BBC bosses ‘refuse’ to share Strictly training footage with Graziano Di Prima

Graziano Di Prima has reportedly requested footage of his Strictly Come Dancing training with Zara McDermott, but the BBC have allegedly refused to share it.

It is said that ‘HR rules and regulations’ have been provided as the reason for not being able to provide.

‘The BBC made it clear he couldn’t see the tape when he was told he wouldn’t be included in the show this year,’ a friend told the Daily Mail.

‘Graz has never seen the tape – and isn’t allowed to.’

It’s been alleged that Di Prima, 30, ‘kicked and hit’ his 2023 partner while they were rehearsing for the ballroom and Latin show, and he is now no longer part of the Strictly 2024 line-up after previously being announced.

Di Prima said he ‘deeply regrets the actions’ that led to his departure from Strictly. ‘My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime,’ he admitted.

McDermott, 27, said videos of ‘particular incidents’ were ‘incredibly distressing to watch’ and thanked BBC for their ‘swift action’.

Di Prima has flown out to Italy to be with his family, and working on a farm picking grapes for £6 per hour. He is said to be ‘under medical supervision’ as his family have said that they are ‘deeply concerned’.

A friend of Di Prima told Metro.co.uk: ‘Graziano is trying to find some peace away from what’s happening so he’s reverted back to his roots as he comes from an agricultural background. It’s hard manual labour in the fields, but it’s what he wants to do.’

They continued: ‘Taking the job isn’t about the £6 per hour, but it’s about getting away from everything. The past few weeks have had a profoundly negative impact on his mental health, and the work is almost meditative while he deals with the stress.’

The BBC originally confirmed his exit from Strictly earlier this month in a statement which read: ‘We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

‘While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.’

Concern around the treatment of contestants on Strictly was raised after Amanda Abbington’s early withdrawal from the competition last year, who also claims she’s not been able to view footage. She alleges that 50 hours of tape was captured showing a ‘toxic’ rehearsal room during an interview with Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

She accused professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, 33, of ‘abusive’ behaviour, and claims that participating in Strictly left her with PTSD. Pernice has denied any wrongdoing.

More former contestants, including Laura Whitmore, have since come forward to share their own experiences.

Director general of the BBC Tim Davies has apologised to contestants on the show who have had an experience that ‘hasn’t been wholly positive’.

He told journalists that there will inevitably be ‘competitiveness, hard work and the will to do well’ on the show, ‘but there are limits and the line should never be crossed’.

The BBC have made changes to the upcoming series including the introduction of a chaperone in every training session.

Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and Graziano’s representatives for comment.

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