Zara McDermott reveals 'sad day' at Strictly
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has sparked debate over the future of Strictly Come Dancing following the dismissal of professional dancer Graziano Di Prima for misconduct.
The show, which may introduce chaperones during rehearsals to monitor interactions between celebrities and their professional partners, faces scrutiny after Giovanni Pernice's exit amid behavioural allegations.
Zara McDermott's recent statement about her experience on Strictly was a hot topic on the ITV programme, with Kate reporting: "Well Zara has, in the last few minutes, spoken out in a statement, saying that she wrestled with the fear of opening up as she was scared of the public backlash."
"She said Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and she was delighted when she was asked to be a contestant on the show, but she felt that she had to take a step forward. It's a long statement."
Kate then posed the question: "Generally with all these allegations going on and the departure of several dancers, has Strictly had its last dance? Is it a show in trouble?", reports the Mirror.
The segment moved on with Kate introducing entertainment journalist Stephanie Takyi, who supports the continuation of Strictly, and broadcaster Neev Spencer, who believes it might be time for a fresh concept.
Neev has blasted the current state of Strictly Come Dancing, lamenting: "20 years is a long time, and I think Strictly has not been the same since we lost Bruce [Forsyth]. Genuinely. I think a lot of the stories, a lot of the controversy, just overshadows it. I feel like the show has become a media vehicle for gossip."
Kate rebuffed, suggesting that with Anton Du Beke now on the judging panel and Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly at the helm, a "whole new generation" is falling in love with the show. She challenged Neev's nostalgia, asking: "Is that just because you have rose-tinted spectacles of the past?"
Neev responded, expressing a yearning for the past: "It used to be more fun now it's become much more serious."
The discussion follows Zara McDermott's heartfelt admission about her own Strictly journey: "So much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with."
She then revealed a darker side to her experience: "However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch," she disclosed.
Zara courageously opened up further: "I have wrestled with the fear of opening up- I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I've gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show."
"The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I've seen through working with countless women on my documentaries."
"I would like to thank the BBC and BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me - it really truly means a lot."
