A third Strictly Come Dancing professional has reportedly been identified as a 'person of interest' amid a investigation into the BBC show’s off-screen rehearsals.
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.
Now a third professional dancer, no longer with the show, is also part of the ongoing probe into the BBC series, according to reports.
A source told The Sun: “A professional’s name has come up, alongside Giovanni and Graziano.
“He is no longer part of the show but he has been named as a person of interest. Conversations are ongoing and there are more people who need to be spoken to.
“A dossier is being compiled which will be handed over to the BBC. What is becoming clear is that there appears to be a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals in training,” the insider added.
“And the more people who come forward, the clearer the picture is becoming.”
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
The BBC on Tuesday 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.
Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of unscripted content, said: “The decisive steps we have taken and are announced today, act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production.”
The BBC has announced it will have a production team member present during training room rehearsals at all time, increase existing support with the addition of two new roles on the show dedicated to welfare support, and deliver further training for the production team and crew.
A statement from Di Prima said he “deeply regrets” the events that led to his departure from Strictly saying: “My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.”
He aded that there are “aspects” of the story he cannot “discuss at this time”.
Pernice has dismissed allegations about his behaviour as “simply false” and said he is co-operating fully with the BBC investigation and that he looks “forward to clearing my name”.
