ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
ITV's Dancing on Ice has reportedly set up a round-the-clock hotline for stars to voice concerns, in light of the recent bullying scandal that rocked BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
The Sun has revealed that TV insiders claim the Sunday night spectacle's producers have also dispatched a detailed six-page letter to its 12 celebrities, assuring them they can report issues "without fear of abuse".
Moreover, the stars lined up for the forthcoming series, which will welcome back Holly Willoughby, aged 43, as host, are to be paired with a dedicated producer tasked with overseeing their "wellbeing".
This development follows the controversy that engulfed Strictly Come Dancing when allegations of bullying involving professional dancer Giovanni Pernice and actress Amanda Abbington surfaced. Subsequently, the BBC dismissed pro Graziano Di Prima after an incident with TV star Zara McDermott.
A source disclosed to The Sun: "ITV puts the welfare of show contestants at the heart of what they do. No one needs another Strictly - and Dancing on Ice bosses want their stars to feel like they can speak out if something isn't right."
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Strict measures are being introduced to the new series of Dancing on Ice (Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"They will have access to a 24-hour hotline manned by professionals to raise concerns about any bullying or to get help with their mental health."
A source has revealed that the celebrities are on board with new procedures, stating: "They have also been given a letter outlining what they should expect from the show and how they should conduct themselves. This year's celebs have said they appreciate the measures. To know they have support like this is reassuring."
The letter, which The Sun claims to have seen, cautions the stars about the potential for the show to leave them "physically and mentally drained" and emphasises: "Winning should never come at the expense of integrity and respect."
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Express have contacted ITV for comment. The broadcaster clarified that their comprehensive welfare protocols have been a staple in recent series and have merely been "expanded upon as opposed to us introducing something completely new".
Amidst the controversies surrounding Strictly Come Dancing this year, ITV's Dancing on Ice hasn't been without its own scandals, reports the Mirror. In July, ex-TV host Micheal Barrymore alleged he saw dancers being mistreated on the ITV programme.
window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241105.min.js"Barrymore commented: "I find it bewildering that BBC's Strictly is the only production under fire... when ITV's Dancing on Ice treated their celebrities and dancers exactly the same - if not worse. Even I witnessed abuse from producers at ITV and I had a very short stint with them."
An ITV spokesperson refuted these allegations, asserting: "We do not recognise these unsubstantiated claims."
Dancing on Ice returns to ITV next year. Holly will return as presenter alongside her co-host Stephen Mulhern.
ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
ITV's Dancing on Ice ramps up star support with 24-hour hotline amid bullying concerns
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