Although it has yet to air, the new season of Strictly Come Dancing has already sparked some controversy.
The BBC has been unveiling the identities of the 15 performers who will take to the dancefloor in their bid to win the season 21 championship throughout the last week.
Angela Rippon, the show’s oldest competitor, will appear, as will Family Fortune host Les Dennis, EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, and former Love Islander Zara McDermott.
However, there has been some criticism along the road.
There’s been some criticism that some stars have an unfair advantage due to their professional dancing experience, a former BBC journalist who blasted the broadcaster being cast, another revealing he’s been diagnosed with a chronic illness, and some fans threatening to boycott after past comments by a star were uncovered.
For those who haven’t been paying attention, here’s a rundown of what’s been going on.
Actress Amanda Abbington accused of transphobia
Soon after Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington was named as the first star in the upcoming series’ cast, she was accused of transphobia based on old social media statements she made.
Amanda responded to footage from a Caba Baba Rave, a baby sensory and cabaret presentation for parents and their babies aged 0-2 years old, earlier this year.
Following a video of the rave showing a person dancing in boots and a bondage harness, the actress tweeted that the show was ‘not for babies’ and said that ‘if you think it is, there is something fundamentally wrong with you’.
In a subsequent tweet, she penned: ‘I lost quite a few followers for saying that a semi-naked man in thigh-high boots dancing in a highly sexualised way shouldn’t be performing in front of babies and it tells me everything I need to know about where society is heading. How do you not agree with me on this?’
When these became public, several vowed to boycott the performance because of her involvement.
Amanda stepped up her statements earlier this week, although she claimed they were transphobic.
Describing drag queens as ‘hilarious and brilliant and an art form’, Amanda added: ‘I think there’s absolutely a place for it in the entertainment industry.’
Newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s swipe at BBC
While he is presently Channel 4’s longest-serving announcer, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy previously worked for Strictly broadcaster BBC for seven years in the 1990s.
However, it is his recent statements in the aftermath of the Gary Lineker controversy that are alleged to have ruffled up the BBC when he was named as part of the dance series’ cast.
He revealed on The Political Party podcast in March that he ‘enjoys’ when the BBC is in crisis, despite the fact that he ‘cherishes’ it.
‘There may be a boss you knew 20 years ago that you’re quite enjoying watching screw up or they sacked your friend, whatever that might be,’ he said.
‘There are grudges in the media obviously, which I’m quite happy to continue.’
The historic statements had irritated bosses, according to insiders.
‘A place on Strictly is one of TV’s golden tickets so it’s far from a good look that one of the cast has been criticising the BBC and even worse when the channel made their name,’ an insider told The Sun.
‘Everyone was excited to get Krishnan on board but this has cast a bit of a shadow. The bosses are not happy.’
Fans accuse Layton Williams and Angela Rippon of having an unfair advantage
While the discussion of contestants’ varying degrees of dancing expertise is one that occurs year after year, some viewers were once again underwhelmed by the talents that were cast this year.
West End star Layton Williams was confirmed as part of the lineup this week, but some were apparently upset even before he was formally disclosed.
As a child, he rose to prominence as the lead in Billy Elliot before moving on to feature in numerous theatrical plays such as Hairspray, Rent, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Layton appeared on television as Stephen Carmichael in the Jack Whitehall comedy Bad Education, as well as in comedian Greg Davis’ shows The Cleaner and I Hate Suzie.
However, a source told the Daily Mail that his casting risked “ruffling some feathers.”
However, in an interview with The One Show, the singer acknowledged that while he was a “perfectionist” when it came to dancing, he wasn’t trained in ballroom and Latin and was “pretty nervous.”
While journalist Angela Rippon is most known for her broadcast expertise, including hosting the series Come Dancing, which inspired Strictly, her dancing abilities are sure to make some of her opponents apprehensive.
Head judge Shirley Ballas reminded viewers earlier this week that Angela, 78, can still do the splits, a skill she demonstrated on-screen two years ago.
Soap star Adam Thomas reveals he’s been diagnosed with arthritis
Waterloo Road singer Adam Thomas announced he’d just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis shortly after being unveiled as a prospective Strictly contender.
The actor said that he had been in agony for six months but had finally received a diagnosis after much back and forth with physicians.
However, he said the dancing show actually couldn’t have come at a better time for him and while it would be ‘tough’, he felt ‘up for the challenge’ and still ‘can’t wait to get on the dance floor’.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC later this year.
Source My Celebrity Life.
