STRICTLY legend Ann Widdecombe has told “complaining” stars to “grow up” in a scathing rant.
The politician defended the BBC show – insisted the celebrities are “in control”.
It comes after Zara McDermott was understood to be “too scared” to speak out about Graziano Di Prima’s behaviour in training.
He was sacked last week for misconduct following claims he hit, spat at and kicked Zara during rehearsals.
Speaking on the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 today, Ann said: “I’m sorry, I don’t have much patience, for two reasons.
“First of all, everything that you do when you are training is filmed and recorded, and there’s usually two people there, both sound and camera, but always at least one.’
“So there’s already a third party in the room and it’s all on record. And if somebody is being kicked and punched, that should have been filmed, that’s the first thing.
“The second thing is, amazingly as it may appear, it is the celebrity who’s in control. You can say, ‘sorry, I can’t do any more today’.
“And in fact, one of the professionals told me a story of how he drove all the way to Brighton for the training session with his celeb, and she said, ‘oh, terribly sorry, I’m off to get a new bathroom’.
“We are actually in control. We can say, ‘sorry, I’m worn out, I’ve had enough, can’t do the thing you want me to do’.’
“Now, you know these are adults. I’d take a very seriously view of this if these were kids. These are adults.
“What do we mean, bullied? These are adults, what do we mean bulling? Why didn’t they take action?”
Giovanni Pernice sensationally quit the show after being engulfed by serious complaints about his behaviour towards celebrity partners.
Amanda Abbington – who he was coupled up with last year – claimed she was suffering from PTSD after being on Strictly.
Giovanni denies the claims, saying his methods stem from being a “100 per cent perfectionist”.
Ann hit out at the news celebrity dancers are going to have a chaperone during their rehearsal time on Strictly.
It comes as the BBC officially announced new guidelines to protect stars taking part in this year’s competition.
Executives rushed to toughen up its duty of care rules after the scandal-hit show was thrown into chaos in recent months.
Ann continued: “Amanda says that she had, you know, post-traumatic stress disorder, as if she’d been in a war. It’s a dance competition. Grow up everybody, grow up.
“It’s pathetic, if they can’t say, you know that their professional is treating them in a way.
“Why didn’t she simply call a halt and say, ‘until you behave better, I am not going on with this, and if you’ve got a problem, you go and you tell the producers what you’re doing’, why didn’t she do that?”
Ann was partnered with Anton Du Beke on Strictly in 2010.
The comedic pair lasted nine weeks in the competition before being eliminated.
