Strictly Come Dancing could go the way of Top Gear because the BBC has ‘lost control’ of the stars at the heart of the training scandal, a corporation insider warned MailOnline today.
The sacking of Jeremy Clarkson in 2015 led to the motoring show being taken off air and a crash involving Freddie Flintoff means it is now unlikely to be broadcast again.
One BBC source has told MailOnline that there are growing fears that Strictly could go the same way.
Bosses have ‘lost control’ with Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott dominating the airwaves with claims of brutality and even allegations of a sexual nature. Viewers have expressed fears that this season of Strictly could be the last.
‘This is Top Gear all over again. The BBC are hopeless managing these firestorms. They destroy the things they love’, one Strictly insider said.
‘It is yet another act of self-sabotage – and yet again it is viewers who will suffer by losing their favourite show.
‘They have lost control’.
Top Gear may never be seen again and problems began when Jeremy Clarkson was sacked and Richard Hammond and James May went with him
Andrew Flintoff continues to recover from injuries sustained whilst working on the Top Gear
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly may address the training methods scandal when they open the new series of Strictly in September, MailOnline understands
Professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show last week following claims he allegedly hit and spat at his dancing partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals
Weeks before, Giovanni Pernice was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington
It came after MailOnline revealed that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman could begin the new series of Strictly Come Dancing with an apology for alleged abusive behaviour suffered by celebs in a desperate attempt to save the show.
BBC bosses are said to be desperate to draw ‘an immediate line’ under the scandal when it begins in September.
And Tess and Claudia may be asked to address it at the start of the first show and could even say sorry after complaints from Amanda Abbington, Zara McDermott and Steve Backshall.
‘This year’s Strictly is the 20th anniversary and it will be a celebration of the show and its history’, an insider told MailOnline.
‘The BBC will want to draw an immediate line under what has happened. The show can’t start soon enough’.
It came as BBC Director General Tim Davie apologised for the alleged mistreatment of contestants – finally breaking his silence on the scandal. He said he was ‘very sorry’ to anyone who ‘has had an experience on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly positive’ and vowed to ‘reflect on’ the complaints that have been made.
There are alo claims a host of Strictly celeb contestants have set up a ‘secret support group’ where they have shared their own horror stories and corroborated one another’s claims.
But Tess and Claudia may not address the sudden departures of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.
Di Prima admits kicking Zara McDermott once in a rehearsal but Giovanni has branded allegations about his teaching methods ‘simply false’. His supporters say he has high standards.
‘The BBC won’t want to go there’, the source claimed.
The series’ launch show where pairings will be revealed is pencilled in for September 4 with live shows beginning two weeks later. It will then run for 13 weeks until the final in December.
Strictly is facing its biggest crisis in its 20 years since it returned to the BBC in its current form.
There are also rumours that the Tess and Claudia could be considering their futures. There have long been claims that they have a mutual agreement that they would leave together to make way for a new presenting duo.
MailOnline has asked the BBC to comment.
Strictly Come Dancing boss Suzy Lamb’s job is under threat following the huge scandal that’s currently engulfing the hit BBC One ballroom show
It came as Strictly’s most senior boss’ job is under threat and numerous ‘entitled’ stars face the axe following the huge scandal 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 Lamb’s role as Managing Director of Entertainment and Music, with Hannah Wyatt’s job as Managing Director of Factual Entertainment and 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 Wyatt will get the newly created role.
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.’
The new job threats come as the BBC’s hit dance show has been engulfed with complaints of abuse and mistreatment of contestants by Strictly professionals.
Professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show last week following claims he allegedly hit and spat at his dancing partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals.
Weeks before, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.
James Jordan has also poured fuel on the flames of the Strictly bullying row after Steve Backshall complained that his dancer wife ‘bullied’ him while on the programme in 2014.
The former Strictly pro took to social media to make a jibe at the seasoned television explorer after it emerged that he lodged a complaint with the BBC over professional dancer Ola’s ‘rude and impatient manner’.
