sent to her famous ex-boyfriend Will following his shocking claims.
The Paralympic athlete and table tennis player, 36, claimed his professional partner Janette made him redo a jump that caused him permanent injury amid the latest drama on the ‘fatally marred’ show.
Will was forced to pull out of the BBC competition early when he heard his leg “crack” on his second attempt to jump off a table during studio rehearsals, after Janette said his first was “rubbish”.
As Will called on the BBC to apologise for his experience on the scandal-hit show, Janette has now revealed how she communicated with Will via text message.
She said: ‘I texted him (Will) because we’re really good friends. He immediately said, ‘I’m so sorry, it shouldn’t come across like that. I don’t want you to feel like it’s you.’
She claims she sent Will two simple words: “It’s okay.”
Despite sharing “great” friendships with the former Strictly professionals, Janette said she is a “girl’s girl” when speaking about the “complicated” and “messy” scandal.
The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington quit the show last year after claiming her partner Giovanni (left) was abusive to her and then quit the show.
She said: “I’ve tried to stay out of it. It’s complicated and I’m a girl-to-girl kind of girl. I just don’t know. They were both really good friends and I feel really sad about everything that’s happening, not just to them but to the celebrities involved. It’s a really complicated time right now.”
Speaking to Sun, Janette said: “I really enjoyed dancing with him. It’s the only time I’ve ever cried on Strictly, when we did our Couple’s Choice. It was a dedication to Great Ormond Street Hospital.”
Asked if she was surprised to hear all the allegations coming to light about Strictly, Janette said: “Yes and no. I was surprised, because you never want to hear that.
“But it’s a dance show, it gets physical and it’s a competition. There’s an intensity that sometimes builds up in rehearsal rooms. Everyone wants to do their best. All professionals put in the effort, but it always has to be in a positive way.”
Last week on This Morning, Will spoke further about the ordeal saying it was “traumatic” and revealed he wrote to the BBC with his concerns after the show but was made to feel like he was “making a mountain out of a molehill”.
He also called for major changes to the program and better treatment for people with disabilities, saying “it would have been amazing to hear some sort of accountability or apology” at the time.
BBC chief Tim Davie on Tuesday apologised for the ongoing scandal, saying he was “very sorry” to anyone who “has caused it” I had an experience on Strictly that wasn’t entirely positive.
Will was born with arthrogryposis, which limits the range of motion in his limb joints and completed the movement with his knees straight.
Will told This Morning: “I couldn’t walk for six months, it was mentally tough and my family had to deal with it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Janette revealed the two-word response she sent to her former celebrity partner Will following his shocking claims (pictured in 2019)
Will was forced to pull out of the BBC competition early when he heard his leg “crack” on his second attempt at jumping off a table in rehearsals, after Janette said his first was “rubbish”.
Will was born with arthrogryposis, which limits the range of motion in his limb joints and completed the movement with his knees straight.
“What we have to ask ourselves is how can we support people with disabilities? People say it’s a way to raise awareness. My goodness, if you can’t say that, then I don’t know what you can say, to be honest.”
‘I appreciate that they covered my surgery, but there wasn’t much communication afterward.
“People say I’m jumping on the bandwagon, but I’ve been saying this for years. It’s only now that people are listening to me. It would have been great to hear some sort of accountability or apology.
“I have had Strictly fans say to me ‘how can you say that?’ I’ve been through worse so I can deal with people’s comments. I think it could have been avoided with proper care.”
He continued to insist that he did not blame his professional partner Janette at all for what happened.
Will said: “Janette was very supportive. We are both very competitive and wanted to win. She was very professional and very talented.”
A representative for Janette later told the BBC: ‘Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was when they made their contemporary partner choice.
‘The safety and enjoyment of her celebrity partner was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly.’
Recalling the “terrible pain” he experienced when he fell to the ground, the gold medallist admitted he thought “his whole career was over”.
After recovering from his injury, Will won individual and team silver at the rearranged 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021 (pictured this month)
Amanda left the show last year after claiming that her partner Giovanni was abusive towards her. He later left the show after vehemently denying all allegations.
Fellow Italian dancer Graziano was fired from the show earlier this month after being accused of kicking and spitting on Zara McDermott.
Steve Backshall complained to the BBC about his Strictly Come Dancing partner Ola Jordan in 2014, claiming she “bullied” him.
Strictly has been thrown into chaos in recent weeks following a series of allegations of abuse by staff.
Then an unnamed Strictly dancer was drawn into the scandal after it was reported that she shouted in her male partner’s face and berated him off-camera.
Two other professionals, Ola Jordan and Janette, joined the drama after a source close to the show called the show “fatally flawed.”
Amanda left the show last year after claiming that her partner Giovanni was abusive. He later left the show after vehemently denying all allegations.
Amanda, 50, abruptly quit the BBC show citing “personal issues” and has not been seen on screen since, even quitting social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner’s sacking.
Giovanni, 33, has been suspended pending a BBC investigation into allegations made by Amanda and two other celebrity exes.
Strictly Bosses then announced plans to introduce training companions and the appointment of two new wellness producers, following Graziano’s shock sacking from the show.