September 18th 2024.
A former star of the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing has recently expressed his opinion on the recent controversies surrounding the show. In a joking manner, he called on the BBC to refrain from hiring Italian dancers. This comes after two professional dancers left the show amidst allegations of bullying and abuse.
The allegations surfaced in May when Giovanni Pernice, a 34-year-old dancer, abruptly quit the show after being accused by his former partner, Amanda Abbington, of bullying and abusive behavior. Pernice has denied these allegations. The BBC conducted an internal investigation, which has yet to release its findings to the public. A few months later, another Italian dancer, Graziano Di Prima, departed the show after facing similar allegations from his former partner, Zara McDermott.
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Ian Waite, a former pro dancer on the show, joined the discussion on the recent controversies during an interview on the Stripping Off with Matt Haycox podcast. Waite, who appeared on the series from 2004 to 2010, joked that all Italian dancers should now be banned from taking part in the show.
He shared his shock and surprise at the allegations, stating that during his time on Strictly, he never experienced anything like that. He did mention that there were times of disagreements and even shouting matches with previous dance partners, but it was for a good reason. Waite also pointed out the lack of clear rules and guidelines for pro dancers when it comes to interacting with their celebrity partners.
He emphasized the importance of respect and boundaries in any work environment, including the TV industry. Waite also mentioned that it can be challenging to prove or disprove these allegations when there is no concrete evidence.
Other Italian dancers who have appeared on Strictly include Vito Coppola, Flavia Cacace, and Vincent Simone. After leaving Strictly, Waite joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars Australia and recently won his second season with actress Lisa McCune.
Strictly Come Dancing continues to air on BBC One on Saturday nights at 7pm. If you have a celebrity story or news to share, you can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by email, phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you!
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