Strictly Come Dancing dealt major blow as top boss 'quits after scandals' liennhi
Strictly Come Dancing has seen multiple scandals during the tenure of a celeb booker for the show
The BBC has reportedly seen the loss of one of its full-time talent executives amid multiple ongoing scandals. The long-serving member booked celebs for Strictly Come Dancing, and saw multiple shock events during her tenure.
Stefania Aleksander worked on the show for seven years, but is said to be moving over to ITV to work on Soccer Aid.
An insider suggested that Stefania’s move could be linked to the scandals that happened during her time on Strictly, but the BBC slammed the idea as “unfair.” The Mirror has contacted the BBC for comment.
The source claimed the major incidents that happened during Stefania's time booking the stars involved, including Seann Walsh and Katya Jones affair, the Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice bullying scandal, Graziano Di Prima’s alleged ‘kicking’ of Zara McDermott, and, most recently, Wynne Evans’ tour axing after alleged ‘sexual remarks’.
Stefania Aleksander (right) has worked with the BBC for seven years, but an insider suggested she may have been linked to 'poor signing' of stars after multiple feuds and incidents(Image: BAFTA via Getty Images)
“Stefania worked on the series for a long time and she came under increasing pressure over the last couple of years,” an insider told The Sun. “It’s not that these situations were Stefania’s fault, but they happened during her tenure recruiting the celebrities,” the source said after listing the above scandals.
The insider suggested that the most recent scandal - Wynne Evans - was viewed as a “poor signing” choice causing the fallout. “There’s been a lot of discussion behind the scenes at the BBC over how that came about,” they claimed.
The BBC blasted the suggestion that Stefania was blamed for the scandals - or even leaving Strictly at all - in a statement given to the outlet.
The broadcaster said: “Stefania remains a pivotal member of the Strictly production team, has already been involved with the upcoming series, and will return to work part-time on the show later in the summer.
“She stepped away from what is a full-time role to spend more time being a new mum and to suggest she has temporarily left Strictly for any other reason is false and unfair.”
While the last season of Strictly ended before Christmas, the drama surrounding it still isn't over even months later. Alongside being dropped from the tour, Wynne has also reportedly lost the GoCompare job that made him a household name.
Wynne's losses came after he was filmed making a lewd remark to tour host Janette Manrara at a photocall during the launch in Birmingham, and months later he's focused on clearing his name.
The opera star apologised at the time, but alongside stepping back from the tour was also suspended from his BBC Wales radio show.
Sources close to the star claim he fears he's been "wronged" by the conversation surrounding him, and that the comments have been taken out of context. They added that his legal team have complied a document of 30 pages in a bid to clear his name of any wrongdoing.
