For the first time ever, Strictly Come Dancing will feature more male celebrities than female ones in its upcoming season. The complete cast was leaked earlier this week, sparking quite a buzz.
The popular show is currently facing controversy over allegations of bullying and abusive behavior among its professional dancers. While several stars have been confirmed, including Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Toyah Wilcox, Punam Krishnan, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, and Wynne Evans, new reports suggest that Jamie Borthwick from EastEnders and Miranda’s Sarah Hadland are also joining the cast.
The lineup will also include presenter Nick Knowles, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, footballer Paul Merson, presenter Sam Quek, singer Shayne Ward, and Gladiator Montell Douglas.
This season will see nine men and only six women on the show. There are concerns that the recent scandals might have deterred potential female contestants.
A source commented, “It’s clear that the ongoing issues with bullying have impacted this year’s recruitment. We’ve never had such a skewed ratio of men to women before.”
Stars Speak Out
Tasha Ghouri, who recently confirmed her participation, is excited about her role. She’s the first Love Island star to join the show with a cochlear implant, which she has had since she was five.
Tasha is known for her advocacy for the deaf community and has a significant social media following. She expressed her joy on the KISS FM Breakfast Show, saying, “I’ve been a fan of Strictly since I was little. It’s a dream come true to be part of it.”
Pete Wicks also shared his mixed emotions about joining the show, admitting he’s both excited and nervous. He revealed that he had already told his best friend, Sam Thompson, who was so thrilled that he cried and is even planning to support Pete every Saturday.
Behind the Scenes Drama
The show has been rocked by a series of scandals recently. Actress Amanda Abbington left last year, accusing her partner Giovanni Pernice of abusive behavior.
Graziano Di Prima was dismissed for allegedly kicking his partner, Love Island’s Zara McDermott. These issues have cast a shadow over the show, especially as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Laura Whitmore has also come forward with her own experiences. She’s criticized BBC bosses for not addressing her concerns about Pernice’s behavior during her time on the show.
Laura has now shared that she tried to raise these issues back in 2016 but feels her concerns were ignored or dismissed.
She’s now working with the BBC to address these issues and has spoken to other former Strictly stars to gather evidence. Laura hopes to see a clear acknowledgment of the wrongs that occurred and wants to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.
She concluded, “I’m not seeking anything but recognition that what happened was wrong and will not happen again. It’s essential to stop victim blaming and address these issues openly.”
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