The BBC has announced plans to introduce rehearsal chaperones on Strictly Come Dancing after complaints from former contestants.
Following the news that professional dancers, Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice, are stepping down from their roles and will not be returning to the cast of the ever-popular BBC reality competition show when it returns later this year, the BBC has now announced some additional steps to strengthen welfare and support on the show.
These new measures follow complaints made about training and rehearsal expectations from some of the professional dancers, as well as their treatment of contestants and overall conduct.
Former Love Island star and documentary maker, Zara McDermott – who competed on Strictly Come Dancing last year, and was partnered with Graziano Di Prima – is the first former contestant to publicly speak out against her professional dance partner’s conduct on the show.
The media personality notably took to social media this week to share her personal account.
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BBC to introduce Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal chaperones following ex-contestant complaints / Credit: BBC iPlayer
The 27-year-old said she had “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her time and experiences on the show because she feared the “public backlash” and “victim shaming” that could come with it.
Ultimately though, McDermott said she gained strength to “face those fears” and speak out.
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“So much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of,” McDermott wrote in her statement shared to her Instagram Stories yesterday (16 July).
“The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with. However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”
Zara McDermott is the first ex-contestant to publicly speak about her experiences and treatment on the show / Credit: BBC | Zara McDermott (via Instagram)
The BBC says that, due to the concerns having arisen in recent months being “fundamentally” about training and rehearsals, the actions and additional “practical” steps it has announced this week are “designed to address that”, for the most part.
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The broadcaster says that, as “a matter of course”, it takes duty of care “extremely seriously”, and its processes on Strictly Come Dancing updated every year to reflect this – with its intentions being to continue to keep this under “constant review”.
So, from this upcoming series of the show onwards, the BBC has confirmed that there will be a production team member present during training room rehearsals “at all times”.
On top of this, the broadcaster says it intends to increase existing support with the addition of two new roles on the show dedicated to welfare support – a ‘Celebrity Welfare Producer’ and a ‘Professional Dancer Welfare Producer’.
Further training will also be delivered to the wider production team and crew.
Kate Phillips, who is the BBC’s Director of Unscripted, admitted that while the broadcaster knows its shows have been positive experiences “for the vast majority” of those who have taken part, she said that “if issues are raised with us, or we’re made aware of inappropriate behaviour, we will always take that seriously and act.”
Featured Image – BBC
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No trains are set to run through Stockport station for three weeks this summer – here’s why
Danny Jones
Commuters can expect some significant disruption to a major rail link this summer, as no trains are set to pass through Stockport train station for the best part of a month due to fairly sizeable maintenance worksnearby.
As a result, those catching the trains in and around the North West will have to make do with alternative services, diversions and rail replacement buses for at least three weeks.
With the Stockport station ‘Masterplan‘ officially announced in 2024, the key Greater Manchester connection is set for a major overhaul in the coming years, with the aim of turning it into a “modern facility” fitting of the town’s ongoing resurgence.
First up, it seems, is the long overdue replacement of the Greek Street roundabout bridge, which was built back in 1958 and has been in need of updating for some time.
⏳10 weeks to go❗️
From 2-23 August, trains won't run through Stockport while we rebuild the Greek Street railway bridge as part of a £20m investment in safer, stronger journeys
🚧Rail replacement buses will be in place and more information to come
— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) May 30, 2025
More details surrounding specific travel arrangements are set to be distributed to the public in the coming weeks, but Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmed they will be accepting train tickets on Bee Network buses in the meantime.
While the ticket office and underpass between Edgeley and the recently regenerated Stockport Exchange will remain open, the station itself will be virtually out of operation for three weeks in August.
At present, the works are scheduled to last from Saturday, 2-23 August, so many of those travelling through the town during this time may need to make alternative arrangements.
Issuing an update late last month, Network Rail’s project manager William Brandon said: “The work to strengthen Stockport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make train journeys on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line safer and more reliable.
“I understand that closing the railway through Stockport for 21 days will be inconvenient to our passengers, and I am sorry about this […] I’d advise passengers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for their journey.”
The area in question. (Credit: Network Rail)
Network Rail clarified that while the Greek Street bridge is being demolished and the new one (which is set to last all the way up until 2145) is reinstalled, engineers have already been working closely with utility companies in the locale to safely divert gas, water, electricity and so on.
As for Avanti West Coast themselves, Stockport Station Manager, Lisa Magee, went on to add: “While there’ll be no trains to or from Stockport for 21 days […] Avanti West Coast teams will be on hand to support those making journeys via rail replacement bus.
“Together with Network Rail and other train operators, we’re finalising the timetable and will share more details in the coming weeks, so customers can plan their journeys in advance.”
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding, and as always, we strongly encourage them to check the National Rail website, as well as with their train operators, for the latest updates.”
This isn’t the only major travel update for SK announced as of late, either – something much bigger is coming to the borough as part of the Bee Network expansion.
Two teens arrested on suspicion of murder of another teenage boy in New Moston
Emily Sergeant
Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after another teenage boy was killed in New Moston.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called out to reports of a serious assault at Nevin Road, in the New Moston area of Manchester, at around 5pm on Sunday (8 June 2025), and when they arrived at the scene, they found a teenage victim who was critically injured.
The victim – who police have now confirmed to be a 14-year-old boy – later died in hospital, despite the best efforts of all the emergency services and staff from the air ambulance involved.
Early investigations established the identities of possible suspects, and after attending a nearby address, police first confirmed that a 37-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Then a short time later, two people – both males aged 14 and 16 – were arrested on suspicion of murder, and not long after, a further 14-year-old female was arrested overnight, again on suspicion of assisting an offender.
At this time, all four of the suspects arrested remain in custody for questioning.
#ARREST | We have arrested two boys, aged 14 and 16, on suspicion of murder after the death of a 14-year-old boy yesterday, in north #Manchester.
— Moston Harpurhey Police (GMP) (@Gmpmoston) June 9, 2025
“This incident will have shocked and saddened the local community, and distressed anyone who witnessed it,” commented Detective Chief Inspector, John Charlton.
“We are deploying significant resources to this murder investigation, and this led to quickly identifying potential suspects. We are still trying to establish the full circumstances around the incident, so there will be a large police presence and several scenes in place while we continue to investigate this horrific incident.
“The boy’s family are being supported by our officers and we are determined to give them the answers they deserve.”
Police say that despite making several arrests, this is still a ‘live investigation’.
Officers are now actively appealing for information, doorbell or dashcam footage, or eyewitness accounts from anyone who was in the area at the time, so if you think you can help, contact police on 101 quoting log 2250 of 8/6/25, or use the LiveChat function on the GMP website.
Information can also be reported to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
17th July 2024 
