Strictly insiders fear BBC show could be AXED as Graziano Di Prima becomes second pro to get the boot from show
STRICTLY Come Dancing insiders fear the show could be AXED by the BBC, after a second pro has been let go from the show.
The Sun exclusively revealed today that Graziano Di Prima has been sacked from the Saturday night show over allegations of physical and verbal behaviour towards his celebrity dance partner Zara McDermott.
Sources told us that Graziano was given his marching orders on Monday night following an internal investigation into a number of physical incidents involving Zara, who was partnered with him on the series last year.
Now insiders at the ballroom juggernaut have told Mail Online they believe the scandal surrounding the show, which began when Giovanni Pernice left after Amanda Abbington took legal action, could spell the death knell for the hugely popular show.
“This is now about so much more than Giovanni, the reputation of the whole show is at stake,’ one insider told the publication. “What was an investigation about Giovanni and Amanda’s bruised toe [after the stamping accusation] is now a much wider inquiry.
“The standing of the whole show and its wonderful history could be affected by this. It’s now about Strictly, not Gio.
“Something has been recently reported and there is a suggestion that it minimises the claims against Giovanni quite significantly.”
The source adds that Giovanni could be “collateral damage to a much wider situation” and that the situation is a “nightmare” for the BBC.
Graziano’s exit comes as the Italian dancer, 30, was initially announced as part of the pro line-up.
Mysteriously, the same day that Graziano was given the chop, the BBC surprised everyone by announcing that former pro Aljaz Skorjanec was returning to the competition.
The unexpected announcement was revealed on The One Show that night.
At the time, fans assumed he was announced to take attention away from the Giovanni scandal.
But now it has emerged that Graziano had also been sacked the same day as the Aljaz announcement, questions surrounded the chaos of what is going on behind the scenes at the BBC’s top show.
The series was thrown into chaos earlier this year when it emerged Giovanni was stepping away from the series.
It then transpired Sherlock actress Amanda has sought the legal services of law firm Carter Ruck, and several other celebs who had worked with Giovanni had also come forward.
Amanda also demanded rehearsal footage be released of her time working with the star, but Gio’s team are said to have blocked the move.
For his part, Giovanni has firmly denied any allegations made against him and has vowed to clear his name.
Amanda pulled out of Strictly mid way through the run last year, citing ‘medical reasons’.
But there were signs of a feud between her and Giovanni, as she posted and then deleted a social media post about mental health.
She also failed to thank Giovanni in a post about her time on the show.