BBC Concludes Review of Strictly Come Dancing Complaints

The BBC has completed its investigation into complaints made by actress Amanda Abbington against professional dancer Giovanni Pernice during their time on Strictly Come Dancing. The investigation, which took several months due to its complexity, concluded with some of the complaints being upheld.

In a statement released today, the BBC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards on the popular dance competition show. Strictly Come Dancing is a family show, and we rightly expect very high standards,” the statement said. While competition can be tough, rigorous, and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience.

The BBC acknowledged that the experience may not have been positive for all participants, expressing regret over the situation. It is a great shame if this hasn’t been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show,” the statement added.

The broadcaster thanked Amanda Abbington for raising her concerns and participating in the review process. While specific details of the upheld complaints were not disclosed, the BBC admitted that measures taken at the time to address the issues were “not enough.

In response to the findings, the BBC has implemented extensive new duty-of-care measures for the show, which include:

1. A production team member is present during all training room rehearsals.
2. Two new welfare support roles: Celebrity Welfare Producer and Professional Dancer Welfare Producer.
3. Additional training for professional dancers, production staff, and crew.
4. 15 training room observers to complete daily logs on breaks, warm-ups, and rest periods.
5. Weekly welfare meetings with senior staff and BBC executives.
6. Pre-series psychological reviews and mental health screenings for all participants.
7. Workshops on show culture and expected behaviour for all staff.
8. A formal exit interview process.

The BBC stated that these measures build upon existing protocols and that they will “always look at whether there is more we should do” to ensure the well-being of everyone involved in the show.