August 26th 2024.
According to recent reports, the BBC has decided to reduce the budget for their popular show, Strictly Come Dancing. This decision comes amidst ongoing investigations into allegations of bullying within the show. In light of these investigations, the show has chosen to allocate the saved funds towards increasing welfare measures for all involved, in preparation for the highly anticipated 20th season.
However, this news has been met with mixed reactions from fans following the announcement of the full line-up for the upcoming season. Some fans have expressed disappointment at the gender imbalance of nine male celebrities to six female stars, feeling that the line-up lacks diversity and is heavily male-dominated. This criticism comes in the wake of the recent bullying scandal, which involved former female contestants speaking out about their experiences on the show.
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On a separate note, professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has denied allegations of being "nasty" to his former partner, Amanda Abbington. Another dancer, Graziano Di Prima, has also denied accusations of abusive behavior towards his former partner, Zara McDermott. He explained that during a routine, his foot accidentally brushed against Zara's, and he never intended to kick her. Both dancers have since left the show, and the investigation into the allegations is still ongoing.
According to sources, the decision to cut the budget was made due to the increasing costs of chaperones and welfare producers, as well as the uncertainty of how much the bullying scandal will cost the show. This has led to the show making cuts to the cast, resulting in a cheaper line-up than previous years. However, a BBC spokesperson has assured fans that they are excited about this year's line-up and that the casting process aims to have a diverse range of celebrities from different backgrounds.
Among the upcoming contestants, there are a few lesser-known faces that have caused some controversy. Television Dr Punam Krishan and former Love Island contestant Tasha Ghouri have been met with criticism from fans who feel they aren't recognizable enough to be contestants on the show. However, there are also well-known names such as Towie's Pete Wicks, comedian Chris McCausland, Go Compare singer Wynne Evans, and JLS singer JB Gill, who will be competing for the coveted glitterball trophy.
It has been reported that the highest paid contestants this year are Nick Knowles and Paul Merson. This news also follows Amanda Abbington's claims that she was bullied by Giovanni Pernice during her time on the show. The source also mentioned that this year's line-up is one of the cheapest ever, which has disappointed audiences who have grown accustomed to high-profile celebrities in recent years.
In contrast, a BBC spokesperson has stated that the show is always looking for a diverse mix of celebrities from various backgrounds and that there is no strict rule regarding the gender split. They also announced a big change for the upcoming season, making it the most accessible yet. For the first time ever, Strictly will be live-signed, with a British sign language interpreter available on BBC iPlayer and the red button.
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