Bill Bailey, the former Strictly winner, claims there was never anything that led him to believe that the BBC dance show had a “toxic culture” during his time working in the background.
Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey has spoken out about recent allegations surrounding the show’s off-camera culture, and says he never witnessed anything of concern during his time on the programme.
The comedian and musician lifted the Glitterball trophy in 2020 alongside professional dancer Oti Mabuse, during a series which was heavily impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. Bill has addressed the ongoing controversy, insisting he was unaware of any behind-the-scenes issues.
In recent years, the long-running BBC dance competition has been plagued by allegations of misconduct and bullying involving both contestants and professionals. It comes after Strictly’s Anton Du Beke shared heartbreak over wife’s ‘cruel and inexplicable’ diagnosis.
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However, Bill has given a short response to the allegations of a ‘toxic culture’ as he told The Times: “I don’t know anything about it to be honest. We were under Covid protocols. There was no carousing.”
In 2023, an independent investigation upheld complaints of verbal bullying by Giovanni Pernice towards his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington, although the most serious claims of physical aggression were not substantiated. Fellow professional Graziano Di Prima also publicly apologised after kicking Zara McDermott during rehearsals that same year.
Bill’s experience on the show paints a different picture than these incidents, which have garnered significant media attention. He described the program as physically exhausting but ultimately positive throughout.
He stated, “It was difficult. Physically speaking, it’s a challenging exercise, and I don’t think many people realize how important it is to train. The pros are under a lot of pressure to deliver the goods, undoubtedly. Strictly speaking, it’s a big gig. There is a lot of pressure to choreograph and look good.
He also spoke about the high standards set by professional dancers, adding that “many dancers eventually become very well-known in their own right.” They are big winners in terms of book deals and show appearances. It’s a big show, really.
Some behind-the-scenes employees have described a less hospitable environment, despite Bill’s personal observation of no bad behavior. Unnamed runners claimed they were abused, mood swinging, and shouting by some dancers and celebrities in reports shared with BBC News. One runner remarked, “I think it’s awful for the celebrities who suffered, but I think it’s a much bigger problem for the crew.”
According to a BBC Studios spokesman, “Our top priority has always been, and continues to be, the safety and welfare of our crew on each series.” The claims, according to them, “do not reflect the experience of the hundreds of production staff members who have worked on Strictly over the past 21 years.”
Meanwhile, excitement is building ahead of the new series, with rumours swirling about who will be taking to the dancefloor this autumn. According to reports, trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein has signed up as one of this year’s contestants.
Ellie, 23, was honored with her own Barbie doll and made history as the first model with Down syndrome to appear on British Vogue’s cover in 2023.
A source told The Sun: “Ellie is thrilled to be taking part in Strictly. She has broken down so many barriers in her career… and can’t wait to show people what she can do.” They added that the BBC is “incredibly proud” of the signing and believes she “could go all the way”.
