Just hours after Strictly bosses were informed that professional dancer Graziano Di Prima was about to be dismissed for allegedly physically abusing his partner Zara McDermott, they began urgently seeking a replacement.
Rumors circulating within the BBC’s central London headquarters suggested a video might be circulating, purportedly showing the 30-year-old Italian kicking the former Love Island star.
Di Prima later issued an apology, stating, “If, as a teacher, I have been too professional, too passionate, too competitive, or too strict with you, I am sorry.”
The revelation about Graziano Di Prima followed closely on the heels of complaints from contestant Amanda Abbington, who alleged that her dance partner Giovanni Pernice bullied her during rehearsals—a claim Pernice has strongly denied. With the 2024 line-up announcement imminent and two male dancers suddenly unavailable, the show faced a pressing need to secure replacements.
To address the shortage, the show turned to Aljaz Skorjanec, the popular Slovenian dancer who left the show in 2021. Crucially, Skorjanec left on good terms, making him an ideal candidate to fill the gap and partner with the female celebrities.
