Ann Widdecombe defends Strictly as she insists celebs ‘are in control’

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Ann Widdecombe has defended the show amid claims of abuse behind the scenes.

The former Conservative MP, who competed on the BBC show in 2010 with Anton Du Beke, dismissed claims of bullying, insisting the celebrity competitors are in control and should be able to tell the professional dancers when they’ve had enough. 

Pro dancer Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s series.

It came just weeks after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners. 

Speaking on the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 on Wednesday Ann said Amanda’s claims that she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the show made it sound ‘as if she’d been in a war. It’s a dance competition. Grow up everybody.’ 

Ann told Jeremy, who has also competed on the show: ‘I’m sorry, I don’t have much patience, for two reasons.’

‘First of all, everything that you do when you are training is filmed and recorded, and there’s usually two people there, both sound and camera, but always at least one.’

‘So there’s already a third party in the room and it’s all on record. And if somebody is being kicked and punched, that should have been filmed, that’s the first thing.’

‘The second thing is, amazingly as it may appear, it is the celebrity who’s in control. You can say, sorry, I can’t do any more today.’

‘And in fact, one of the professionals told me a story of how he drove all the way to Brighton for the training session with his celeb, and she said, ‘oh, terribly sorry, I’m off to get a new bathroom’.’

‘We are actually in control. We can say, ‘sorry, I’m worn out, I’ve had enough, can’t do the thing you want me to do’.’ 

‘Now, you know these are adults. I’d take a very seriously view of this if these were kids. These are adults. What do we mean, bullied? These are adults, what do we mean bulling? Why didn’t they take action?’ 

Fellow guest on the show Carole Malone interrupted to point out that Amanda Abbington had complained and was met with backlash for speaking out. 

‘Amanda says that she had, you know, post-traumatic stress disorder, as if she’d been in a war. It’s a dance competition. Grow up everybody, grow up,’ Ann replied. 

‘It’s pathetic, if they can’t say, you know that their professional is treating them in a way.’

‘Why didn’t she simply call a halt and say, until you behave better, I am not going on with this, and if you’ve got a problem, you go and you tell the producers what you’re doing, why didn’t she do that?’  

Weighing in on the BBC’s decision to bring in a welfare team for future series, Ann said:  ‘When I was there, somebody called Charlotte Oats, was the celebrity booker, and she looked after us, and if we had a particular requirement, we went to see her.’ 

‘You know, it’s nothing new and the idea that you’re going to have a chaperone for an adult an adult! ‘

Another former Strictly contestant, Reverend Richard Coles also weighed in on the recent scandal on Wednesday as the BBC crisis deepens. 

The radio presenter, 62, appeared on the show in 2017 where he was partnered with Australian professional dancer Dianne Buswell. 

However he has admitted that whilst he had a great experience on the show he ‘isn’t surprised’ by the allegations. 

Speaking in an interview with Times Radio he said: ‘I’ve spoken to both contestants and also professionals about it. And I think no one has been surprised that this stuff has surfaced.’

He also explained: ‘I remember somebody who worked on the show for years and years turning to me and saying ‘Strictly is a wonderful show with a dark heart’ and I never really understood what that meant.