Strictly Come Dancing faces fresh crisis over staff claims of ‘cruelty and sexualised comments’

Strictly Come Dancing faces more scandal, as staff members reportedly complained about a ‘toxic’ work environment.

Some BBC employees are said to have accused the broadcaster of not taking their complaints seriously.

This comes as the programme’s treatment of contestants has been called into question, with multiple former participants speaking out including Zara McDermott, Amanda Abbington, and Laura Whitmore.

A report by the Observer has given rise to new allegations, including claims that one staff member heard sexist and sexualised comments. They claim they faced ‘intrusive questions about their sex life’, and said some of the behaviour ‘crossed a line’.

They alleged that when trying to file a complaint, they were directed towards the Film and TV Charity.

‘It left me at a dead end. It felt a bit blasé – handing off the responsibility to a charity rather than the company that is actually employing all of these people,’ said the former employee.

The Observer saw a document from 2022 which shows that BBC staff and fixed-term contract employees who had concerns about the workplace were directed to an external whistleblowing hotline, while employees on freelance contracts were directed to ‘support through our partners at the Film and TV Charity, including whistleblowing services’.

However, the charity said: ‘The charity is not for whistleblowing.’

A second co-worker claimed they saw ‘talented co-workers treated with cruelty’.

‘In recent years we’ve seen talented co-workers treated with cruelty, incompetence rewarded, and egos unchecked. Total compliance is demanded of some, absolute free rein given to others,’ it was added.

While a third, who worked there eight years ago, called the workplace ‘tense, toxic, uncomfortable’.

The complaints go back to 2016, encompassing multiple series.

A spokesperson for BBC Studios said: ‘The welfare of our crews working on each series of Strictly is always of paramount importance to us. We act speedily when any concerns are raised, and we have thorough, effective and longstanding processes to manage them.

‘The show is a fast-paced live TV production environment that has attracted hundreds of people in the industry to work on who have had a positive experience, so we do not recognise the claims relating to a negative workplace culture – or that there are flaws in our whistleblowing process.

‘In 2022, we announced the introduction of our industry-leading initiative The Pledge on all our productions, including Strictly, which proactively encourages anyone on our sets to raise concerns of inappropriate behaviour via a number of avenues, including anonymously to Navex Global, an external whistleblowing service independent of the BBC and BBC Studios.’

The Pledge includes details to raise concerns anonymously to the BBC and is given to all cast and crew on the first day of production. It clearly outlines the routes open to anyone to call out anything untoward at any time before, during or after the series run.

Routes to raise concerns – be that via The Pledge, management lines or HR – are regularly communicated.

In regard to the referral to a charity, they said: ‘There is one whistleblowing service across the BBC Group which is independent and run by a third party that’s accessible to everyone – staff and freelance colleagues alike. Everyone is given the details of the Film and TV Charity support line, not for whistleblowing, but for the purposes of additional resource and support.’

The ballroom and Latin competition has been scrutinised recently after allegations came forward against several pro dancers.

Sherlock actress Amanda, who quit Strictly last year after five weeks, has described her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. Earlier this week, she has given a bombshell TV interview, in which she claimed Giovanni is blocking access to 50 hours of footage showing a ‘toxic’ rehearsal room. He’s denied the claims, and an investigation is taking place.

Graziano Di Prima shockingly left the programme and said he ‘deeply regrets’ the events that led to his departure. It is claimed he physically and verbally abused Zara in training.

More celebrities have since criticised their treatment while participating in the series.

The director general of the BBC apologised to Strictly contestants who have had an experience that ‘hasn’t been wholly positive’.

Tim Davie told journalists that there will inevitably be ‘competitiveness, hard work and the will to do well’ on the show, ‘but there are limits and the line should never be crossed’.

He added: ‘We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’

The BBC is taking measures to introduce ‘practical steps’ to support welfare. Dance rehearsals will now be monitored, and a production team member will be present during training room rehearsals at all times.

The attention on Strictly’s conduct comes as they prepare to celebrate its 20th anniversary and the imment confirmation of the line-up.

It has been claimed that it’s been ‘more challenging’ to recruit female celebrities for Strictly after the recent onslaught of complaints.

Strictly Come Dancing will return on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.

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