It’s one of the most adored shows on TV, but Strictly Come Dancing is currently in the midst of a media storm, after two pro dancers were axed from the show due to behind-the-scenes clashes and unacceptable behaviour toward their celebrity partners.
Actress Amanda Abbington sparked the furore when she quit the last series after just five weeks. An investigation was launched into her partner Giovanni Pernice’s training methods. He was then axed from the show, before it emerged that pro dancer Graziano di Prima would also not return to the show, with reality star Zara McDermott later claiming she had an “incredibly distressing” experience with him.
Reports then claimed a third Strictly star – who was no longer part of the show – was being investigated. Historic complaints made by celebs– such as Steve Backshall’s against Ola Jordan and Paralympian Will Bayley’s about how training left him with a life-long injury – were also dredged up, sparking debate as to whether the feel-good BBC show had a darker side to it.
And last week, even former dancer and now Strictly judge Anton du Beke was drawn into the drama, with reports saying he’s under investigation over “serious misconduct”, after making a racist comment when partnered with actress Laila Rouass on the show in 2009 – which he had apologised for, and she had accepted, at the time.
Now Vanessa Feltz – who starred on the show in 2013 and was partnered with James Jordan – reveals how she is devastated by the ongoing scandal. Vanessa, 66, tells Closer, “The whole thing is a terrible shame. I was totally shocked by it. Strictly is a show loved by millions and it’s a kind of comforting, beautiful escape from things that are difficult. So it’s a shame this has happened, it’s a shame celebrities may have been subjected to abuse and ignored, the whole thing is a shame.
“What’s difficult, though, is that until we see the footage, we still don’t know what really happened. It’s not clear who did what and to whom, or how severe it was. Obviously, nobody – absolutely nobody – should hit anybody or spit at anyone or kick anyone under any circumstances, ever, in any environment. But was it a case of a foot being out of place, and another foot moving it into place? Dancing is physical, so if someone’s positioning isn’t right, it’s only natural to physically move things. But, while it’s not clear what went on, some of what’s been reported between Graziano and Zara does seem unacceptable. At the end of the day, Strictly is a TV show, not an international dancing competition.”
Over the years, Vanessa has starred on multiple reality shows, including Celebrity Big Brother and Celebs Go Dating. But she says that Strictly was the most high-pressured of them all. She says, “Strictly, as an experience, was brilliant – you are like a family – but it’s an incredibly intense atmosphere. You train incredibly hard to dance perfectly for 14 million people to watch you on a Saturday night. You’re racing against the clock to perform a flawless and faultless dance – there’s nowhere to hide. And so it’s a pressure cooker environment and the pros are searching for a feverish level of perfection.”
But Vanessa says there was never any negativity or toxicity in the air between her and partner James – who, along with his wife Ola, she now counts as close pals.
“I think people thought James and I – as we’re both big characters – would rub each other up the wrong way, but in fact we got on famously. I really wasn’t very good, but James was incredibly patient, never got annoyed, and showed me how to do things 20 times if I’d need to – and even then I’d usually forget it. He’d even bring Ola in to help if I still couldn’t get something. And James and Ola are now very good friends of mine. In fact, I was one of the first people Ola told when she was pregnant!
“Maybe it was because James never thought I’d have any chance of winning, which he was right about. But it really did seem to be the same with every other couple in my series. I never sensed any tension whatsoever. In fact, the opposite was happening – it was the year Rachel Riley and Pacha met! And Debra Meaden and the late Robin Windsor adored each other.”
Vanessa says that while there were no tensions in her season, she can understand why – as happened with Zara McDermott, who has only shared her negative experience recently – celebrities may be reluctant to speak out against the show if there are issues.
She says, “I can understand, because it’s such a beloved show and everyone on it feels like family. It’s a unique experience. You don’t want to be the person who derails Strictly, because people love it so much. You don’t want to burst the beautiful bubble.”
The show has been marred by controversy in the past, with the legendary “Strictly curse” dominating headlines. But the latest accusations are the first to warrant an apology from the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, who also revealed that they had now appointed “welfare producers” dedicated to the wellbeing of the cast.
But when asked whether this could be the downfall of Strictly, Vanessa says, “Absolutely not. This is not enough to kill off something so huge, so successful and so beloved. It’s just a terrible shame there have been some bad apples. The show is so lucrative for the BBC – it has millions of viewers and makes so much money. It is the jewel in the BBC’s crown. I don’t think it’s in any danger at all.
“It’s great that they’ve said they are ramping up their duty of care and have a member of the production team present at all times, to keep an eye. I think professionals need to ensure they are tolerant, sympathetic and patient with their partners.
“I don’t think they’ll have trouble signing up celebrities in the future – it’s still thought of as a huge honour, and an incredible thing to do for most people. And it’s an opportunity to ramp up fame and career opportunities.”
She adds, “Strictly is a pressure cooker, a cauldron of ambition and determination and it’s a difficult environment. But that’s never an excuse to take it too far.”