Strictly professional Nikita Kuzmin has revealed that rehearsals for the upcoming series ‘start in just five days time’ despite the ongoing abuse probes.
The Strictly Come Dancing crisis has deepened in recent days, with Graziano Di Prima battling further allegations that he was ‘aggressive’ towards Zara McDermott.
Graziano, 30, was axed from the upcoming series over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara, 27, during last year’s competition.
This came after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended from the show last month over claims of off-camera misconduct – which he denies – made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.
But despite the ongoing investigations, The Sun reported on Friday that Ukrainian dancer Nikita, 26, revealed he was getting ready to head back into the Strictly Come Dancing training room ‘in five days time’.
Strictly professional Nikita Kuzmin has revealed that rehearsals for the upcoming series ‘start in just five days time’ despite the ongoing abuse probes, according to The Sun on Friday
The Strictly Come Dancing crisis has deepened in recent days, with Graziano Di Prima battling further allegations that he was ‘aggressive’ towards Zara McDermott
Nikita made the comment while performing his last show with Layton Williams, where he confirmed he was preparing to meet his new celebrity partner.
There was yet more drama for Strictly over the weekend as Amanda lodged new complaints, a female dancer was revealed to be facing allegations of bullying.
Speaking in her first interview since quitting Strictly Come Dancing in October, Amanda Abbington, 50, said Giovanni’s behaviour was ‘unnecessary.’
Amanda abruptly left the BBC show citing ‘personal issues’ and hasn’t been seen on screen since, even quitting social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner’s sacking.
Giovanni, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is underway over allegations made by Ms Abbington and two other former celebrity partners.
In an interview with The Sun, Amanda said: ‘I found Giovanni’s behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people.’
She continued: ‘I had to think long and hard about making a complaint because I knew the backlash I would get. But I would not have been able to live with myself for future people going on that show.’
Nikita made the comment while performing his last show with Layton Williams (pictured in January), where he confirmed he was preparing to meet his new celebrity partner
The Strictly Come Dancing crisis has deepened in recent days, with it revealed on Thursday that other male dancers now expressing concerns about how they could be impacted (Pictured are Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima)
Graziano was sacked after five years on Strictly in the wake of claims that he hit and kicked his celebrity partner Zara
‘It’s insane what has happened to me, with the death threats and backlash. I know the BBC have known about his behaviour for years, people had complained about him and flagged his behaviour to producers in the past and nothing was done.
‘It wasn’t an isolated experience with me. I should never ever have danced with him.’
Meanwhile, more shocking details of Graziano ‘aggressive’ treatment of Zara have since been claimed.
Speaking to The Sun, a source claimed the dancer got frighteningly angry at the former Love Island star.
They said: ‘Zara ran to the toilets and locked herself in. He chased after her and was screaming abuse. He was aggressive and called her nasty names. It was really scary.’
The source also claimed his aggressive outbursts could be heard through doors a she screamed at the 27-year-old.
It is not just male dancers who are now facing allegations of abusive behaviour. A former dancer has claimed tonight that a currently unnamed female Strictly dancer screamed in his face and berated him off-camera.
The Daily Mirror reports that the household name’s allegations do not include physical abuse.
The scandal came on the heels of Amanda Abbington’s allegations that Giovanni Pernice bullied her during rehearsals
A source said: ‘The man in question felt very much victimised by the behaviour of his Strictly partner.
‘He alleges that on several occasions she flew into a real fury when he couldn’t get the steps right, and on one occasion screamed full in his face. They rowed every single day.’
MailOnline revealed on Friday that the allegations have left some male professionals from the BBC show concerned about how or if they will be affected.
A source told MailOnline on Thursday that the male dancers are ‘very concerned and worried how this is going to affect them’ and are said to be ‘feeling like it’s the new #MeToo’.
MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment at the time.
There have also been accusations of a massive cover-up by the BBC over claims crew members complained about Graziano’s behaviour during the series but no action was taken.
Insiders have told The Sun that it is ‘becoming clear is that there appears to be a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals in training.’
‘The more people who come forward, the clearer the picture is becoming.’
Then on Wednesday the scandal deepened after unearthed footage revealed former professional dancer James Jordan telling his partner he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves.
The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina Bouzova.
He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has furiously hit back after unearthed footage emerged of him telling his partner he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves
James, who left Strictly in 2012 after appearing on eight series, also banned Georgina, who formerly starred on BBC medical drama Casualty, from eating sweets and chocolate and would only allow her to buy pineapple and ham when they visited a supermarket together.
However James has furiously hit back after the clip from Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two resurfaced.
The ballroom dancer and choreographer, 46, has slammed the BBC saying most of the footage ‘was not related to Georgina at all’.
Sharing a raging statement on Instagram he said that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.
He said there ‘is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the VT’ – while insisting none of his celebrity partners ever complained about him during his eight years on the show.
