Secret Support Group Formed by Strictly Celebs Amid Pro Dancer Controversy

Former Strictly contestants are reportedly forming a ‘secret support group’ to discuss their experience with pro dancers on the show amid the latest scandals.

Celebrities have been ‘comparing notes and building cases’ against their previous partner to bring to BBC bosses, as more and more stars speak out.

The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni Pernice was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was ‘cruel and mean.’ He denies the claims.

It was followed by Graziano Di Prima’s sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals. Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it.’

As insiders fear the family show is ‘fatally tarnished’, it seems the list of allegations could be getting bigger as former celebs form an alliance.

A source told The Sun: ‘Lots of the celebrities that have been on the show are getting together, calling each other and WhatsApping each other.

‘They’re saying, “Well, this one did this to me, did this happen to you? Was this right? I was pushed. Or I got a bruised toe,” and building cases to what shouldn’t have been allowed. They’re all comparing notes, as it were.’

The source added: ‘So, it’s really the celebs versus the dancers and former dancers, who are all worried for their jobs now because the celebs have got back their power.’

It comes following reports BBC bosses are reportedly considering axing five of it’s longest- serving dancers.

A source told The Sun: ‘There’s the fear that being on the show leaves them more open to feeling entitled and untouchable’.

‘It’s not a done deal, and it’s not just going to be a case of the oldest or longest-serving being shown the door. It would be a carefully considered process, with other factors taken into account too.

Before adding: ‘The fact that the BBC are even considering making big changes and bringing in fresh blood is a sign of how keen they are to move on and make every effort to ensure nothing like this happens again’.

MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment at the time. 

It follows MailOnline’s exclusive that the show’s most senior boss’ job is under threat following the huge scandal that’s currently engulfing the hit BBC One ballroom show.

Suzy Lamb, who is in charge of all of BBC Studio’s entertainment programmes – including Strictly – is fighting for her role as the Corporation undergoes a restructure.

Sources inside the BBC suggest that fall out on the Saturday night dance series will ‘harm’ her chances of getting a newly merged job which she is fighting another colleague to win.

The Beeb will be merging Ms Lamb’s role as Managing Director of Entertainment and Music, with Hannah Wyatt’s job as Managing Director of Factual Entertainment ad Events Productions – leaving only one job open.

The new role will create a giant new unscripted division at BBC Studios which will oversee entertainment, music, factual and events.

Both women joined the corporation in 2017 but the feeling is that Ms Wyatt will get the newly greatly role.

Ms Lamb joined BBC Studios from production company Thames, where she was head of entertainment and launched Take Me Out with Paddy McGuinness as well as overseeing X-Factor.

A source said: ‘The Strictly scandal has been very damaging to Suzy. She’s the top boss so the buck stops with her. There’s clearly been a culture behind the scenes on the show, and with every former contestant that speaks out, it all comes back to Suzy.’

Meanwhile questions have been raised over whether Strictly will survive as Janette Manrara has broken her silence after Paralympian Will Bayley claimed she made him redo a jump that caused a lifelong injury – amid the latest drama for the ‘fatally tarnished’ show

A BBC spokesperson for the It Takes Two host said the professional dancer has never received any complaints regarding her training methods.

Table tennis player Will, 36, claimed he sustained a lifelong injury while jumping during a performance on the show and blamed his then-partner Janette.

A representative for Janette told the BBC: ‘Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was doing their contemporary couples choice. 

‘Her celebrity partner’s safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly. 

‘Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.’

Will was born with arthrogryposi
s which limits the range of motion in the joints of his limbs and completed the move with straight knees. He opened up about the daily pain he suffers from over the weekend. 

A resurfaced clip aired during that year’s live shows has shown the devastating moment Will was curled up on the floor in pain after the jump.

The video heard Tess explaining that Will had been injured and would not be dancing that week, as it cut to the sportsman lying on the floor in agony with a medic crouched down helping with first aid.

Janette was also seen visibly distressed as she sat comforting her celebrity partner. In a later part of the video, Janette was herself consoled by fellow professional dancer Nancy Xu. 

‘I jumped off the table and as I landed, I landed with straight legs,’ Will said in the VT at the time. 

‘I thought I’d broke my leg because I’d never felt anything like it before but luckily it’s not as severe as what I thought when I first did it. 

‘To hear the words I “absolutely can’t dance” is just really gutting for me but I need to recover now and come back even stronger next week.’ 

Will was given a week’s pass before he had to withdraw from the competition completely when his injury meant he would have to miss another live show. 

Recalling the ‘horrific pain’ he experienced as he crashed to the ground, the gold medallist, admitted he thought ‘his whole career was over.