The 2024 season of Strictly Come Dancing is due to launch in little over a week's time - but the show is set to return under a thundercloud of abuse controversy
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has insisted the 2024 season will be as fun filled and glitzy as ever - despite the show being steeped in controversy.
A dark cloud has been hanging over the hit BBC show all year after 2023 celebrity contestant Amanda Abbington, 50, launched a complaint about it. The Sherlock actress has claimed she endured abusive behaviour at the hands of her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33 - an allegation he has strenuously denied.
Her accusation sparked a flood of similar complaints from fellow former celebrity and professional participants, creating an impression that the light entertainment show harbours a deeply toxic work atmosphere behind-the-scenes. The show is set to return for its 22nd season on Saturday 14 September, but it seems those that are fronting the series are continuing as though everything is still sunshine and rainbows.
Strictly judge Anton, 58, has insisted that all is well behind-the-scenes of the troubled show, and has vowed that fans will see as much glitz and glamour as they would usually expect. He did gloss over the abrupt exit of Giovanni and fellow professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, who both exited the series following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Appearing on ITV’s Loose Women on Thursday to discuss the show's imminent return, Anton gushed: “It will feel magnificent, it won’t feel different at all. It’s going to be brilliant, you’ve got a whole new cast."
He continued: “When you turn up for the launch show on the 14th and you get your partner, and you get asked, and then you go this is fabulous, I’ve got to tell everyone, and then you get measured up for a few frocks. And then you meet your partner, and you go oh I’m so glad I’ve got you, random, I don’t know why they’re all brilliant."
He went on: “Then you go off and that’s it and now you don’t see anything else, it’s just focusing on the first show hour after hour, the nerves build up, but it’s so exciting. The whole thing is like a tsunami, it’s like a juggernaut, this thing that rolls forward, and you’ve just got to go with it, and you just run as fast as you can."
And he added: “You come out on the first show and away you go, you dance and you hope you win, by winning, you get through to next week, every week from week one, 14 people win and one person loses.”
The BBC has reportedly been conducting an investigation into Amanda's claims and had hoped to reach a conclusion ahead of the 2024 season beginning. However, the investigation was reportedly complicated last week when it was claimed Giovanni had tried to contact Amanda during the investigation process, sparking fears the investigation will need to continue and consider new evidence. Giovanni has vehemently denied all abuse claims.
Meanwhile, Graziano was not included in the 2024 line-up of professionals after he admitted he kicked his 2023 celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, 27. The new season sees a host of sport stars, acting talent, and reality stars preparing to compete for the glitterball trophy, including Olympian Sam Quek, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, and Towie star Pete Wicks.
