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Toyah Willcox has detailed the lengths the BBC has gone to to make Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals “safe” following last season’s bullying scandals.
The 66-year-old Eighties pop star, who is the oldest contestant competing on this year’s series, said training so far is “one of the happiest experiences of my life” and it has been “a long time since I’ve felt so well looked after”.
As she prepares to hit the ballroom this weekend, Toyah revealed that the stars now have a “psychologist with them all day” while they are in the studio and that the professional dancers are “all supportive and lovely”.
Writing about her Toyah Willcox’s official website In her blog in September, she said: ‘Over the last six weeks I’ve been filming VTs, doing some great press, lots of photoshoots, even trying on bras and meeting my fellow celebrities who are all fantastic, and dancing with all the professional dancers, they’re all supportive and lovely.
“I feel safe with this team. We have a psychologist with us all day, an amazing celebrity producer, an amazing press team… It’s been a long time since I felt so well looked after. Here in the world of Strictly they want us celebrities to know that they are here to support us at all times.”
Toyah Willcox has detailed the lengths the BBC has gone to to make Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals “feel safe” following last season’s bullying scandals.
The 66-year-old Eighties pop star, who is the oldest contestant competing on this year’s series, said training so far was “one of the happiest experiences of my life” and it had been “a long time since I felt so well looked after”.
She continued: ‘We’ve been working together for almost a month now. All the professional dancers tell us to eat as much as we can. I can feel my weight increasing, I don’t need much food, my energy is in my genes.’
“We have amazing people looking after us: wardrobe, hair, make-up, talent support and psychologists who check in every hour.”
This comes after Toyah suggested a number of scandals that have engulfed Strictly are down to the show being “compromised with dance”.
Asked if recent allegations of “serious misconduct” surrounding the show had made her think twice about signing up, the It’s A Mystery singer said: “It made me take what came next very seriously.”
‘What has happened in the last year is because this show is one hundred percent committed to dance.
“And you have to go beyond your own personal comfort zone. And that’s always been very, very obvious.
‘And I know for me, what’s been happening this year is I’ve been thinking, can I push myself beyond my own limitations?
“And for me it’s now or never. It’s that simple. That’s what made me commit to the program.”
The BBC’s flagship show has recently been thrown into chaos amid allegations of bullying and abuse by two of its professional dancers, Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice.
As she prepares to hit the ballroom this weekend, Toyah revealed that the stars now have “a psychologist with them all day” while they are in the studio and that the professional dancers are “all supportive and lovely”.
She wrote: “I feel safe with this team. We have a psychologist with us all day, an amazing celebrity producer, an awesome press team… I haven’t felt so well taken care of in a long time.”
The BBC’s flagship show has recently been thrown into chaos amid allegations of bullying and abuse by two of its professional dancers, Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice.
Pernice’s partner, Amanda Abbington, 50, has accused the Italian dancer of bullying her in rehearsals.
Strictly Come Dancing will kick off its 20th season this Saturday night
Di Prima, 30, admitted kicking partner Zara McDermott, 27, during training, while Pernice’s partner Amanda Abbington, 50, accused the Italian dancer of bullying her in rehearsals.
BBC bosses have announced new duty of care protocols for the 20th edition of the show.
New measures include the presence of a member of the production team during rehearsals in the training room and increased support for celebrity contestants and professional dancers.
A celebrity wellness producer and a professional dancer wellness producer have been appointed to fulfill these duties.
Additional training will also be provided for the production team and staff.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch show will air on Saturday 14 September at 7.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
STRICTLY 2024 LINEUP
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: “If anyone is thinking, ‘How the hell is he going to do that?’ rest assured, I’m thinking exactly the same thing.”
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: unknown
Profession: Family doctor and announcer
Punam says: ‘I’ve watched Strictly every year and it feels even more special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe it’s me who’s going to be on Strictly.’
Willcox Toy Store
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: “I’m so excited and I love this show. Being a part of it, the spray tan and the glow. It’s a landmark year for me. I came in as a retiree, went to Glasto and now I’m spray tanning.”
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: “Dancing live in front of the whole country every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.”
Shayne Neighborhood
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live television, but dancing Latin and ballroom in front of millions of people is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal-winning swimmer
Tom says: “I can now officially talk about how excited I am to embark on something new, meet brilliant people and start dancing.”
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says, ‘I’m going for it. I’m going to give it 100 percent!’
Montell Douglas
Age: 38
Profession: Former Olympian for Team GB and current gladiator
Montell says: ‘I hope some of my Gladiator moves come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: “A lot of ballroom dance styles are very foreign to me. I didn’t do those dances as a kid. I’m not a professional dancer.”
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The things that make me nervous are the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I get nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little, it’s a Ghouri family favourite so this is totally a dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I’m particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a blast making the Christmas special, so when I was asked to take part, the easiest answer was ‘yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former Great Britain hockey player and presenter
Sam says: “I’m so relieved that it’s out now. I’ve found it hard to keep a secret! Rumours were spreading and I had to lie. I’m used to dancing on a girls’ night out but I’m going to give it my all.”
Pablo Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry until it starts, but when it does start I’ll be nervous. I’ve only danced three times in my life!’