STRICTLY Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has broken her silence amid the show's bullying probe and declared that 'serious incidents risks destroying' the programme.
Janette, 40, has lifted the lid on her thoughts just as her husband Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, makes a controversial return to the BBC dance floor.
Professional dancer Aljaz is making a comeback for the new series of Strictly despite claims of a “shocking” altercation with a female professional.
Janette has spoken openly about the cloud hanging over Strictly in a new podcast and says she supports people who speak out about bullying in the workplace.
However, the dancer has also shared her fears over "the wonderful things" Strictly has done being "destroyed" by 'very serious incidents'.
Janette spoke out on the latest episode of Postcards Of Midlife podcast, saying: "I think when you hear and read the things you've been reading lately, of course you can't feel for the people involved.
"First and foremost, I have to say that people should not be afraid to talk. If you feel something is wrong, or if you feel uncomfortable or if you're in a bullying situation, especially at work, you shouldn't be afraid to talk.
"So I'm very happy that the people who have spoken, have spoken because it's important to feel they can speak.
"Then second to that, it's so hard when you see things online that are trying to destroy all the wonderful stuff that Strictly has brought.
"The show is growing. Of course, times are changing. You can't expect behaviours that are not acceptable now to have been the same 20 years ago.
"We're still learning and accepting pronouns and the correct way to speak to people and what is the correct etiquette in certain situations.
"We are evolving as human beings very quickly and we are learning a lot about who we are and Strictly Come Dancing is no different.
"It's a statement of us being humans. It's people doing the show, it's not a machine. Although it looks and acts like a machine because of how brilliantly it has done, but it's people who are doing this."
Janette added: "I think for me personally, it's important people don't forget all the wonderful things that Strictly has brought over the last 20 years. Because 99 per cent of it is positive.
"And then you have incidents of things that come up that are very serious and should be brought up and should be looked at, but not at the detriment of destroying all the wonderful things that the show has done.
A source said: "They’ve also looked at his BBC contract and believe there are grounds to sue."
Meanwhile, the BBC also delayed releasing the findings of the probe into Giovanni Pernice. The Sun revealed that the results of the three-month investigation were unlikely to be announced in August.
"So, I really hope that people still tune in and still love the show and still appreciate what Strictly is trying to do and has been trying to do for the last 20 years.
"And then hopefully we can move forward and the people involved and women involved can have closure and feel that they have been listened to and treated appropriately in these situations."
Janette has not mentioned the specific allegations made against her husband Aljaz in the podcast.
The Sun previously told how the Slovenian, 34, agreed to go after a fiery incident on a boozy night out on the 2022 live tour.
The BBC, however, has denied an official complaint was made over the incident.
Meanwhile, the BBC is due to announce the findings of the internal investigation into Giovanni Pernice’s case within days.
The Italian dancer quit the show over his own abuse claims earlier this year. He denies any wrongdoing.
Fellow Italian dancer, Graziano Di Prima, was dumped by the show for kicking dance partner Zara McDermott.
