Craig Revel Horwood has recently shared his astonishment over the ongoing Strictly Come Dancing scandal.
The 59-year-old judge, who has been with the show since it began, appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the controversy surrounding the hit dance series.
The drama began when Giovanni Pernice was suspended following allegations of abusive behavior by his celebrity partner, Amanda Abbington. Abbington described Pernice as “cruel and mean,” though Pernice denies these accusations.
The situation worsened with Graziano Di Prima’s dismissal after reports of verbal and physical abuse towards Zara McDermott. Di Prima has apologized for kicking McDermott but disputes other claims against him.
Horwood expressed his shock at the scandal, stating he learned about it from the press due to the separation between judges and contestants. “I’m completely gobsmacked,” he said.
“We don’t really get to know what happens in the rehearsal rooms since the judges are kept apart from the contestants.”
When asked by BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty about his own training experiences, Horwood revealed that he endured tough methods as a young dancer.
He recalled his Russian ballet teacher using a cane for corrections, a practice he acknowledges would not be acceptable today. “Training was hard back then,” he admitted. “Things have definitely changed over the past 40 years.”
Charlie Stayt, another BBC host, questioned Horwood about the impact of the allegations on the show. Horwood expressed concern but also noted the positive steps being taken, like having mediators and chaperones in rehearsal rooms.
“It’s good to have a third eye on the situation,” he said, referring to the increased oversight.
Backstage Workers Speak Out
The controversy deepened as backstage staff described the show’s environment as “toxic and cruel.” The Observer reported that production workers had faced invasive questions about their personal lives and experienced a tense workplace atmosphere.
However, the BBC has defended its practices, asserting that crew welfare is a priority and denying the claims of a negative workplace culture.
Amanda Abbington’s Claims and Giovanni Pernice’s Response
Amanda Abbington has been vocal about her experience, claiming that Giovanni Pernice tried to block access to 50 hours of footage she believes shows the toxic environment. She described the show as being like “the trenches” and said that she suffered PTSD from her experience.
Giovanni Pernice has strongly denied all accusations and urged people to await the conclusion of the review, dismissing the claims as unfounded.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Controversies
The scandal has continued to unfold with Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima both stepping down from the show amid the allegations.
Pernice faces accusations from Abbington and two unnamed contestants, while Di Prima was dismissed following allegations of mistreatment towards Zara McDermott.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing investigations and heated public discussions.
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