Strictly stars ‘feuding with BBC bosses’ over song choices and ‘creative control’
STRICTLY Come Dancing performing couples are reportedly in conflict with show producers.
The dance professional and celebrity pairings are said to be unhappy with various aspects of the show’s production, including routine content and song choice.
According to the Daily Star, behind-the-scenes affairs are reportedly not as seamless as they might appear.
A source said: “The producers are helicoptering the couples and giving them very limited control over what routines they can do and in which order.
“Even the song choice is a battle and the couples are getting seriously fed up.”
They continued: “They understand there needs to be a certain element of control to ensure there are no duplicate routines and that music can be sourced, but it feels like they are being challenged on every aspect of their creativity and it’s become a bit of a warzone.”
It comes after judge Anton Du Beke spoke out on allegations that he and the other judges have been asked to ‘fix’ the results to keep contestants in the show.
A number of viewers have accused the show of giving Angela Rippon higher scores than her dancing merits to keep her in the show.
However, appearing on Times Radio, Anton cleared up the unproved rumour, saying that he has never been asked to fix the voting.
When asked by Jane Garvey if Angela was always going to get to Blackpool, he responded: “No, are you mad? No.
“If she was terrible in week one, she’d have been first to go, probably. It doesn’t really work that way.”
Anton also insisted that Angela remained in the competition because she deserved to be there.
“The suggestion is that we care more about who stays and who goes out than we do, we don’t care. Makes no difference to us,” he continued.
“What does it make to me? The producers don’t speak to me. They don’t come to me and go, ‘Listen, we wouldn’t mind if you kept such-and-such in.’”