Strictly Come Dancing is set to make its hotly-anticipated return on Saturday night after being rocked by a number of scandals over the summer.
The show was thrown into turmoil after it was revealed the BBC had sacked professional dancer Giovanni Pernice in the wake of a bullying scandal.
Numerous allegations of abusive behaviour soon followed which forced professional dancers Giovanni and Graziano Di Prima to exit the long-running programme.
The BBC has battled to save the series and introduced new measures which aim to 'strengthen welfare and support' behind the scenes.
Since its inception in 2004, Strictly has had as many scandals as its had series', with voting gaffes, surprise kisses, and a lengthy list of breakups and romances blamed on the show's so-called 'curse.'
So, the glittering entertainment show returns to screens, MailOnline takes a look-back at the biggest scandals to beset the show...
Strictly Come Dancing is set to make it's hotly-anticipated return on Saturday after being rocked by a number of scandals over the summer
Since its inception in 2004, Strictly has suffered voting gaffes, surprise kisses, and a lengthy list of breakups and romances blamed on the show's so-called 'curse', here we take a look...
Graziano Di Prima's sacking
Graziano was been fired by BBC bosses, after it was claimed he'd been 'physically and verbally abusive' towards his celebrity dance partner Zara.
Addressing his exit from the show, a 'devastated' Graziano wrote on Instagram over the weekend: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.
'While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation.
'There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.'
MailOnline revealed that Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano's conduct last year, but bosses only went as far as to issue quiet warnings to him.
The group expected him to be sacked instantly. They are said to be furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning the abuse towards Zara was allowed to continue. Graziano was even signed on for the upcoming 2024 series of Strictly.
A source from the show said: 'There were multiple occasions where both physical and verbal attacks were made. It was more physical than verbal, but all of it was dreadful.'
Graziano Di Prima was fired by BBC bosses last week, after it was claimed he'd been 'physically and verbally abusive' towards his celebrity dance partner Zara
It was not until staff got hold of a video allegedly showing Graziano repeatedly hitting Zara– nine months after their initial complaint – that he was fired.
Previously, his fans and famous friends had rallied behind him, including fellow Strictly stars Katya Jones, Susannah Constantine and Catherine Tyldesley, who liked and commented on his Instagram post announcing his departure.
However, Catherine - who was partnered with Johannes Radebe in the show in 2019 - has now removed one of her more supportive comments.
Zara broke her silence on Graziano's sacking in a lengthy statement, writing on Instagram that while much of her time on Strictly 'was everything I could have dreamt of' inside the training room with Graziano, there were 'particular incidents which are incredibly distressing'.
Zara explained that she didn't report the incidents at the time as she was 'scared' of backlash.
Instead it was junior production staff who came forward to share what they had witnessed as the investigation into pro dancer Giovanni Pernice was taking place.
Graziano later admitted he 'crossed the line', but denied spitting at Zara, and insisted his behaviour was one-off incident.
In response Zara's spokesperson said: 'It's a matter of public record that the BBC deemed the conduct to be so severe that they removed him from the show immediately.
'Zara has already confirmed in a statement released on her social media earlier this week that the reported conduct was not a singular incident.'
Graziano has continued to insist he would never deliberately hurt anyone. 'These vile, false allegations ruined my life in a matter of minutes — professionally, financially, psychologically and reputationally,' he said.
Giovanni's 'bullying' row
In May, it was revealed that longtime Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice had quit the BBC series, after he was accused of 'bullying' his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington
The actress is said to have demanded footage of their rehearsals after struggling with Giovanni's 'militant approach to training'
In May, it was revealed that longtime Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice had quit the BBC series, after he was accused of 'bullying' his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington.
Giovanni has faced a wave of scrutiny ever since his dance partner Amanda, who is was partnered with during the last series, dramatically quit the competition last year due to 'personal reasons'.
The actress is said to have demanded footage of their rehearsals after struggling with Giovanni's 'militant approach to training'. She was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Amanda is then said to have then met with Laura Whitmore, 39, and Ranvir Singh, 46, for an 'emotional summit', with the trio apparently speaking about their 'difficult' experiences with him.
A source told The Sun at the time: 'Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much and now is the time to make a fresh start.
'He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he's achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times.
'He remains adamant he's done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn't to everyone's liking - especially in this day and age.'
The BBC launched an internal investigation into the allegations which will be released on Tuesday, according to insiders.
The probe's findings are set to be released just days before the 20th anniversary series is due to start.
The famous Strictly 'curse'
Kristina Rihanoff was forced to defend her romance with Strictly partner Ben Cohen, after it began soon after he split from his wife of 11 years Abby in 2013
Since its very first series, Strictly Comes Dancing has famously been dogged by its 'romance' curse, which has spanned 20 scandalous years.
The curse - which has claimed several marriages - is at odds with the show's family-friendly image, with bosses attempting to play down its siginficance, despite leaving viewers gripped thanks to some couples' sizzling chemistry.
Strictly hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons during season one, when viewers were transfixed by the apparent close bond between newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her hunky partner Brendan Cole.
Although the pair went on to win the show, their success was blighted by affair rumours.
BBC presenter Natasha soon split from long-term partner Mike Barnard while Brendan dumped his fiancée and fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup.
However, Natasha has always denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan.'
In 2013, professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff was forced to defend her romance with her rugby player partner Ben Cohen, insisting their romance only began after the end of his marriage to wife Abby.
'He left his wife a year ago,' she told the Daily Mirror. 'Recently we started dating but we're allowed to see each other as two single people.'
She said: 'Ben's said it many times and I'll say it again - I wasn't involved in the breaking up of his marriage.'
Meanwhile Abby described the split and resultant divorce as 'the most traumatic thing to ever happen to me'.
Ben, 37, met Abby in 1995 at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before welcoming their daughters in 2008. He and Kristina now share a six-year-old daughter, Milena.
Rachel Riley began dating her dancer partner Pasha Kovalev in 2013 after splitting from her husband, and since then they've gone onto marry in 2019 and they now have two daughters
Four months after the 2018 series concluded Stacey Dooley and her partner Sam Tucknott announced they were separating and she later dated Strictly partner Kevin Clifton
On the same series, Countdown's Rachel Riley's relationship Pasha Kovalev ended her marriage to Jamie Gilbert, to whom she had been married for just one year.
In 2015, Georgia May Foote announced her split from Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward after she came runner-up in the show, and was later spotted kissing her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
And 2018 saw romances emerge between Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley, as well as Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg.
Four months after the 2018 series concluded, filmmaker and journalist Stacey and her partner Sam Tucknott announced they were separating.
The couple had been together for five years before the split - but the separation was far from a clean break.
In 2019 Sam accused Stacey of having an affair with Kevin Clifton while she was still in a relationship - however they have both denied this.
He told The Sun he discovered Stacey and Kevin's romance when he was leaving their shared home after the break-up and he saw a message from the professional dancer flash up on her phone, which he claims said: 'I love you.'
According to Sam's version of events, they argued before Sam left the flat they shared in Brighton, before Stacey sent him a message later that evening explaining she had fallen for her dance partner.
The newspaper reports she wrote: 'I didn't start entertaining and texting him (Kevin) until I split up with you. I was not with you when we started it all. I did fall for him but when we were done. I will tell you anything you want to know.'
One of Strictly's most controversial 'curses' was the end of Seann Walsh's relationship with Rebecca Humphries after he was snapped kissing his then-dance partner Katya Jones - on Rebecca's birthday.
At the time, Katya was also married to fellow professional dancer from the series, Neil Jones.
Following the revelation, Rebecca released a scathing statement on her X/Twitter account in which she accused Seann of 'aggressive' behaviour, and claimed he called her a 'psycho' when she expressed suspicion about cheating.
Former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, who was married to Jamie Redknapp when she starred in the show in 2016, has revealed she believes the show contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.
Writing in her memoir You've Got This, she said: 'If I'd done the show four years earlier, this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't have walked away from my marriage.'
She said that, previously, she would have been 'too scared' to leave her husband, with whom she shares two children, but that taking part in Strictly, which saw her reach the final, set her on a 'new path' and proved she could 'find work again'.
Ageism row
Strictly's found itself embroiled in an ageism row in 2009, when it was revealed that Arlene Phillips, who was 66 at the time, had been dropped from the judging panel
When Phillips was replaced by Alesha Dixon, who was 26 years younger, the show was accused of ageism
Strictly's found itself embroiled in an ageism row in 2009, when it was revealed that Arlene Phillips, who was 66 at the time, had been dropped from the judging panel in favour of singer Alesha Dixon.
Arlene later said that she only found out she'd been sacked from Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her for comment on a radio show.
The dancer and choreographer was axed from Strictly in 2008 after four years as a judge.
She was the only judge on the panel - which at the time also comprised of Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman - not to have her contract renewed.
When Phillips was replaced by Alesha Dixon, who was 26 years younger, the show was accused of ageism.
The axing caused uproar among fans and calls of sexism while Harriet Harman, the minister for women and equality, blamed ageism when the debate reached the House of Commons.
Anton's racism claims
In 2009 professional dancer - and now judge - Anton Du Buke used a racial slur to describe his partner Laila Rouass, which he said was 'backstage banter'
Anton Du Beke makes an on-air apology to Laila Rouass for the slur in 2009 as the pair hoped to 'move on' from it
In 2009 professional dancer - and now judge - Anton Du Buke used a racial slur to describe his partner Laila Rouass, which he said was 'backstage banter'.
Former host Sir Bruce Forsyth came to his defence, but this only made the situation worse.
Sir Bruce said: 'We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing.'
But he was later forced to issue a statement saying: 'To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable.'
At the time, a BBC source described Anton as a 'dead man dancing' and calls rose for him to be sacked from the show.
But Rouass defended him after he apologised and when asked if she wanted him axed from the series, the Footballers Wives star said: 'Absolutely not. Anton has apologised and I've accepted it.
'This happened a couple of weeks ago now and we are having a good time.
She added: 'We just want to move on from it.'
Meanwhile Anton quickly released an apologetic statement, reading: 'I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language.
'There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react.'
Strictly veteran Anton since recovered from the incident and in 2021 even joined the judging panel.
John Sergeant's controversial exit
In 2008, former political journalist John Sergeant won over millions of viewers when he competed on Strictly, despite his wooden dance moves earning him consistently low scores
Fans were stunned when John publicly announced that he would quitting the competition in week 10, following fears that he would go all the way to the final
In 2008, former political journalist John Sergeant won over millions of viewers when he competed on Strictly with Kristina Rihanoff.
He delivered a now-iconic Paso Doble which saw him drag dance partner Kristina across the floor, and judge Arlene Phillips quipped that he would 'sit and read The Guardian' instead of rehearsing.
Despite clearly struggling with the steps, and receiving a low score from the judges week after week, viewers voted to keep him in the competition, sparking fears that he could go all the way and be crowned series champion.
Fans were stunned when John publicly announced that he would quitting the competition in week 10, meaning the BBC had to offer refunds to viewers who voted for him.
He said at the time: 'The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far.'
James Jordan's 'sacking'
Outspoken dance professional James Jordan was sacked from the main line-up of the show in 2014, while his wife Ola Jordan remained (pictured together)
Outspoken dance pro James Jordan was sacked from the main line-up of the show in 2014, despite offering to continue on the show as a backing dancer, while his wife Ola Jordan remained a part of the main lineup.
James later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, where he accused the rest of the professionals of being 'beige' and 'not massive characters'.
At the time, a Strictly spokesperson said: 'James Jordan was offered a role still on [Strictly Come Dancing].
'It wasn't to be partnered with a celebrity, but it was to be involved in specials such as Children in Need, that sort of thing.
'But he declined that. He was offered a reduced role on the show.'
James responded on Twitter: 'Yes, it's true I WILL NOT be retuning to 'BURN THE FLOOR'.... Sorry, I mean 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
He added: '....do not believe everything the BBC have written in their statement.'
Seann and Katya's drunken kiss
In 2018, comedian Seann Walsh and his dance partner Katya Jones sparked a social media firestorm, when they were pictured sharing a steamy kiss on a night out
In 2018, comedian Seann Walsh and his dance partner Katya Jones sparked a social media firestorm, when they were pictured sharing a steamy kiss on a night out.
It occurred just three weeks into the series, and proved to be the most seismic hit of the famous 'curse' yet.
At the time, Katya was also married to fellow professional dancer from the series, Neil Jones.
Following the revelation, Rebecca released a scathing statement on her X/Twitter account in which she accused Seann of 'aggressive' behaviour, and claimed he called her a 'psycho' when she expressed suspicion about cheating.
She said: 'It's more than lying, it's controlling.'
At the end of her statement, she revealed she had taken their cat in the split.
Following the scandal, Seann appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show where he cut a sombre figure and admitted: 'I think everything she said in that statement is right.'
He continued: 'And I think if you lie and cheat on the person that you're meant to care for and be in a relationship with, then that is a form of abuse, of course it is. All I can be is as sorry as I am. I hope one day that she'll forgive me.'
In April this year Seann revealed he felt traumatised even when he sees a 'Strictly no parking sign' and that he'll never dance again due to the intense fallout from the kiss.
Voting gaffes
In 2008, Strictly's voting system was hit by a huge gaffe in the semi-finals, as viewers noted that it would be literally impossible to save Holby City star Tom Chambers from the dance-off
Typically Strictly Come Dancing's voting system is a well-run machine, allowing viewers to call in and back their favourite couples, or vote for free online.
However, in 2008 the system was hit by a huge gaffe in the semi-finals, as viewers noted that it would be literally impossible to save Holby City star Tom Chambers from the dance-off.
Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon had received exactly the same score from the judging panel - and both scores were so high that Tom would be in the dance-off even if every single viewer watching voted for him.
Hours after the issue emerged, the BBC announced that all three contestants would be going through to the final, with all the votes carried over into the following week.
The drama sparked nearly 300 complaints to media watchdog, however they opted against sanctioning the BBC, as it had 'resulted from an oversight'.
Craig's awkward apology
Craig was forced to apologise in 2019 after he said 'sleeping with your partner' can help secure a Strictly victory, in reference to Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton's romance
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton now share daughter Minnie together, but they first came together after winning the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Ahead of the following series in 2019, Craig - who has often been known as the 'nasty' judge over the series - joked to host Tess Daly while giving advice to the new contestants: 'Of course, if you sleep with your dance partner that helps.'
While the comment wasn't broadcast during the launch show, with bosses demanding Craig re-film the moment, the judge was slammed over the comments and he was forced to issue an apology.
'I'm deeply sorry for the offence caused to Kevin and Stacey and everyone who works on the show,' he said.
'I recognise that what I said was hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful. It was a huge error of judgment that I very much regret.'
Shirley's sexism row
Head judge Shirley Ballas found herself at the centre of a sexism row after she was accused of favouring the male contestants over the females during the 2022 series
Head judge Shirley Ballas found herself at the centre of a sexism row after she was accused of favouring the male contestants over the females during the 2022 series.
The series judge was also been accused of having 'favourites whether they have ability or not', with some viewers calling for her to be sacked on Twitter as they claimed she has 'no credibility as a judge'.
It came after the twinkle-toed star called for the television audience at home to have 'respect' after she received a flurry of 'hurtful messages' on social media.
In August 2022, Shirley revealed how she was forced to seek counselling after receiving a torrent of vile abuse during the last series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Though Shirley eventually returned to the 2023 series, she previously told how she even toyed with the idea of not coming back.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch show will air on Saturday, September 14 at 19:20 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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