Former Strictly winner Bill Bailey says he never witnessed anything that let him to believe the BBC dance show had a ‘toxic culture’ during his time behind the scenes
Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey has spoken out about recent allegations surrounding the show’s off-camera culture, and says he never witnessed anything of concern during his time on the programme.
The comedian and musician lifted the Glitterball trophy in 2020 alongside professional dancer Oti Mabuse, during a series which was heavily impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. Bill has addressed the ongoing controversy, insisting he was unaware of any behind-the-scenes issues.
In recent years, the long-running BBC dance competition has been plagued by allegations of misconduct and bullying involving both contestants and professionals. It comes after Strictly’s Anton Du Beke shared heartbreak over wife’s ‘cruel and inexplicable’ diagnosis.
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However, Bill has given a short response to the allegations of a ‘toxic culture’ as he told The Times: “I don’t know anything about it to be honest. We were under Covid protocols. There was no carousing.”
In 2023, an independent investigation upheld complaints of verbal bullying by Giovanni Pernice towards his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington, although the most serious claims of physical aggression were not substantiated. Fellow professional Graziano Di Prima also publicly apologised after kicking Zara McDermott during rehearsals that same year.
While these incidents have drawn significant media attention, Bill’s experience on the show paints a different picture. He described his time on the programme as physically gruelling but ultimately positive.
He explained: “It was hard. It’s physically quite a tough thing to do and I don’t think sometimes people realise what it takes to train. Certainly there’s a lot of pressure on the pros to come up with the goods. It’s a big gig, Strictly. There’s a lot of pressure to choreograph, to look good.”
He also spoke about the high expectations that are placed on the professional dancers, adding: “A lot of dancers then become very well known in their own right. They get book deals and they appear on shows and it’s a big thing. It’s a big show.”
While Bill didn’t personally witness any bad behaviour, some behind-the-scenes staff have described a less supportive environment. In reports shared with BBC News, unnamed runners claimed they were subjected to verbal abuse, mood swings and shouting by certain dancers and celebrities. One runner claimed: “I think it’s awful for the celebrities who suffered, but I think for the crew it’s a much bigger problem.”
A BBC Studios spokesperson responded to the allegations, saying: “The welfare and safety of our crew on each series has always been, and remains, our utmost priority.” They added that the claims “do not reflect the experience of the hundreds of production personnel who have worked on Strictly over the past 21 years.”
Meanwhile, excitement is building ahead of the new series, with rumours swirling about who will be taking to the dancefloor this autumn. According to reports, trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein has signed up as one of this year’s contestants.
Ellie, 23, made history as the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 2023 and has also been honoured with her own Barbie doll.
A source told The Sun: “Ellie is thrilled to be taking part in Strictly. She has broken down so many barriers in her career… and can’t wait to show people what she can do.” They added that the BBC is “incredibly proud” of the signing and believes she “could go all the way”.
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