BBC bosses are having last minute doubts about signing up Danny Cipriani to scandal-hit Strictly Come Dancing – after questions were raised about his drug record, we can reveal.
There are concerns about a possible backlash from older viewers if the former England rugby star competes on the next series.
Danny, 36, has previously admitted to taking cocaine, a crystallised toad psychedelic and to necking so many magic mushrooms that he became convinced his then wife Victoria was trying to kill him.
He was recently photographed smoking suspicious looking rollie in Los Angeles.
And he has talked about his interest in the powerful psychedelic ayahuasca, which his girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord, 37, has promoted on her Instagram page.
BBC bosses are having last minute doubts about signing up Danny Cipriani (pictured) to scandal-hit Strictly Come Dancing – after questions were raised about his drug record, we can reveal
He was recently photographed smoking suspicious looking rollie in Los Angeles
There are concerns about a possible backlash from older viewers if the former England rugby star competes on the next series
His inclusion has been thrown into doubt by the abuse allegations made by actress Amanda Abbington against Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice (pictured together for the show)
The retired England fly half flew to London to sign on the dotted line last month having been pursued persistently by Strictly bosses – and proving a hit on the Christmas special last year.
But the decision has been thrown into doubt by the abuse allegations made by actress Amanda Abbington against Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice.
A well-placed source said: ‘Danny was excited to be part of the new Strictly season, having turned the producers down on quite a few occasions in the past.
‘He felt this was the right year for him to stick his neck out and signing up would obviously provide a huge career boost.
‘He flew back to London to conclude the negotiations and everyone thought it was a done deal, but now it’s all up in the air.
‘His drug record is a serious concern given that Strictly is a family show watched by young and old alike.
‘It would be very sad if he ends up getting dropped, but the survival of the show is paramount – nothing can put that at risk.’
In his Who Am I? memoir, released last year, Danny admitted he was still taking the prescription painkiller Tramadol, which he described as a ‘magic pill.’
Cipriani has talked about his interest in the powerful psychedelic ayahuasca, which his girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord, 37, (pictured together) has promoted on her Instagram page
Danny, 36, has previously admitted to taking cocaine, a crystallised toad psychedelic and to necking so many magic mushrooms that he became convinced his then wife Victoria (pictured with Cipriani) was trying to kill him
He said he ‘dabbled with cocaine in the past,’ but added he had rejected the Class A drug to experiment with psychedelics.
He said: ‘I tried crystallised toad (a psychedelic) in America, which was a deep experience, and I’d like to give ayahuasca a go.’
He went on to describe how his use of magic mushrooms led to a terrifying episode with ex-wife Victoria, who he broke up with last year.
He wrote: ‘Around that time I overdo my mushroom intake and think Victoria’s trying to kill me.
‘I’m standing at the top of some stone stairs in the garden, thinking, ‘The only way to escape this terrible experience is to let go.’
‘So, I put my arms out, lean back, topple over and smash my head on the edge of a step. Victoria hears my skull crack and reckons she can hear gas coming out.
‘She’s crying hysterically because she thinks I’m dead.’
Danny’s new girlfriend, American actress AnnaLynne, has spoken about how her use of ayahuasca helped her recover long lost memories.
The psychoactive brew is used as a traditional spiritual medicine among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin and causes the user to have extreme hallucinations.
In 2019, AnnaLynne wrote on her Instagram page: ‘The controversial plant medicine #ayahuasca is a journey I was extremely skeptical of taking.
‘Discovering the science behind and the history of it was a profound experience that certainly changed my life forever.’
Last year, Danny wowed producers with his performance alongside Jowita Przystal in the Strictly Christmas special.
But in May he was photographed smoking topless while on holiday in California, where marijuana use is legal.
In his Who Am I? memoir, released last year, Danny admitted he was still taking the prescription painkiller Tramadol, which he described as a ‘magic pill’
The pics were published just months after the ex-Wasps and Gloucester fly half claimed to be ‘free’ of substances.
He did not deny taking drugs afterwards, but said: ‘You are seriously clutching… Nothing unusual. You won’t exist in the next three years. Everyone is getting privy to lies you conjure in the namesake to make money.’
The response has been noted at the BBC’s London HQ, where the probe into Abbington’s claims is still ongoing.
Dancer Graziano di Prima was fired earlier this month after admitting lashing out at reality star Zara McDermott during last year’s rehearsals.
The final line-up for this year’s anniversary edition of Strictly has yet to be confirmed but celebs said to have signed up include former England footballer Paul Merson, TV presenter Nick Knowles and reality star Pete Wicks.
