Strictly Come Dancing's Feuds: Behind the Scenes Drama

Away from the glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing, tensions can run high behind the scenes. Over the years, the hit BBC show has seen its fair share of rumored feuds and backstage spats between co-stars, dancers, and even judges. From Adam Thomas and Zara McDermott's simmering tensions to the bitter war of words between Danny Dyer and James Jordan, let's take a closer look at some of the show's fiercest backstage conflicts.

Amy Dowden vs Danny John-Jules

The partnership between Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules and Welsh dancer Amy Dowden in 2018 was far from happy. Reports surfaced that BBC bosses had to warn Danny about his "bullying" behavior towards Amy. Despite Danny's denial and claims that the BBC hid the truth about an injury Amy sustained, tensions between the two were palpable.

James Jordan vs Danny Dyer

In 2015, Danny Dyer and James Jordan engaged in a bitter war of words. The EastEnders star's support for his on-screen wife Kellie Bright during her Strictly journey and a series of contentious tweets sparked the feud. Danny accused James of living off his wife's earnings, while James fired back with a comment about Danny's alleged drug use.

Katya Jones vs Nadiya Bychkova

Reports of tension between professional dancers Katya Jones and Nadiya Bychkova emerged during the Strictly Arena tour last year. Sources claimed that Katya, known for being in the spotlight, was jealous of the attention Nadiya was receiving due to her romance with fellow pro Kai Widdrington. However, Katya dismissed these rumors and condemned the war in Ukraine.

Ola Jordan vs Kristina Rihanoff

A backstage battle between Ola Jordan and Kristina Rihanoff reportedly led to both pros leaving the show in 2016. The jealousy-fueled feud created an uncomfortable atmosphere among the dancers. Kristina later denied the rumors and stated that she had a good relationship with everyone on the show.

Craig Revel Horwood vs Brendan Cole

Judge Craig Revel Horwood and fiery dancer Brendan Cole frequently clashed on screen, challenging each other's critiques. The animosity even spilled over to the New Zealand version of the show. After Brendan's departure from Strictly in 2018, Craig extended an olive branch, but their lunch meeting didn't go well.

Fern Britton vs Artem Chigvintsev

Presenter Fern Britton's participation in the show in 2012 was marred by her frosty relationship with partner Artem Chigvintsev. Three years later, Fern claimed that Artem used to "kick" and "shove" her during rehearsals. Artem denied the allegations, stating that he treated Fern with respect and care.

Greg Wallace vs Aliona Vilani

MasterChef star Greg Wallace's early departure from the 2014 season led him to blame his dance partner, Aliona Vilani. In response, Aliona retweeted messages calling for her to be paired with a better partner in the future. The following year, Aliona lifted the glitterball trophy with The Wanted star Jay McGuinness.

Brendan Cole vs Anastacia

Rock singer Anastacia clashed with Brendan Cole during their partnership in 2016. The rigorous training reportedly led to Anastacia painfully ripping her mastectomy scars. Despite their clashes, Anastacia stated that they got along very well, although she didn't keep in touch with Brendan after he left the show.

Brendan Cole vs Lulu

Brendan Cole's partnership with Sixties legend Lulu in 2011 fell apart during training. Lulu later revealed that she found working with Brendan difficult, while Brendan called her his worst ever partner during an interview. They both agreed that their working relationship wasn't pleasant.

Anton du Beke vs Bruno Tonioli

Anton du Beke replaced Bruno Tonioli as a judge in the 2021 series due to travel restrictions. Rumors of a feud started when Bruno commented that Anton needed the money. However, Anton dismissed the rumors, stating that Bruno was only joking. The two had not spoken since Anton took over as a judge.

Giovanni Pernice vs Richie Anderson

Last year, rumors of a rift between dancer Giovanni Pernice and partner Richie Anderson surfaced. Richie's over-excitement during training reportedly made it difficult for Giovanni to rein him in. However, Richie thanked Giovanni for being the best teacher during their time together on the show.