Former Strictly professional James Jordan has hit back after footage emerged of him telling a celebrity partner he would “drag her across the floor” if she forgot moves.
The footage was filmed during a training session with actor Georgina Bouzová and shown on Strictly spin off It Takes Two during the 2006 series.
Jordan, who was on the BBC dancing competition from 2006 to 2013, can be heard criticising his celebrity partner’s weight and threatening to “drag her across the floor and scream at her.”
In another part of the footage, the former pro throws a chair and declares he “doesn’t care” if the former Casualty star is “physically broken.”
“I will push her to her limit. She will go through that pain, and as far as I’m concerned, tough luck. Unless she’s actually physically broken a rib, I don’t care. Unless her feet are bleeding I don’t care, if they are sore, dance through it,” he said.
The footage emerged with the BBC show in crisis, amid an investigation into the treatment of celebrities and training regimes they have been faced with.
But Jordan addressed the video in a social media post, denying any wrongdoing and claiming that the BBC team shot and edited the footage 18 years ago “for the purposes of entertainment.”
Taking to Instagram, he penned: “I just wanted to reassure you that footage was shot and edited together by the BBC team for transmission on It Takes Two 18 years ago in specific ways for the purposes of ENTERTAINMENT.
“Many of the clips were not related to Georgina at all (they are not allowed to do that these days as it misrepresents what actually happened) but were included for the purpose of exaggeration.
“The BBC thought it would be fun to put this VT together in the way they did. You can see Georgina laughing about it in the studio and in the clips… And I have never received ANY complaints from any of my celebrity dance partners in the 8 years I was on the show.”
He continued: “Obviously if I had genuinely upset anyone, that footage would NEVER have been allowed to be used in that way by the BBC themselves. The Producers loved to paint me as the bad guy and I played along…always a perfectionist …but I would never have deliberately upset anyone and pride myself on good friendships with my celebrity dance partners.
“I strongly suggest that nobody attempts to link this edited BBC VT with the current alleged reports of abusive behaviour taking place behind the scenes by other Strictly professionals.
“There is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the highly produced and exaggerated VT from the BBC archives that is featuring on social media. To be clear, I deplore bullying or abusiveness in the workplace.”
Graziano Di Prima left the show at the weekend following criticisms of his training regime, with his 2023 celebrity partner Zara McDermott saying she “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her time on the show because she feared “public backlash” and “victim shaming”.
This came after it was confirmed Giovanni Pernice will not be part of the 2024 line-up of professionals amid allegations about his teaching methods, which he rejects.
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
The corporation previously said if issues are raised with its shows, it will “always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate”.
“While there are aspects of this story involving external influences that I can’t discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends.”
The BBC this week announced that a member of the Strictly Come Dancing production staff will be put in all future rehearsals following complaints about the two former professional dancers.
The corporation has announced new measures due to “concerns that have arisen in recent months” that have been “about training and rehearsals”.
Support for the celebrities and dancers will also be increased with the addition of a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer. The production team and crew will also undergo further training.
