There was only one topic of conversation as Strictly bosses gathered at the Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool on Friday night.
Having made their pilgrimage for the annual live broadcast from the seaside town’s historic Tower Ballroom, their usual excitement was tinged with considerable trepidation as news emerged that another star – the second in six months – had been arrested on suspicion of rape.
Some of the senior staff, who were browsing Blackpool’s street food stalls during a brief break from rehearsals, were understandably furious. Others struggled to hide their disappointment.
But one thing for the show’s millions of avid viewers and its beleaguered production team remains certain. While some have speculated the latest crisis would cause the axe to finally fall on the long-running primetime programme, I can reveal that the show is set to go on – and will be back next year.
As my mole informs me: ‘It’s already been commissioned for 2026. And after that, there is no way it is going anywhere.’
This might seem curious to those who have witnessed the show lurch from crisis to crisis in recent months. After all, there have been high-profile bullying and harassment allegations, claims of backstage cocaine use and, of course, the recent news that veteran presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will quit after this season’s finale.
But the BBC has good reason to keep the show on the road.
My sources tell me bosses are afraid that, if they did axe the show, a huge proportion of the 7.7million viewers would be so furious they would stop paying their licence fee.
The BBC is already on thin ice with licence-payers over recent allegations of bias, which has led to three high-level resignations – including director-general Sir Tim Davie’s – and has increased calls to defund the corporation.
‘You look at the audience,’ says my insider. ‘There are many people who probably only watch Strictly and a couple of other BBC shows.
‘If you take that away there is a huge risk they will stop paying for their licence, and that would be an absolute catastrophe.
‘Quite frankly, Strictly is the biggest jewel in the BBC’s crown. You take that away and you have some very angry people, and it could leave the corporation financially on its knees.’
A more immediate concern is that there is nothing to replace the show with.
The Beeb and their rivals over at ITV have long struggled to find new formulas to occupy their Saturday night schedules.
As one insider explains: ‘You get rid of Strictly and there are a lot of television hours to fill.
‘Right now, there is nothing to replace it with. It’s not only the live programme – it’s the results show and It Takes Two throughout the week. Finding new programmes is hard, so why bin off a successful show just because of some horrid people who are no longer around?’
They have a point. I receive numerous letters from readers every week begging me to stop writing negative stories about Strictly and confessing they would be heartbroken if it came to an end. Nonetheless, it is clear the show is in crisis.
I know the identity of the Strictly star accused of rape, although I cannot name him for legal reasons. What I can reveal, however, is that he is not one of this year’s contestants – something which is causing both irritation and relief among BBC bosses. They also worry that this won’t be the last problem he causes.
‘There is panic about this man,’ says my Strictly source. ‘There are fears that this isn’t the only drama coming their way. There are people ready to speak out about him and tell their stories.
‘BBC bosses are relieved this person is a past member of the show so don’t see why this incident should affect it going forward. But it is about the optics and it calls into question the judgments used when hiring people to take part on a much-loved family show such as Strictly.’
Separately, show insiders have told me there is further fury because the person who made the allegation is a member of BBC staff.
‘They let this guy on the show and now he has been accused of raping one of our own,’ fumes a source at the Beeb.
‘Of course, this person is innocent until proven guilty, but who disbelieves rape victims at the moment? What is such a shame is that this person is a rotten egg who was allowed on to Strictly, and now his arrest is bringing the show into disrepute.’
Still, my source adds: ‘This year’s series is going great and populated by lovely people.’
This hasn’t always been the case. In 2023, actress Amanda Abbington accused pro-dancer Giovanni Pernice of bullying her, which he denied. An HR investigation cleared him of the most serious allegations.
In the same season, Graziano Di Prima was accused of kicking his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
Another Strictly star, a man in his 30s, was arrested in August following allegations of rape.
Both alleged rapists are, for good reason, entitled to anonymity unless they are charged. But it means that any man taking part in the series since 2004 has now found himself under scrutiny, sparking what my source describes as ‘a witch-hunt’. Yesterday, Tom Skinner – the former Apprentice star who was the first to be voted off this year’s series – was forced to deny he was the man arrested after a claim was made by a user on social media platform X.
In response, father-of-three Skinner, 34, wrote: ‘Let me remind you: This whole thing is not a joke. It’s not gossip. It destroys lives. My heart goes out to every real victim out there as well, and what you’ve done here is an insult to them as well. You should be ashamed.
‘You won’t drag me down.’
‘Here we go again,’ adds my source. ‘We have a witch-hunt across social media – anyone who has been on Strictly is in the firing line.’
In 2023, there was fevered speculation about an ‘unnamed BBC presenter’ who had been funding the drug habit of a vulnerable young man in return for sexually explicit images. The accused offender was, of course, eventually named as Huw Edwards.
‘It’s so unfair that this brings a dark cloud over the joy that is Strictly Come Dancing,’ my source adds.
A sentiment shared by BBC bosses and those who write to me alike.
