Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has said he wants the BBC's findings from their investigation into misconduct claims on the show to be published quickly, as the new series is said to be shaping up to be the 'most expensive ever'.
The choreographer, 59, who has been on the show since it's inception in 2004, gave his thoughts on the ongoing bullying crisis surrounding the show, admitting he thought the introduction of chaperones was 'a good idea'.
The beloved dancing series is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach their celebrity partners, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour.
And in the fallout of the scandal, the BBC has introduced a stringent set of new welfare policies to protect the stars, including the employment of chaperones during rehearsals.
Speaking to The Times, Craig said that he wanted to see the final results of the broadcaster's probe into the allegations, which it has been looking into for the past three months and which have still not been made public.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood (pictured) has said he wants the BBC's findings from their investigation into misconduct claims on the show to be published quickly, as the new series is said to be shaping up to be the 'most expensive ever'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood (pictured) has said he wants the BBC's findings from their investigation into misconduct claims on the show to be published quickly, as the new series is said to be shaping up to be the 'most expensive ever'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood (pictured) has said he wants the BBC's findings from their investigation into misconduct claims on the show to be published quickly, as the new series is said to be shaping up to be the 'most expensive ever'
The beloved dancing series is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach their celebrity partners, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour (Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima pictured on show last year)
He said: 'I can’t wait for the investigation because it could be all blown out of proportion or it could be anything. But we want the results sooner rather than later.'
But he added: 'It’s not just the BBC, though, is it? The BBC is in the public eye because of its public funding. ITV has the same issues.'
Craig explained that things had changed significantly since his dance training, where his teachers would strike their legs to yield better results, and opined that the introduction of chaperones would help 'everyone feel protected'.
He said: 'All I can say is, first, chaperones are a good idea. Second, thank goodness things have changed.
'I had a Russian ballet teacher who used a cane to make us raise our legs higher. You couldn’t do that now.
'A choreographer can’t even touch a dancer’s arm to put it in the correct place, but at least it means everyone feels protected.'
However, despite the controversy surrounding Strictly for the past few months, Craig insisted that the show would weather the storm.
He said: 'It’s a wonderful show that’s in 61 countries. Yes, I want to know the results of the investigation – let’s see what issues need addressing. But let’s also not forget the absolute joy it brings.'
Speaking to The Times, Craig said that he wanted to see the final results of the broadcaster's probe into the allegations, which it has been looking into for the past three months and which have still not been made public (pictured this month)
Meanwhile, the upcoming series of the show is reportedly going to be more costly than ever before, as the BBC deals with the fallout of the abuse allegations (Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice pictured last year)
A slew of chaperones and welfare producers have been employed for season 22, in order to meet the 'decisive steps' to protect the celebs and dancers, laid out by the BBC’s director of unscripted programming Kate Phillips, last month
Meanwhile, the upcoming series of the show is reportedly going to be more costly than ever before, as the BBC deals with the fallout of the abuse allegations.
A slew of chaperones and welfare producers have been employed for season 22, in order to meet the 'decisive steps' to protect the celebs and dancers, laid out by the BBC’s director of unscripted programming Kate Phillips, last month.
According to The Times, the measures have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, with the broadcaster introducing two dedicated welfare producers and a member of the production team in attendance during training 'at all times', who have the right amount of authority to step in if need be.
The show is already thought to have around 200 staff, and the publication says the increased employment will drive up the budget, but add that it will still only make up a small percentage of Strictly's total expenditures.
A show producer said: 'Personnel [are] always the biggest cost and given [that] at the start there are 15 participants who rehearse for several days each week, the costs will quickly add up.
'Whoever they put in the rehearsal rooms will need to be sufficiently senior that they will be listened to if they need to call out any bad behaviour. Runners or researchers won’t have sufficient authority to tell people if filming needs to stop.'
Another producer estimated the costs will add up to £200,000 for the 'big beasts', but claimed the BBC had 'no choice' but to make the measures, which will be a small price to pay in the grand scheme to keep the show on air.
They said: 'There’ll be no room for error. The eyes of the press and the public will be the show more than ever this year.
According to The Times, the measures have cost hundreds of thousands, with the broadcaster introducing two dedicated welfare producers and a member of the production team in attendance during training 'at all times', with the authority to step in if need be
'The producers will also probably have to factor in more breaks and make the culture a bit kinder, which all takes time and pushes costs up.
'It will add hundreds of grand to the bottom line, which is manageable. But they had no choice — they had to do something about it.'
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
The Strictly scandal erupted in January when actress Amanda Abbington accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of abuse after she unexpectedly quit the show just five weeks in.
Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, a has made a series of accusations about Giovanni's teaching methods and has described his behaviour as 'unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean'. He strongly denies all of the claims.
In one interview, Amanda compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.
Then, in July, it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for 'kicking' his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.
A Strictly source said: ‘Graziano’s abuse was ongoing, he kicked and hit her. There were multiple occasions where both physical and verbal attacks were made. It was more physical than verbal but all of it was dreadful.
‘There were occasions where he did some terrible things, it really was awful. What he did makes Giovanni look like a pussy cat.’
The Strictly scandal erupted in January when actress Amanda Abbington (pictured) accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of abuse after she unexpectedly quit the show just five weeks in
Then, in July, it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for 'kicking' his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured together)
Graziano has since claimed he does not know the full particulars of what he is supposed to have done.
The BBC will not give further details due to the 'confidential nature of the circumstances' in which the information was provided and their 'obligations' to 'third parties'.
This week it was reported that Amanda found BBC bosses line of questioning 'highly offensive' amid their misconduct probe.
It was reported that the actress has been quizzed for a second time about an illicit video shared with her by Giovannie as well as a 'lewd remark' he made about another celebrity contestant when the video was sent.
The dancer is also reported to have made a crude comment about a member of Amanda's own family, only for her to 'effectively be asked' by BBC bosses whether the dancer meant the remark as light-hearted banter.
A source told The Sun: '[Amanda] found this line of questioning highly offensive.'
In regards to the alleged video they told the publication: 'The BBC can't ignore the fact the video was sent. There seems to be a trail of evidence'.
'Even if it is established the footage was shared with innocent intentions, the BBC are concerned this could constitute a breach of conduct according to the contract handed to the pro dancers.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'As we have said before, we will not be commenting on individuals or engaging in speculation'.
