Can Strictly get its groove back?

As a longtime fan and aficionado of the world of dance, I must say that the latest developments surrounding Strictly Come Dancing have left me feeling rather glum-footed. The allegations of mistreatment and poor working conditions have cast a shadow over this beloved show, which once brought joy and sparkle to my living room every weekend.

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Suppose we asked the 8.8 million viewers who tuned in for last December’s finale of Strictly Come Dancing to rate the show’s media coverage leading up to this week’s premiere of series 22 on a scale of 1-10. It is highly plausible that the scores would make judge Craig Revel Horwood seem almost compassionate, even at his most stern and controversy-stirring.

Back in the early part of this year, actress Amanda Abbington, who dropped out of the 2023 series during week five, claimed that her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, employed excessively rigorous training techniques. Despite his strong denial of these allegations, it was revealed by the BBC in June that he had parted ways with the series.

Dance professional Graziano Di Prima is also reported to be missing from the upcoming season, following allegations in July 2020 that he accidentally or carelessly struck his partner, reality TV personality Zara McDermott, during rehearsals the previous year. (He has neither confirmed nor denied direct physical contact.)

By July, when Paralympian Will Bayley asserted that the BBC had neglected their duty of care during an accident in 2019, even the most sympathetic and constructive fans (similar to Judge Motsi Mabuse in her gentle approach) would have found it difficult not to give them a failing grade.

As a movie reviewer, I found myself utterly captivated by the buzz surrounding the BBC’s annual report unveiling. Not long after, the director general, Tim Davie, acknowledged this palpable excitement in his address. The report, adorned with a striking image of 2023’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ champions Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, along with a special mention from Davie among the top BBC shows, had stirred quite the commotion. It was as if the dancefloor was alive with stamping feet, demanding attention.

Davie emphasized during an additional portion of his opening remarks that while we’ll have enjoyable moments, there will also be a strong sense of competition, dedication, and striving for success. This essence is what defines our show. However, it’s crucial to remember that there are boundaries, and they should never be overstepped.

During a question-and-answer session with journalists, Davie emphasized the BBC’s duty towards contestants and proposed strengthening measures for their protection. This sparked rumors about the possible addition of supervisors in the rehearsal rooms of Strictly.

These exchanges raised several questions. Where is the “line” and how does a participant know that they have gone over it? Will there be supervision of all rehearsals and what form might that take? And is it possible that what sounds like a #BeKind Strictly Come Dancing will mean some of the show’s appeal is lost?

The biggest problem – it seems to me – is an inherent tension in the Strictly format, which asks highly trained professional dancers to take amateurs – who range from West End hoofer to the utterly clueless – and do their best to avoid them being embarrassed on air. Most competitors want to go as far as possible and are financially incentivised to do so. So, isn’t it sometimes necessary for the pro dancers to be demanding and hard taskmasters? And isn’t the “line” inevitably subjective? One contestant’s “really pushed me hard today” may be another’s “they hurt and humiliated me”? How do you deal with that?

Ever since the unfavorable stories emerged, the BBC’s seemingly delicate handling of the topic would have earned perfect scores from judges. Part of this is inevitable: like other employers, the corporation is legally and conventionally bound not to disclose details about individual staff members’ disciplinary actions or the results of internal investigations.

On September 2nd, it was stated by “The Sun” that the BBC was in a hurry to finish its investigation into Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington to prevent any interference with their upcoming series, starting this coming Saturday. However, it appears that this prediction was made prematurely according to BBC sources, who also emphasized that the secrecy surrounding internal procedures must be maintained.

The professional dancers have a dilemma over how pro to go with the amateurs

It’s possible that reserve could stem from job-related concerns. However, the company might react defensively when confronted with queries that are valid and appropriate. Since the BBC wants and needs its license fee payers to be engaged with Strictly Come Dancing, they can hardly object if curiosity extends to how one of their consistent ratings assets will respond.

I reached out to the Strictly Come Dancing team with some questions, but in response to most inquiries, the BBC directed me towards recently established safeguarding guidelines. According to these guidelines, on the upcoming season there will be a production team member present throughout training room rehearsals at all times. Additionally, the 2024 payroll for the show is set to include two new positions focused on welfare support – a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer.

It appears that the BBC’s stance is that Strictly is more about light-hearted entertainment rather than something to be taken too seriously by dancers or contestants, as it could potentially cause distress. However, there’s a possibility that some participants, whether amateurs or professionals, view it as a rigorous evaluation of their dancing abilities – an aspect that might draw viewers in. So, are they perhaps operating on opposite ends of the “boundary” between fun and competition?

It’s reasonable to infer that the concept of a challenging training day for Olympians Tom Dean, Sam Quek, and Montell Douglas could be significantly distinct compared to that of actors Jamie Borthwick, Sarah Hadland, and TV doctor Punam Krishan. This difference might pose a conundrum for professional dancers when deciding how closely to partner with the amateur contestants. Additionally, they stand to gain financially and in media attention based on the progress made by the amateurs.

After Pernice and Di Prima leaving, could this year’s professionals choose a more cautious dance-like style (soft-shoe approach) to safeguard themselves? Might the harsh consequences experienced by Jermaine Jenas, who allegedly violated different rules concerning electronic communication with associates and was swiftly dismissed from Match of the Day and The One Show, serve as a reminder of the strict penalties that can follow such infractions?

The worry of some at the BBC I spoke to is that the application of a single behavioural code across all shows may overlook the fact that teaching someone with two left feet to rumba can involve a more rigorous approach than other broadcast preparation.

It appears that the BBC might have to stay agile to prevent disrupting one of their most beloved programs.

2024-09-11 15:35

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