Strictly Come Dancing future predicted by ex-BBC boss after string of scandals

Strictly Come Dancing's original commissioner has opened up about the recent scandals involving the BBC programme.

From 2000 until 2005, Lorraine Heggessey was the first woman to be Controller of BBC One and was in charge when Strictly first hit screens in 2004, transforming Saturday night TV in the UK.

The series is still going strong more than two decades later and is one of the corporation’s most reliable ratings hits, with the show's 2023 final drawing in an average of 8.8 million viewers.

But over the past few months, Strictly has been at the centre of a storm following a number of behind-the-scenes allegations made against Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

Amanda Abbington, who was partnered with Giovanni in 2023, pulled out midway through the competition and reportedly demanded footage of her rehearsals with the Italian dancer, claiming she felt "bullied" by him.

Earlier this week, Graziano confirmed he had been axed from the series due to his alleged treatment of Zara McDermott, which includes "repeatedly kicking and hitting" the former Love Island star. A third person of interest has now emerged as the scandal continues.

Heggessey reflected on the controversy on BBC Radio 4, describing the alleged abuse as "sad" and "unacceptable". She said: "I think it’s very sad that these things have happened and clearly a line has been crossed by some of the professional dancers, but I think that what’s important is the BBC is dealing with it swiftly and putting in place measures to make sure these things don’t happen again."

Heggessey continued: “Everybody has always thrown themselves into the training from the very first series – all the contestants take it incredibly seriously and realise they have to work incredibly hard to be able to perform on the show, and certainly bruises on their feet and that kind of thing were not unusual just from the rigours of training. But any abuse in the training room is not acceptable."

Responding to claims that the BBC should have been aware of what was going on behind the scenes, Heggessey commented: "If it’s happening behind closed doors, how are you supposed to know about it if nobody raises it with you?"

She added: "I‘m sure the production team really cared about the welfare of all the contestants and I guess – I don’t know, I’m not close to the show now – but it seems that once it’s come to their attention, they’re doing something about it."

Despite the scandal, Heggessey believes the show "can get over this", explaining: "The important thing now is to move on and make sure it never happens again."

Heggessey agreed with the introduction of chaperones, saying: "Having somebody in the training room at all times will be to the benefit of everybody." Despite the allegations, Heggessey said that Strictly is "a hugely positive experience" for most celebrities, highlighting the positive time had by Annabel Croft and Krishnan Guru-Murthy last year.

She concluded: "I think Strictly can get over this; we should hang onto all the positives, address the issue and move on."