As a long-time admirer of Strictly Come Dancing, I must confess that this year’s prelude has left me somewhat perplexed and slightly concerned. The series, which has always been a beacon of entertainment and camaraderie, seems to have found itself in the midst of a storm of allegations and investigations.
If we hypothetically asked the 8.8 million viewers who watched the Strictly Come Dancing finale in December to rate the show’s media coverage before this week’s start of series 22 on a scale of 1 to 10, it’s safe to say that the scores would make Judge Craig Revel Horwood appear unusually lenient, even considering his reputation for being harsh.
In the realm of television this year, I found myself reviewing a show where Amanda Abbington, an exceptional actor, had to exit the 2023 series mid-way through week five. The reason? Allegations she made against her professional dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, concerning his rigorous and arguably unfair training techniques. Despite Giovanni vehemently denying these claims, it was announced in June that he had chosen to part ways with the series.
Dance pro Graziano Di Prima is set to miss the upcoming season as well, following media reports in July 2021 that he inadvertently struck his partner, reality TV personality Zara McDermott, during practice sessions the previous year. (He admits to physical contact but insists it was unintentional or clumsy.)
By the time Paralympian Will Bayley claimed in July that BBC had failed to provide care when he was injured during training in 2019, even the most compassionate and constructive members of the fanbase (comparable to lenient judge Motsi Mabuse) would have found it challenging not to give a rating of zero.
As a movie critic, I found myself captivated by the palpable excitement surrounding the BBC’s latest production, with Strictly Come Dancing 2023 champions Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola gracing the cover of their annual report. The director-general, Tim Davie, even acknowledged them in his list of top BBC shows. Yet, as he presented this report, it was evident that the thunderous applause from both the public and media echoed like stamping feet on a dancefloor, compelling him to acknowledge and address this groundswell of enthusiasm.
During the event, there will be an element of competition, dedication, and striving for success, according to Davie. This is a key aspect that contributes to the essence of the show. However, it’s important to remember that boundaries exist, and they must never be overstepped.
In response to queries from reporters, Davie underscored the BBC’s obligations towards contestants and proposed heightened protection measures. Consequently, speculations arose about the potential presence of supervisors or guardians during Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals.
This interaction has sparked several inquiries. What defines the boundary, and how can one tell if they’ve crossed it? Will every rehearsal be monitored, and what could the supervision look like? Is there a chance that a #BeKind version of Strictly Come Dancing might diminish some of its charm?
The primary challenge, as I see it, lies in the unique dynamic of Strictly Come Dancing. This show requires skilled professionals to guide amateurs, ranging from seasoned performers to those completely unaware, without causing them unnecessary embarrassment on live television. Many contestants aim for maximum progress and are motivated financially to do so. Therefore, aren’t pro dancers sometimes required to be firm and challenging? And isn’t the boundary between encouragement and discomfort subjective? One participant might perceive a tough day as pushing them hard, while another may feel they were hurt and humiliated. How do you manage such disparities in perception?
Ever since the unfavorable news stories emerged, the BBC’s seemingly cautious approach towards the topic has been nothing short of flawless according to critics. To some extent, this caution is inevitable: much like other organizations, the corporation is legally and conventionally bound not to disclose details about individual staff members’ disciplinary actions or findings from internal investigations.
On September 2nd, The Sun published an article stating that the BBC was rushing to finish its investigation into Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington, in order to prevent their story from overshadowing the upcoming series, which premieres this Saturday. However, it seems that the newspaper may have jumped the gun with this prediction, as sources within the BBC indicated that the timeline for the conclusion of the inquiry was likely off base. The BBC also emphasized the need to maintain confidentiality regarding their internal procedures.
It’s possible for reluctance to stem from job-related confidentiality concerns. However, the company might react too cautiously when confronted with queries that are valid and reasonable. Since the BBC relies heavily on viewers’ interest in Strictly Come Dancing to maintain its license fee, it can hardly object if this curiosity extends to speculating about one of its top-rated stars.
Instead of directly posing my questions to the Strictly Come Dancing team, the BBC directed me towards recently issued safeguarding guidelines for future series. As per these guidelines, there will be a production member present in training room rehearsals at all times. Furthermore, the payroll for 2024’s show will include two new roles: a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer, both focused on providing support for the cast’s well-being.
It appears that the BBC portrays Strictly as a light-hearted, non-stressful event where participants shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. However, there’s a risk that some dancers and contestants might view it as a rigorous evaluation of their dancing abilities – which could be part of its allure for viewers. In essence, are they on opposite ends of the spectrum regarding the show’s purpose?
Among the 2024 participants, it’s reasonable to think that what constitutes a tough training day for Olympians Tom Dean, Sam Quek, and Montell Douglas could be significantly distinct from that of actors Jamie Borthwick, Sarah Hadland, and TV doctor Punam Krishan. This difference might create a quandary for the professional dancers as they decide how closely to pair with the amateurs. Additionally, they stand to gain financially and in media exposure based on how far the amateurs advance.
After the departures of Pernice and Di Prima, could this season’s professionals opt for a more cautious “tap dancing” strategy as a form of self-preservation? Might the harsh consequences faced by Jermaine Jenas, who allegedly violated different rules concerning electronic communication with colleagues and was swiftly dismissed from Match of the Day and The One Show, serve as a stern reminder of the need for such prudence?
One concern raised by some at the BBC is that enforcing a unified behavioral guideline for all programs might inadvertently disregard the fact that instructing an individual who’s clumsy, like teaching someone with two left feet to rumba, could require a more meticulous approach compared to other show preparations.
It appears that the BBC might have to stay agile to prevent disrupting one of their top-rated series.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 starts Saturday 14th September at 7:20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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2024-09-13 20:34