BBC faces staggering £1m legal bill amid Strictly probe with ‘injured’ celebs in line for physical & mental harm payouts
MORE and more Strictly celebrities are raising complaints about their time on the show — as the BBC fears a £1million personal injury bill.
A number of stars are lining up claims citing physical or mental health harm, and loss of earnings.
Lawyers Carter Ruck, who are acting for Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and at least one male star, are offering their services pro bono — meaning they could be in line for a cut of any compensation given to their clients.
The Beeb has endured two months of hell — forced to launch a probe into Giovanni Pernice’s alleged misconduct, and having to sack pro Graziano Di Prima for kicking his partner Zara McDermott in rehearsals.
A source said last night: “Day by day, this Strictly crisis is worsening. No one quite knows where or how it will end.
“More and more stars are coming forward with grievances, and they have been advised there are significant grounds for personal injury claims.
“The BBC would be vicariously liable for actions taken by its employees.
“The figures for personal injury are notoriously low, but at least three celebrities have a case for lost earnings — the idea that being associated to this case has made them seem “tricksy” to employ.
“They say they have lost work, and worry the BBC especially will deem them untouchable.
“Injury claims can be for something like soft tissue damage, severe sprains which hamper ability to perform day to day tasks and, of course, mental-health damage.
“Some previous contestants have been left needing therapy after appearing on the show, and at least two — Rachel Riley and Amanda Abbington — were diagnosed with PTSD.
“There are doctors’ notes and photographic evidence of stars being left black and blue, which have all been handed to lawyers to be used as evidence.
“If successful — and at the moment there certainly appears to be serious evidence for duty of care breaches — the BBC could well be forced to pay out well over £1million.
“For a tax-payer-funded show, it’s a very worrying prospect.”
Honestly, no one quite knows where or how it will end
A source
The Sun revealed in May that Giovanni had quit the show and that lawyers had been instructed to act for celebrities who had gross misconduct claims against him.
They include Amanda, 50, and Laura, 39.
Giovanni has denied any wrongdoing.
The BBC finally admitted it had launched an internal probe into the matter, triggering the biggest crisis in the Bafta- winning show’s 20-year history.
They have taken on two ex-Met detectives to interview celebs, dancers and show staff, past and present.
Two weeks ago it emerged they had widened the probe in light of new evidence.
The BBC declined to comment on any prospective payouts.
OTHERS WHO COULD SUE
FERN BRITTEN: 2022
FORMER This Morning host Fern Britton, partnered with Artem Chigvintsev in 2012, said her time on Strictly was “grim”.
She said Russian pro Artem would “look at my feet and just kick me or shove me”.
Fern, now 67, also claimed he once said to her: “You just stand there and don’t move; I dance round you.”
She also claims he told her: “Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.”
GEORGINA BOUZOVA: 2006
CASUALTY actress Georgina Bouzova was paired with James Jordan in 2006.
Footage emerged this week of James calling Georgina “chubby” in rehearsals, banning her from eating sweets and chocolate — and making her do press ups when caught.
He also calls her a “lazy cow and threatens to “drag her across the floor and scream at her” if she forgets moves.
She walks out of the studio in tears.
FIONA PHILLIPS: 2005
TV presenter Fiona Phillips, who was partnered with Brendan Cole in 2005, was told she would be “duffed up” if she got her steps wrong.
He also said that if her bedroom skills were anything like her dancefloor skills she would be “a crap s**g”.
Brendan, 48, also admitted slapping partners’ backsides but claimed: “It’s not a sexual thing. It’s a term of affection. I’ve always done it.”
ANNEKA RICE: 2019
TELLY presenter Anneka Rice, 65, who was paired with Kevin Clifton in 2019, said the show left her broken, depressed and needing months of physio for a whiplash injury.
On working with Kevin she said: “Some partners do a lot of limbering up before you even start training, but we didn’t.
“Kevin and I just had a sausage roll and went for it. You’re so high on adrenaline you don’t realise how injured you are.”