Strictly Come Dancing '24 Thread 1 : Who will be our celebs and Pros?

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

Starting a new SCD thread for chat prior to the series as the last is about to fill.

These threads are usually helmed by @PolkadotsAndMoonbeams and I normally deputise, but I haven't seen her around in a while

This thread will discuss who has been chosen for the show, but not who has been paired with who as that's a spoiler for the first show.

This is a NO SPOILER thread

Get Ready To KEEP DANCING.

I’m trying to imagine the conversation that Graziano had with the Beeb.

“Graziano, you need to tone it down in training. You are too aggressive and are bullying your sleb.”
”oh no!? That’s awful! I don’t know how to train someone without screaming in their face, and if I don’t spit on them they may not try so hard! Help me Aunty Beeb! Show me a better way!”
“No, just stop being a nasty bully.”

I find celebs rushing to back the pros very premature. It's quite possible that Graz was super nice to Catherine Tyldesley or even the experienced Judi Love, but not so nice to more vulnerable and young partners. How is it a defence to say " He was so nice to me".

Admittedly I too stuck up for Gio at first. I am now keeping mum until we know more.

Absolutely @Lentilweaver
I don't doubt Graziano is nice to people I'm in no doubt Giovani is nice to people I've seen his show and thought he was brilliant and he's very funny,
there is the training that's in question they say it's "passion" or even pressure to perform its the fact that they refuse to control themselves with these women it doesn't matter that Judi love ,likes graziano or Rose Won with Giovani and she thinks he's marvellous. These men couldn't and refused to control themselves or adjust their training practices for their celeb partners and that's on them, imo

CT deleted her supportive comment when the details started coming out 🫣

Do you think they just post without much thought ?

Sorry my comment reads as if Judi Love has come out in support. I don't think she has. Just meant it as an example. Kelvin Fletcher has though, I believe.

Oh yes sorry I understood that it was probably me not being clear. ANYWAY I did understand what you meant and was agreeing with you.

Zara has spoken out now. I fully agree with her about being afraid of victim-shaming. Especially given she was on Love Island, and people expecting her to be a good dancer in a way they might not expect Judi Love or even Debbie McGee. www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5g1d74je6o

@the80sweregreat "Seems to be a patten here of women being subject to this : have any of the men celebs come forwards saying similar things?"

I suspect not.

Not currently but Steve Backshall complained about Ola, and I believe they ended up with a chaperone

Steve Backshall(sp) made a complaint about Ola Jordan they famously didn't get on and he said something along the lines of she was intimidating and bullying.

Danny jon jules also said his experience was traumatic made a strange speech about it and didn't thank his dance partner Amy Dowden when he was eliminated at the time it looked like sour grapes but maybe it wasn't.

Probably. Or maybe their kneejerk reaction gets spilled onto the screen before they actually think about the wider picture.
It's yet another toxic thing about social media 😕

Yes the rush to say something for validation and "likes". Because they feel if they don't say something on SM they will be judged.

Catherine was partnered with JoJo - surprised she spoke out at all. She clearly had no firsthand experience of what Graz was like in the training room.

Catherine has got previous for being tone deaf on social media, remember cake gate?

Kelvin Fletcher's come out in support of Graziano? What would he know?
(Sorry if I've misunderstood or read that wrong)

Yes, there was a mad thread about that

There is going to be a segment on Itv news about Zara. It's just come on.

@Mrsjayy the only source for the Steve Backshall 'bullying' story was the Daily Mail. Steve was interviewed a few weeks later for Newsbeat and denied it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-30195774

Danny John Jules was accused of bullying Amy, not the other way round. He hated being on the show but never said a word against her as far as I know. She was subdued and sometimes looked traumatised, and he seemed to be simmering with anger. He seemed unable to take criticism. It completely changed my view of him.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/strictly-come-dancing-danny-john-jules-dirty-rumours-142207595.html

Just to add, I think the whole Graziano issue is horrific and his claim that the BBC should have given him anger management help - unbelievable. There were problems with his first celeb Vick Hope and he should not have been given a second chance.

Apparently he's just posted a heart emoji on Graz insta post. I should not go by headlines. Apologies.

conflicts with pros:

Sarah Manners - rows with Brendan (he stormed off set week 2 after their rumba and wouldn't talk to her and said it was like "dancing with a brick wall")

Georgina Bouzova (James's first partner and last minute replacement for Gaby Logan) - rows with James (the audience allegedly booed at the footage)

Claire King - Brendan said he wanted to be partnered with Emma Bunton or Carol Smilie. Negative/indifferent attitude towards her and allegedly didn't realise she was in agony because of her arthritis.

Laila Rouass - the P word fiasco
Lulu - conflicts with Brendan. She never understood the pairing. No love lost between them. "Bloody Lulu".

Fern Britton - alleged that Artem kicked and shoved her in training

Steve Backshall - interesting one this. There was a leak of bullying claims/chaperone but he did go on to deny them/united front at the time. He had a fused left ankle so dancing was excruciating.

Laura Whitmore - uncomfortable pairing, unhappy with forced proximity and publicity, crying every day,
left broken mentally and physically.

Ranvir Singh - reported unease with training
Amanda Abbington - vomiting and crying after rehearsals, reported feet stamped on/lewd behaviour (denied/under investigation)
Zara McDermott - kicked, hit, spat on according to tabloid reports

injuries:

Jodie Kidd - fractured rib
Jade Johnson - right knee
Mark Benton - both knees
Tameka Empson - knee
Will Bayley - leg
Jamie Laing - foot
AJ Odudu - foot
Nigel Harman - rib
Tony Adams - hamstring

stresses/disappointment/other:

Zoe Lucker - long term effect of Strictly nerves/shaking at a song
Sophie Ellis Bextor - "cult of Strictly"/emotional care should be provided
Jennifer Gibney - underestimated what went into it
Sunetra Sarker - nervous when music comes on/left feeling vulnerable
Helen George - naive going in/also said the repetitions in rehearsal took toll
Rev Richard Coles - brutal awakening he couldn't dance
Simon Rimmer - so tired he was hallucinating
Alex Burke - trolling from public/conflict over Gorka's commitment
Vick Hope - therapy after being stressed, nervous and worried
Faye Tozer - intense training, broken down off screen
Michelle Visage - clashed with Gio
Mike Bushell - trolling from public, denials that he was desperate to leave
Robert Webb - brutal and weird set-up of reality comps
Richie Anderson - reported clashes with Gio
Will Young - left for personal reasons (mental health) wanted to break his leg
Caroline Quentin - claimed some pros (not Jojo) "so ambitious they don't care what they put their guest through"
Johnny Ball - alleged Aliona exaggerated her injury to avoid partnering him
Rachel Riley - reliving the experience when music heard, scary and unnerving

judging/voting:
Anthony Ogogo - upset at producers partnering him with Oti (racist GBP)
Craig Kelly "putting the boot in" (judges)
Jan Ravens "hope you're happy now" (Craig)
Will Young told by Len to "shut up" (turn up and keep up)
Ricky Whittle - wanted to see the public vote figures
Jamelia - dance off rigged/fake applause
Kelly Brook - criticised when Len knew her Dad was dying
Jonnie Peacock - incorrect posture he had no control over

(That's all before you include implosions of relationships and bad PR)
Seann Walsh - claimed career dead after it/battled depression and anxiety
Danny John-Jules - claimed producers had maligned him

The pros will have their stories to tell, I'm sure.
Karen was hinting at other dalliances (she knows where the bodies are buried, I wonder if it was a deliberate comment).
On top of which, female pros will have had their fair share of hassle. Amy and DJJ conflict regarding routines was reported on before his elimination.
I am old enough to remember at least three male slebs who seemed a bit handsy with their pros.

I put all the above on another thread (procrastinating again).

I am surprised there has not been more protection/duty of care provided before.
You have intimacy coordinators these days.
You had increased protection for reality TV contestants following lawsuits.
It's been going 20 years but you've had various incidents spanning two decades.
That so many work for, are tied to or are connected with the Beeb also makes it a conflict of interests - biting the hand that feeds you.

Tess Daly being photographed on holiday alongside Vick Hope and her husband Calvin Harris was an interesting one this week. I wonder what came up in convo?!

Yes.
I mentioned him on the other thread. Him and Will young.
But it is interesting.
He did deny it.
He was vilified at the time.
I do wonder if he was told to issue a denial to try and keep them in.
People don't vote for warring couples.
Amanda issued early denials last year.
So did Michelle.
So did Danny.
Smooth things over. Rinse and repeat.
The reporting of having a chaperone was very specific.
Ola was let go after only one more series (the first boot disaster with Iwan Thomas).
James Jordan claimed the BBC was tired of Ola's popularity, was trying to turn the public against her and said bosses were trying to get Steve Backshall to dance with someone else on the Strictly tour (I don't think Steve ever did the tour).

I agree it can be very hard for celebs to make a complaint (as we saw with Zara). But I don't think we can assume that other celebs mentioned who had (or allegedly had) complaints were traumatised or that their pro/the BBC did anything wrong.

Will Young has said he was already ill when he joined the show, and that's why he left, it was nothing to do with the people on the show. He said that fairly recently and has no reason to lie about it.

You didn't mention Lynda Bellingham, who according to her husband hated her time on Strictly because Darren was 'miserable' and no fun. I mean... well, that's a shame, but you can't expect to get on brilliantly with everyone.

But that said, Brendan and James were both clearly awful, and I was glad when they were sacked (not soon enough). James has never got over being sacked and briefs against the show at any opportunity.

There was also a lot of bad press for James and Ola back in the day due to their feud with Kevin and Karen. Horrible couple (the Jordans, I mean!)

James is a twat. I used to follow him on X for his critiques but constant stream of racist, ignorant and pointlessly prococative stuff on his feed. He fancies himself an incisive commentator on social issues. Should stick to dance.

Thanks for the detailed post @FailBetter

My recollection of Brendan and Emma Bunton is that Brendan was livid with jealousy and made public allegations of favouritism which led to a spat with Craig on ITT in Claudia's day.

It was Shirley who allegedly got rid of Brendan though, there was a rumour about it but no actual facts.

For the record, as a viewer, I do think Emma Bunton WAS favoured in her year.