Christopher Biggins calls Strictly contestants’ abuse allegations ‘rubbish’

Actor Christopher Biggins has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, expressing little sympathy for contestants who have raised allegations of mistreatment on the show.

Biggins recently stated bluntly: ‘If you don’t want to be hit across the knuckles, don’t do the show.’

Biggins’ comments come in the wake of serious allegations made by actress Amanda Abbington, who quit the show last year.

Abbington, 50, accused her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33, of cruel behavior, labeling him as ‘nasty’ and ‘awful.’

These accusations have sparked a broader discussion about the treatment of celebrity contestants by their professional dance partners on the long-running series.

Biggins, who said he was previously invited to participate in Strictly Come Dancing but declined, was critical of the complaints lodged by contestants, according to Radio Times.

‘This whole saga that’s going on at the moment annoys me because I’ve been asked [to do the show] and I would not do it because it is very, very difficult,’ Biggins said.

‘You have to work hard. I mean, it’s one of the most hardworking reality TV shows there is on television.’

He continued: ‘The whole business of these people complaining about their professional dancers is rubbish because you have to work hard. If you want to be good and you want to win, you have to work hard and put the hours in.’

When asked by host Alexis Conran whether he believed there was a line between working hard and bullying, Biggins doubled down on his stance.

He referenced Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood, who recently recalled that his own dance teacher used to hit students with a stick to enforce discipline.

When Conran asked if we want that kind of thing to return, Biggins said: ‘If you want to win, if you want to work hard, [then] yes, I think we do [want that]. That is the whole business. It’s a tough, tough gig and you’ve got to know that,’ Biggins asserted.

He concluded by saying: ‘If you don’t want to be hit across the knuckles, don’t do the show.’

The BBC has launched an investigation into Pernice’s conduct in the wake of Abbington’s accusations, which he has vehemently denied.

Pernice, a veteran of the show, has expressed his desire to clear his name amid the controversy. As well as accusing Pernice of ‘bullying,’ Abbington said the dancer exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature.’

Another recent controversy involved Graziano Di Prima, whose Strictly partnership with reality TV star Zara McDermott also ended in allegations of misconduct.

Both Pernice and Di Prima have since exited the show.

The BBC, in response to the mounting concerns, has announced new measures to support the welfare of contestants.

These include monitoring dance rehearsals and ensuring that a production team member is present during training sessions at all times.

These steps aim to address the issues raised by Abbington and McDermott, who both claimed that their experiences on the show were marred by the behavior of their professional partners.

But Biggins’ comments highlight a divide in public opinion about the expectations placed on Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.