Strictly’s off-air scandals – from star’s shock arrest before final to doping claims & producer fury over racy calendars
IT'S all sequins and glitter on screen, but behind the scenes the bosses of Strictly Come Dancing have had to deal with a few cast missteps over the years.
This week Angela Scanlon found herself in hot water after sharing a video of herself dancing while hanging out of the window of a moving car.
The RTE presenter, 39, later apologised, admitting it was “absolutely the wrong decision” and she'd let her "giddy" excitement from rehearsals "get the better" of her judgement.
The clip was reported to Hertfordshire Police which is yet to confirm if it will take further action.
Here we take a look at other Strictly scandals which unfolded off-air -from doping allegations to producer fury over raunchy calendars...
Offensive remarks
Anton Du Beke risked derailing his career back in 2009 after making ill-advised and offensive comments about his dancer partner, actress Laila Rouass.
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It was alleged the professional dancer called her a “P***” and said: “You’re not a terrorist are you?”
The remarks followed claims that the duo had clashed hours before a live show and Laila was left “in tears” in an executive’s office.
It was also alleged Anton told Laila to wear her backless frock “back to front” and added: “We’ll all have a lovely time.”
In an apology the dancer-turned-judge said: “I am not a racist and I do not use racist language.
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“During our rehearsals, Laila and I have exchanged a great deal of banter – entirely in jest – and two weeks ago there was an occasion where this term was used between the two of us.
“There was no racist intent whatsoever. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused.”
Later Laila confirmed that she had “accepted” his apology and said she was “really enjoying” her time as Anton’s dance partner.
They finished fourth - but the Footballers Wives actress later claimed on The Graham Norton Radio Show that the dance show was a "nightmare" and she and "really wanted to leave".
Doping claims
In 2016 Strictly became embroiled in a performance-enhancing drug scandal.
It followed undercover reporters from recording Dr Mark Bonar claiming to have supplied the medication to 150 sportspeople and two Strictly stars.
Dr Bonar, who later denied all claims of wrongdoing, allegedly charged £780 for an initial consultation and a blood test during the sting.
The BBC refused to comment on the allegations due to an “absence of any evidence or further information” being presented to them including the dancers’ names.
'Fake' standing ovation
Singer Jamelia let loose on Strictly: It Takes Two after being voted off the competition in week nine back in 2015.
She said she felt Peter Andre should have been sent home instead of her, and claimed the production team “re-recorded” the audience’s response to his dance.
Jamelia said: “I think we did a great last dance… I think [I had hope] until they re-recorded Pete's 'standing ovation' - I'd say that was the moment I realised we were going home."
To emphasise her point, the singer used air quotes when she said the words “standing ovation”.
Jamelia said there were “no hard feelings whatsoever” but afterwards left a cryptic post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“May the bridges I burn, Light the way…” she wrote, signing off the comment with fire, kiss face and heart emojis.
Naughty confession
Professional dancers Ola and James Jordan created a furore when they admitted they got frisky in a dressing room while working together on Strictly.
The married couple fessed up after being asked about the naughtiest place they had ever had sex in a 2016 interview with Now magazine.
Ola said sheepishly: “Er… the Strictly dressing room! Did I just say that?”
James clarified it was in in the room “next door to Brucie” - referring to the late Bruce Forsyth - and claimed the BBC “would not be happy” about the revelation.
The couple worked on the show from 2006 - James left in 2013 and Ola left two years later.
Shock arrest
Ricky Whittle was accused of dangerous driving and deliberately hitting a photographer with his car back in 2009 - days before the Strictly final.
The actor, who was cleared one year later, struck Stephen Pharrell leaving him with minor injuries after leaving a Hollyoaks party at 1.30am.
The prosecution claimed Ricky acted out of “irritation” because the photographer had tried to take photos of him with his former girlfriend Carley Stenson.
However, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court decided the star did not intentionally turn his wheel to hit Stephen and acquitted him of all charges.
Ricky, who sobbed after the verdict was announced, said: "It's been nine months of hell. I'm so glad it's over.”
He claimed he spent a fortune on legal costs and was annoyed over having "lost support during Strictly”, adding it “cost me meetings and campaigns”.
Raunchy calendar row
Back in 2015, Strictly bosses were said to be furious after Ola and Kristina Rihanoff released raunchy calendars that included photos of them posing nude.
A source told that show bigwigs felt the sizzling snaps were damaging the BBC programme’s “family friendly” reputation.
They said: “It’s all started to get a bit tacky with near-naked photoshoots and books spilling the intimate details of relationships.
“So a clean-up is under way and from next year bosses will be clamping down on extra projects undertaken by the professionals.
“They want the show to be about the dancing."
Ola’s husband James leapt to her defence, arguing the photos were “not hurting anybody” and she was “not doing anything she shouldn’t be” as the calendars were not on the show or publicised by it.
3am street brawl
Earlier this year Helen Skelton was caught in the middle of a “brutal” 3am street brawl after a Strictly live tour performance.
The presenter and her pals, who had been on a night out in Leeds after the gig, reportedly had to take “refuge down an alleyway” until police arrived.
A source told The Sun: “All of a sudden it kicked off as some of the group were walking back to the hotel. Two groups of lads were fighting and bottles and glasses went flying.”
Helen narrowly avoided being hit by a glass bottle that had been hurled during the clash and was said to have “looked shaken afterwards”.
The following morning she was seen with what looked like a bruise on her cheek - but it was not clear if it was caused by being struck by a projectile, or poorly applied make-up.
'Hurtful' remark
In 2019, Craig Revel Horwood apologised after making a "hurtful" remark about the partnership between Strictly winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
According to a Sun source, the judge - known as Mr Nasty - suggested sleeping with a dance partner increased chemistry during performances.
We were told filming stopped abruptly after the remark and the segment was refilmed, meaning the inflammatory comments never made it to air.
At the time Craig apologised, admitting it was “hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful” and was “a huge error of judgement” that he regretted.
However, a month later the no-nonsense judge suggested she was forced to say sorry by the BBC and backtracked on his remarks.
Craig told New magazine: “Did I [apologise] or was that the BBC? Oh yes, I did. It was very grovel-ly. It doesn’t sound like me. You’d think I’d done something really out of order.
“A jokey remark was treated like it was the start of World War Three. I guess if some people are quite sensitive then they need the apology. So I just apologised.”
Bullying claims
Danny John-Jules, who appeared on the show in 2018, blasted the show as “dirty” and “filthy” after being accused of bullying.
It was claimed the Red Dwarf actor left dance partner Amy Dowden in tears on multiple occasions and at one point angrily told her: “I’m the star, not you.”
Danny vehemently denied the claims - including that he had been given a final warning by Strictly bosses.
At the time a source said: “Amy’s been crying constantly at the hands of Danny. He gets very angry in the training room and he swears and shouts at her a lot.”
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Last year Danny claimed producers resented his work ethic and “came up with [a] cockamamie story about bullying” as a way to evict him from the show.
In response a BBC spokesperson said: “This claim is categorically untrue.”