Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have reportedly vowed to stand by the show after the recent alleged ‘abuse’ scandals that have emerged.
Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the upcoming series over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s competition.
This came after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended from the show last month over claims of off-camera misconduct – which he denies – made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.
But according to a new report Tess, 55, and Claudia, 52, are going to continue to work on the show and won’t be leaving any time soon as the BBC attempts to steady the ship.
A source told The Sun: ‘Just like everyone else Tess and Claudia are shocked by the allegations which are coming to light.
‘Naturally in light of the show being plunged into scandal those who work on the programme have speculated if either of them will want to jump ship.
‘However, privately both Tess and Claudia have vowed to stand by the show and co-present this year’s series in a few months
‘To them Strictly is very much a family and they want to give the show and bosses their full support.’
The BBC has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Tess has co-hosted the show since it launched in 2004, with Claudia joining her in 2014 after the passing of Bruce Forsyth.
It comes as the Strictly crisis has deepened in recent days, with other male dancers now expressing concerns about how they could be impacted.
It’s now been revealed that the allegations have left some male professionals from the BBC show concerned about how or if they will be affected.
A source told MailOnline on Thursday that the male dancers are ‘very concerned and worried how this is going to affect them’ and are said to be ‘feeling like it’s the new #MeToo’.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
On Tuesday night it was revealed that a third professional dancer who is no longer on the show has been named as a ‘person of interest’ in the wake of the abuse and bullying allegations.
It was said that the name had been given to Carter-Ruck, the law firm representing Amanda Abbington.
Little more is known about the person’s identity, and the BBC are said to be unaware of who or what they are accused of.
There have also been accusations of a massive cover-up by the BBC over claims crew members complained about Graziano’s behaviour during the series but no action was taken.
Insiders have told The Sun that it is ‘becoming clear is that there appears to be a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals in training.’
‘The more people who come forward, the clearer the picture is becoming.’
Then on Wednesday the scandal deepened after unearthed footage revealed former professional dancer James Jordan telling his partner he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves.
The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina Bouzova.
He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.
James, who left Strictly in 2012 after appearing on eight series, also allegedly banned Georgina, who formerly starred on BBC medical drama Casualty, from eating sweets and chocolate and would only allow her to buy pineapple and ham when they visited a supermarket together.
However James has furiously hit back after the clip from Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two resurfaced.
The ballroom dancer and choreographer, 46, has slammed the BBC saying most of the footage ‘was not related to Georgina at all’.
Sharing a raging statement on Instagram he said that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.
He said there ‘is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the VT’ – while insisting none of his celebrity partners ever complained about him during his eight years on the show.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you. Source: The Wall Street Journal