July 21st 2024.
In 2019, Janette Manrara and Will Bayley were paired up as dance partners on the hit BBC series, Strictly Come Dancing. However, Will has recently come forward to criticize the show for the way he was treated during his time on the show.
According to Will, his partner Janette allegedly told him that a jump in one of their routines was "rubbish" during rehearsals. This led to Will pushing himself too hard and ultimately tearing his knee ligaments in an attempt to improve. He is not the first celebrity to speak out about their negative experiences on the show, as Zara McDermott and Amanda Abbington have also shared their concerns.
The incident was a turning point for Will, who had to pull out of the show after only six weeks. Even to this day, he still feels the effects of the injury, experiencing pain in the morning and not being able to train for more than a couple of hours.
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Will has now spoken out about his perception of how things were handled during his time on the show. He has expressed that the injury still causes him pain and that he hopes no one else will have to go through the same experience. "I think the show thought they were being inclusive by casting me, but I actually felt pressured," he stated to The Sun.
The incident occurred during a routine where Will fell off a table and heard his leg crack. He experienced "horrific pain" and was unable to continue practicing. Will had previously expressed concerns about the choreography, but it is claimed that his coach and the show ignored his concerns.
After the accident, Will was taken to a hotel and given ice instead of being taken to a hospital. The following day, he was asked to attempt some dance moves, despite still being in pain. It wasn't until two days later, when he was seen by medical professionals at a hospital, that he was told to pull out of the competition.
The injury has had a lasting effect on Will, who said, "I'll never get over that injury – you have it for life." He also expressed feeling like it was his fault and that the show's bosses made him feel that way.
It's important to note that Will does not blame his partner Janette for the injury. He believes that she was under a lot of pressure from the show's bosses and that it was their pushing that caused the accident. "I feel she could have protected me more, but I didn't have an issue with her. It was mentally hard, and I didn't want to let her down," he added.
Will underwent surgery in 2020, which was paid for by the broadcaster, to aid his recovery. However, he struggled with depression and fears that his sporting career was over. He even had to see a therapist through Paralympics GB. "I was scared about the future, it was awful, and I never once heard from anyone at Strictly," he said.
Will has also alleged that the BBC did not grant his request for loss of earnings compensation and has now added his complaint to the investigation into the series. He claims a lack of duty of care and has also mentioned being left out of a show WhatsApp group, feeling like he was made to feel lucky to be a part of Strictly compared to others, such as Jamie Laing.
When approached for a comment, a BBC spokesperson stated that they have protocols in place for dealing with injuries and that contestants receive all necessary treatment and support when needed.
Despite his experience on Strictly, Will is looking forward to competing in the Paris Paralympics next month. He has been training hard and is determined to do his best. His two children, Bella and Grace, will be cheering him on from the sidelines.
In other Strictly news, it was recently announced that professional dancer Graziano Di Prima has left the show after six years. There have also been reports of "physical incidents" involving him and his 2023 partner, Zara. Another pro dancer, Giovanni Pernice, is also under investigation after his most recent partner, Amanda Abbington, left the show after only five weeks, claiming she was left with PTSD. However, Pernice denies any wrongdoing.
The BBC has since announced that they will be taking measures to ensure the welfare of their dancers, such as monitoring dance rehearsals and having a production team member present during training room rehearsals at all times.
The Agency has reached out to Janette Manrara's representatives for comment, and we will update this story if we receive a response.
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