Strictly hit fresh scandal as crew reveal ‘toxic culture’ of bullying

Strictly has been hit by a fresh bullying scandal, after an investigation unearthed new allegations of celebrities and dancers bullying low-paid production staff.

A total of 15 current and former members of the show’s production crew told the BBC ‘the whole culture was toxic’ behind the scenes on the award-winning entertainment show.

They described allegations of celebrities losing their tempers at junior toilers, with one star unleashing an explosive tirade close enough to leave spittle on the dumbfounded worker’s face.

Another alleged one of the male dancers was ‘chauvinistic’ and treated women in a ‘disgusting’ way.

Others described how senior members of the production team would ‘lose their tempers’ at their subordinates.

Aggrieved staff refused to complain, however, due to fears they would not be taken seriously – or would be blacklisted from the industry.

It follows explosive claims by former contestants – including Amanda Abbington, Zara McDermott, and Laura Whitmore – about male dancers on the show. The broadcaster has launched a misconduct probe.

BBC director general Tim Davie has apologised to Strictly contestants and warned that the show’s professionals should not cross the line between being competitive and ‘unacceptable behaviour’.

BBC Studios said it ‘does not recognise’ the latest claims.

The latest investigation features the testimony of current and former members of staff, who all wanted to remain anonymous due to fear of career repercussions, the BBC said.

Oscar, who joined the show aged just 18, said ‘the whole culture was toxic, particularly for junior staff’.

Pernice released a statement on Instagram – and it was notably met with silence from his co-stars 

He said: ‘Producers would be drinking and partying, while everyone else was running around stressed out.’

And he said he was called ‘stupid’ for asking for help from a colleague.

He added: ‘It was bullying behaviour. I felt sick, and couldn’t sleep or eat.’

He said his worst experience involved a humiliating dressing-down from an unnamed celebrity contestant who ‘flew into a rage’ before a show.

Oscar said: ‘He was shouting and he was so close up in my face, I had to close my eyes as his spit flecks were hitting me.

‘The fact it was in front of everyone made me feel awful and helpless. 

‘People were stopping in the corridor to catch a glimpse of what was happening.’

Oscar said the celebrity later apologised, but the ordeal was ‘the final straw’ and he quit – but without complaining to HR.

He said: ‘Unless you were a production executive or one of the producer’s friends, you weren’t empowered to raise issues.’

Anika, who used to work as a runner – an entry level position for those wanting to break into the industry – said she felt similarly powerless when she experienced awful behaviour from one of the male dancers. 

The BBC investigation said the professional has since left the long-running show.

She said: ‘I was a nobody, a little runner, I didn’t think I could complain.’

Anika recalled there was ‘a lot of shouting backstage’.

She said: ‘The way he (the unnamed dancer) spoke to women, including female dancers and junior staff, was disgusting and chauvinistic.

‘We’d be warned about working with him.’

Another runner, Anna, who worked on a Strictly Christmas special, said members of the production team would ‘lose their tempers’ at junior stuff.

And Jack, also a runner, said producers told lower-paid workers they ‘should be lucky just to be on the show’.

He said Strictly’s mass appeal made those who were in charge feel ‘untouchable’.

The allegations of former celebrity contestants has put pressure on BBC bosses to stamp out any bullying.

But Jane, a former TV package editor on Strictly, said: ‘I think it’s awful for the celebrities who suffered, but I think for the crew it’s a much bigger problem.’

She compared working in the edit suite with being a therapist.

She said: ‘Crew would come in and tell me about their experiences as we cut their .’

She said the crew had experienced ‘verbal abuse’ from some dancers, including ‘shouting, screaming and being insulted, to an extraordinary level’.

Others interviewed for the investigation offered a different story, however.

One choreographer, who still works on the show, said: ‘I have never ever seen any of what is being reported.

‘I have never had an issue with any dancers or staff, I love them and they are very kind and respect me lots.’

Sherlock actor Abbington first sparked the misconduct scandal last year after she claimed Giovanni Pernice left her with PTSD over his ‘bullying’ and ‘harsh’ training.

Pernice will not be returning to the BBC series amid an ongoing investigation into his alleged ‘abusive’ behaviour behind the scenes, which he denies.

It prompted former Love Island contestant and documentary maker McDermott to speak out about her experience with former partner Graziano Di Prima in the rehearsal room.

Di Prima was sacked from the show and publicly apologised for kicking his partner, He branded his abusive behaviour a ‘mistake’.

And TV presenter Whitmore said that she felt ‘extremely uncomfortable’ with Pernice and ‘cried every day’ during their time together on the show.

He is said to have not signed up to the new series after the scrutiny became ‘too much’ when three of his ex dance partners slammed his ‘militant’ approach.

It comes as the first celebrities have been announced for the next series of Strictly.

They include reality stars Tasha Ghouri and Pete Wicks, who were confirmed today.

The pair will join Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans, singer and actress Toyah Willcox, and blind comedian Chris McCausland.