Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly investigating a travel company over the BBC's strict advertising rules, after three of their dancers appeared in an unauthorised advert.
Nadiya Bychkova, Giovanni Pernice and Kai Widdrington - three of the show's professional dancers - all appeared in an advert for a private travel company promoting a dance-weekend on the travel firm website.
The broadcaster's policy states: "Actors and artists who perform in BBC output should not appear in promotional work, including advertisements, in a way which mimics or replicates their on-air roles for the BBC.”
Although Strictly-themed events are exceptionally popular across the country, none are officially associated with the show and the BBC has strict rules about their stars and what promotional work they can carry out - with presenter Stacey Dooley and Nick Knowles being punished for breeches in the past.
It comes after Nick Knowles previously got in trouble after appearing in a cereal commercial as a builder while presenting DIY SOS.
According to the publication, all of the dancers have featured on travel firm Donahey’s 'Dancing With The Stars Weekends’.
The adverts promise guests that they will “see the stars of Strictly Come Dancing perform up close and personal for a truly intimate experience unlike any other — learn to dance with them, plus hear all about their Strictly journeys".
Their website confirms that the events have not been endorsed or are associated with the BBC.
A source said: "As a publicly-funded corporation, the BBC has to be careful with its commercial guidelines but there is a clear grey area when it comes to performers."
They added that dancers being booked to perform at private events wasn't the same as them "mimicking a scene for an advert".
The publication claimed the BBC began investigating tonight, though a Strictly spokesperson declined to comment.
Speaking to Mirror Online, a BBC insider explained how Nadiya, Giovanni and Kai "have done nothing wrong" and are not being punished by the BBC but have simply got "muddled up" in the investigation looking into the travel firms use of Strictly Come Dancing's likeness and branding.
