So sad about Strictly.

[CurlewKate]

It's been part of our family life since it started. I really wanted to think it was as wholesome and joyous and life affirming as it looked, even though I knew it probably wasn't.

And there are celebrities that I feel differently about now because they didn't blow the whistle.😢

What gets me the most is that while someone of the recent allegations include shocking details, yet again this is a story that has been around for years in plain sight but ignored.

Laura Whitmore has openly discussed needing therapy, Will Young said he considered breaking his leg to get off the show.

People talked about James and Brendan bullying their partners as though it was a bit of a giggle, it helped create bad boy images for them.

I remember reading pieces by both Gary Rhodes and Greg Wallace about how their pros treated them in rehearsals and particularly GR found it horrible and toxic.

The details are shocking but it's not news that some of the pros treat the celebs badly, and clearly the BBC have ignored it.

I know , I despair at the amount of internalised misogyny.

I'm not minimising any claims as I wasn't there but will agree that she's bonkers. I even said last summer before it started it was a mistake to put her in that show.

I always thought there was more to Ritchie (Radio 2)'s experience. He went into it so excited and joyful and then seemed quite guarded.

It's Amanda Abbington who said she had PTSD.

Rachel Riley
https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/rachel-riley-reveals-bbc-strictly-32493863

Paul Hollywood is a professional baker. Prue Leith is a professional cook/caterer. It is absolutely comparable.

I quite liked Darcy. Its a shame. Winter is bloody bleak in this country. Its been going down hilll for years but this is the final nail.

Can't we have anything nice any more?

randomly watching the Channel 5 Richard and Judy the best bits. The whole nation feels more lively and upbeat. Background shots people look well and animated.

@CandiedPrincess

in what way is she “cuckoo”?

It's totally different. Paul Hollywood and Pru Leith are judges. The contestants aren't paired with professional bakers who train them behind the scenes each week.

It’s become far too serious with contestants being pro dancers which puts massive pressure on everyone else. That combined with the ridicule poor dancers suffer makes for a toxic mix. The BBC has clearly failed in its duty of care. They were told at the time and did nothing useful. People ought to be sacked. There are too many stories of bullying to be ignored.

But you are minimising by bringing up Amanda's personality / demeanor in the context of her claim.

I know people who have worked on the show, behind the scenes.
The bullying issues have been known about for years and the BBC have been completely ignoring it and indeed cover it up. They have a duty of care to all those who work on the programme to ensure a safe environment.
People behind the sciences are too afraid to speak out as they would almost certainly never work in TV again.

My error!

I think part of the problem is the standard has been pushed so high, the audience's expectations are sky high and the pro's know a win or going far will give them exposure that's lucrative ... this means increasing long hours of practice, over and over again. Some of the pros probably have a better way of coaching that brings out the best without being aggressive than others, but for others their competitive nature means they get very pushy, to put it politely, something common in dance coaching and probably they will have been on the receiving end in the past.

I'm not defending bullies by the way I'm just saying that the complaints that the practice hours were too long I think is ridiculous, they signed up for the show

@mitogoshi

whatever. NOTHING justifies kicking, hitting or spitting at someone.

That doesn't appear to be the point made in the original comment. They suggest that Paul and Prue have a non-professional standing and that the show isn't competitive.

@Sofuk

you can train hard and do long hours without being kicked, hit or spat at.

It's surprising really that the set-up of couples being alone together was ever allowed, it leaves people vulnerable to bad behaviour and accusations.

i wouldn't get to het up about this. Obviously it's awful for the celebrities involved but there have been over 200 contestants over the years and the majority seem to be quite content. Some have made lifelong friends, some have found love, some have hated it.

Celebrities and pros alike are working there and in any workplace there will be bad apples, some sub-par practices and also people who just dislike one another.

No. Why should it be? Just behave like a decent human being and treat people with respect.

When I first heard the allegations about Gio I thought oh he’s just really strict and a perfectionist. Now with these latest ones hitting ,kicking,spitting is horrible makes me look at them all differently. Such a shame.