BBC faces massive £1m legal bill amid Strictly probe with celebrities in line for payouts

Strictly Complaints

The BBC is facing a potential £1 million personal injury bill as more and more celebrities from Strictly Come Dancing are raising complaints about their time on the show. Stars are lining up claims citing physical or mental health harm, as well as loss of earnings. Lawyers acting for Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore, and at least one male star are offering their services pro bono, potentially in line for a cut of any compensation given to their clients.

The Beeb has been under scrutiny after launching a probe into Giovanni Pernice's alleged misconduct and sacking pro dancer Graziano Di Prima for an incident during rehearsals. The situation has escalated over the past two months, with more stars coming forward with grievances and significant grounds for personal injury claims.

If successful, the BBC could be forced to pay out over £1 million, raising concerns for the tax-payer-funded show.

Others Who Could Sue

Fern Britten: 2012

Former This Morning host Fern Britton, partnered with Artem Chigvintsev in 2012, described her time on Strictly as "grim." She claimed that Artem mistreated her during rehearsals, making threatening comments and behaving inappropriately.

Georgina Bouzova: 2006

Casualty actress Georgina Bouzova, paired with James Jordan in 2006, faced mistreatment during rehearsals. James made derogatory comments, controlled her diet, and threatened her, leading to a distressing situation.

Fiona Phillips: 2005

TV presenter Fiona Phillips, partnered with Brendan Cole in 2005, was subjected to disrespectful and derogatory comments. Brendan's behavior, including threatening remarks and inappropriate comments, created a hostile environment for Fiona.

Anneka Rice: 2019

Telly presenter Anneka Rice, paired with Kevin Clifton in 2019, spoke out about her negative experience on the show. She described feeling broken, depressed, and physically injured, requiring months of physiotherapy for a whiplash injury.