Craig Revel Horwood, one of the judges on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, has expressed his surprise at allegations that have surfaced regarding the show’s professional dancers. The allegations include claims made against two former dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima. Despite the severity of the allegations, Revel Horwood said that he and his fellow judges were kept “very, very separate” from the dancers and would “wait and see” the outcome of investigations into the matter.
Last week Di Prima’s spokesman apologised for kicking his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, during rehearsals, while Pernice vehemently denied any suggestion of threat or abuse. Both dancers have been left off this year’s line-up, and the show’s producers have taken steps to introduce new welfare practices, including placing a member of production staff at rehearsals and appointing two new welfare producers.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Revel Horwood stated he supported the introduction of chaperones, having seen such practices in the theatre. He conceded that the proliferation of welfare professionals, including psychologists, on such shows was indicative of changes happening in wider society.
However, the show’s reputation has been tarnished by claims made against Pernice and Di Prima. The disgraced former dancers have been linked to various incidents, including difficulties experienced by last year’s assigned partner, Amanda Abbington. McDermott, who partnered with Di Prima, has also made allegations against the dancer. Her representative claimed that such conduct was not a singular incident
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