Death In Paradise star 'signs up for Strictly Come Dancing' as the scandal-hit show continues to battle abuse claims Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] READ MORE : Full list of claims against Strictly Come Dancing professionals By Lily Jobson For Mailonline Published: 08:50, 27 July 2024 | Updated: 08:51, 27 July 2024 e-mail View comments A former Death In Paradise star has reportedly signed up for new the series Strictly Come Dancing amid the ongoing 'abuse' scandal. Ralf Little quit the lead role in Death In Paradise after five years earlier this year, with a final appearance in March's series 13 finale.
Bookies have predicted that he could be in the running to star on the BBC show as his odds currently sit at 4/7. The actor's odds are better than some of his rumoured co-stars, according to The Sun. It's been previously reported that other names set to take part in the new series will include Nick Knowles , EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and social media star Grace Keeling, known as GK Barry.
A former Death In Paradise star has reportedly signed up for new the series Strictly Come Dancing amid the ongoing 'abuse' scandal Ralf Little quit the lead role in Death In Paradise after five years earlier this year, with a final appearance in March's series 13 finale It comes as Strictly was plunged into further crisis after Amanda Abbington claimed that sacked dancer Giovanni Pernice was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage'. During a new interview , the actress 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'. Amanda claims Giovanni has tried to stop her legal team from accessing the video 'evidence' after producers were forced to put cameras in the dance studio after Amanda raised concerns.
Read More Strictly Come Dancing fans throw their support behind emotional Amanda Abbington A string of professional dancers on the show have been accused of abusive behaviour by former celebrity contestants, with professional Graziano Di Prima sacked by bosses over alleged footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott . 'There's 50 hours of footage that's being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,' she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
'It's out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I'm not the one who's blocking it. I've said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn't want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he's got nothing to hide.
' The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni's rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was 'going on' between the pair. Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue. Bookies have predicted that he could be in the running to star on the BBC show as his odds currently sit at 4/7 It's been previously reported that other names set to take part in the new series will include Nick Knowles (pictured), EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and social media star Grace Keeling, known as GK Barry It comes as Amanda Abbington claimed that sacked dancer Giovanni Pernice was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage' Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured on the show) 'So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,' the actress explained, as she fought back tears.
'Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn't ask for the cameras, I know that he didn't ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said, 'we're going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what's going on'. Read More Strictly's Amanda Abbington sends thinly-veiled message to Giovanni Pernice following 'mad woman' 'And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, 'we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we're so sorry'. 'That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.
' Throughout the interview, Guru-Murthy, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature', with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement. 'Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,' she said, clarifying it was not harassment.
Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the Beeb investigators and 'remains fully confident in clearing his name'. Disputing Amanda's claims once again following the interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: 'The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us. 'They do not resemble Amanda's latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form.
Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.' After the fallout, Amanda said she did not hear from any one at the BBC again, claiming: 'I haven't spoken to anyone from the BBC since Strictly. 'No one from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, either through me or my lawyer.
' On Tuesday, the BBC's director-general Tim Davie warned that the 'line should never be crossed' said: 'I'm very sorry that anyone has had an experience on Strictly that hasn't been wholly positive . 'I think that is something we do reflect on, and I'm sorry about that. If someone feels there was something wrong or they wanted to talk about their experience, then, of course, we want them to raise that with us and be in no doubt, we will take it seriously.
' Mr Davie added: 'Of course, alongside the fun and entertainment, there will be a degree of competitiveness, hard work, and a will to do well. That's part of what makes this show. 'But there are limits and the line should never be crossed.
We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.' Share or comment on this article: Death In Paradise star 'signs up for Strictly Come Dancing' as the scandal-hit show continues to battle abuse claims e-mail Add comment.
