The BBC is reportedly to make a huge change to Strictly Come Dancing behind the scenes in the aftermath of the Giovanni Pernice debacle.
As the show gears up for another edition that will kick off in the autumn, BBC bosses have brought in a massive change that will keep the drama away from the show. It comes following allegations of “abuse” and “misconduct” that were made by actress Amanda Abbington against her professional partner Gio, 33, which he strongly denies.
In the wake of the allegations, the BBC reportedly had several crisis meetings with producers to ensure that their participants are still looked after during filming. These include both the celebrities and the professional dancers themselves.
READ MORE: Strictly confirms Giovanni Pernice’s fate for 2024 series after ‘bullying’ accusations
READ MORE: Join the Daily Star Soaps WhatsApp for all the latest spoilers and exclusives
As a result, the BBC is launching a new “duty of care package” to the show to make sure that the show’s dancers are respected and listened to. It also will help to de-escalate any potential conflicts that could crop up during the course of the series.
(Image: PA)
As part of the new care measures being brought in, stars of the show will have the chance to speak to on-call counsellors, post-show therapy and cameras to film training fully in case there are any issues or conflict with their partners.
Should they also be needed, celebrities and professionals alike can also request for a chaperone to events including training so that the stars of the show can continue to feel safe. As well as this, psychological testing will be introduced to help the stars adapt to dealing with the stream of constant media attention.
To help with the implementation of this new scheme, a duty of care executive will be brought in for the next series to keep an eye on how things progress. As well as this, the BBC’s wider programmes will also be affected, as all reality shows will have similar training brought in to keep the focus on the safety of those taking part.
(Image: PA)
Speaking to The Sun, an insider for the BBC said: “Strictly is the jewel in the crown of their schedule, and upwards of 10million people tune in weekly. That’s a lot of pressure for everyone involved.
“The BBC is under enormous pressure to ensure this series goes without a hitch,” the source added. “Cameras will be installed pretty much everywhere and a counsellor will be on call 24/7.”
Kate Phillips, the Director for Unscripted Shows at the BBC said that it “takes its duty of care incredibly seriously”. She added that the company are “always looking at ways to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of contributors”.
(Image: PA)
It comes in the wake of the Giovanni Pernice scandal, which saw several of the star’s former partners come forward with allegations of misconduct. Amongst those who have raised complaints are Laura Whitmore, Amanda Abbington and Ranvir Singh.
The trio claimed that the Italian’s training methods went “too far” and that they were left scarred by their experiences on the show. Pernice vehemently denies all allegations made against him and has instructed a top lawyer firm to defend him in the case.
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
