BBC to 'strengthen welfare and support' on Strictly

admin admin | 07-17 08:15

A member of the production team will be present "at all times" during training room rehearsals on Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC has announced.

The corporation said it is announcing "additional steps to strengthen welfare and support" on the popular BBC series after concerns "have arisen in recent months" that are "fundamentally about training and rehearsals".

It comes amid allegations about the teaching methods of professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, which he denies, and reports about the alleged treatment of reality star Zara McDermott while she was on the show.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing and behavioural allegations: A timeline of events

The new measures also include the addition of a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer.

The BBC has also said the production team and crew will undergo further training.

Kate Phillips, BBC's director of unscripted, said: "Whilst we know our shows have been positive experiences for the vast majority of those who have taken part, if issues are raised with us, or we're made aware of inappropriate behaviour, we will always take that seriously and act.

"Concerns that have arisen have been fundamentally related to training and rehearsals.

"The decisive steps we have taken and [that] are announced today act to further strengthen the welfare and support in place for everyone involved with this production."

Love Island star McDermott opened up about her time on the BBC One programme following her former professional partner Graziano Di Prima's exit from the show.

On Instagram she wrote in response to reports about her "treatment on the show", saying: "I have wrestled with the fear of opening up - I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming.

"But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I've gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show."

It was confirmed at the weekend that Di Prima is no longer part of the 2024 professional line-up, and the Italian dancer has said his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected" his training regime.

It was announced last month that Pernice will not be part of the 2024 line-up of professionals amid allegations about his teaching methods, which he rejects.

Pernice previously said in a statement he is co-operating fully with an ongoing BBC investigation and that he looks "forward to clearing my name".

Source: Press Association

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

Banks' balance sheet swells on hefty lending to govt

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has said that the balance sheet of the banking sector expa...

USD drops as Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by 0.5%

NEW YORK: The dollar dropped after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut interest rates by half a per...

Telecom tax dispute lands in SIFC

KARACHI: The ongoing tax dispute between provincial governments and Long Distance and International ...

PAKSAT-MM1 to expand internet access: IT minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja,...

Industries violate emissions rules

LAHORE: As the threat of smog looms ahead of the arrival of winter, the Punjab government is facing ...

Stakeholders decry 18% GST on EVs against EDB policy

KARACHI: To promote the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution in Pakistan, the Ministry of Industries and...