- Why this could be the end for Strictly. Read the exclusive report here
Strictly professional dancer Graziano Di Prima has been sacked by the BBC following claims of gross misconduct towards his former partner Zara McDermott.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Italian star was spoken to by bosses of the Saturday night dance show this week and his contract terminated.
One show source said: ‘Graziano had to go. It has been awful.’
His departure took place at the same time as Strictly announced that their much-loved pro Aljaž Škorjanec had returned to the show two years after he quit.
Graziano joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with Love Island star Zara but they were eliminated in week six.
Zara McDermott, 26, pictured with her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima, 29, before they were eliminated during Halloween week
Love Island’s Zara McDermott spotted with her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima in 2023
Zara McDermott stuns in a lilac jumpsuit with her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima
Graziano Di Prima kisses his wife Giada Lini, who is an Italian dancer
He was previously paired with Loose Women star Judi Love and in 2022 he reached the quarter-final with actor Kym Marsh.
Graziano’s sacking has heaped further turmoil on Strictly, which is deemed to be the jewel in the Corporation’s crown and is still watched by more than ten million people.
The complaint was made recently and prompted the BBC to extend the inquiry that was ongoing over claims that Giovanni Pernice had bullied his partner Amanda Abbington during training.
Sources on the show say that Graziano’s behaviour makes Amanda’s claims that Giovanni bruised her toe during rehearsals seem ‘miniscule.’
One said: ‘It seems that whatever Gio has done it opened a can of worms.
‘It is incredibly brave of Zara to have come forward, it is never easy for a woman or indeed anyone who has been mistreated to do that.’
Graziano, who was born in Sicily, was named in the line up of professionals which was unveiled by the BBC last month.
He was also set to be paired with a celebrity until he was contacted by Strictly bosses who wanted to question him about his behaviour towards Zara.
It also solves why the BBC quietly brought Aljaz back to the show. Some within the BBC have questioned why he was not unveiled alongside with the other professionals – particularly because the Beeb left fans waiting for some weeks following Mr Pernice’s departure before putting the final list out.
Insiders also noted that the Press were not given a heads up – instead, the announcement was made on the BBC’s own magazine programme, The One Show, on Monday evening.
Graziano Di Prima (left) dances with former Strictly partner Loose Women star Judi Love (right) in 2021
Di Prima (left) reached the quarter-final of the dance show with actor Kym Marsh (right) in 2022
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice during a live show on for Strictly Come Dancing in 2023
Presenter Laura Whitmore and dancer and choreographer Giovanni Pernice
Much-loved pro Aljaž Škorjanec (pictured) has returned to the show two years after he quit
One source said: ‘Usually when something like this happens the BBC give the wider media a heads up but this time the first anyone knew of it was a chat with Aljaz on The One Show and then it was quietly put up on the BBC’s press centre at 7.30pm the same day.
‘It meant that the announcement was in keeping with the narrative the BBC wanted, no questions were asked as to why he was being unveiled now.’
Sources close to Giovanni now say that he hopes that the investigation into him will be hurried up and he will soon receive an outcome so he can move forward with his life.
The BBC have been approached for comment as has a spokesman for Zara.
