THE return date for Strictly’s spin-off, It Takes Two, has been revealed – with a famous duo confirmed as presenters.
Janette Manrara and Fleur East will be back at the helm, providing Strictly Come Dancing fans with the inside scoop on all things backstage in the Ballroom
Airing on BBC Two and iPlayer at 6.30pm on Monday 23rd September, they’ll be bringing viewers all the behind-the scenes glamour and gossip.
As Strictly and It Takes Two return for the 20th year, once again bringing joy and sparkle to homes across the nation, Fleur and Janette will take a deep dive into what magic ingredients go into making the nation’s favourite dance show.
Former pro Janette said: “Do you know what’s the crazy thing about me and Fleur? We are so, so, so alike.
“And the more we hang out and spend time together, the more we start finding things that make us similar. So really, I feel like we’re just a piece of each other – literally the same.
“Whether you’ve got Fleur or me, you’re going to get the same kind of show because… I don’t know, we’re really similar.
“I mean, we’re both as silly and stupid as each other. We’re both very driven, we both love what we do, and we both love Strictly.”
X Factor star Fleur added: “I think we enable each other, like two naughty kids in a classroom egging each other on!
“We try to keep it cool, try and calm it down but we’re both Scorpios with a lot of energy, and we love to laugh so when we’re together that’s what happens.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas has said that “nothing is going to dampen” the 20th anniversary celebration following controversy hanging over the latest season.
Her defiant comment comes just hours before the BBC’s findings on claims of bullying behaviour by ex-Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice are expected to be released.
The BBC launched an investigation after 2023 participant Amanda Abbington made allegations about Giovanni, branding his behaviour “abusive”.
The Italian, who has since left the show, has denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation also prompted other previous contestants including Love Island star Zara McDermott, TV presenter Laura Whitmore and Paralympian Will Bayley to speak up about duty of care issues.
New measures to “strengthen welfare and support” on Strictly, including a chaperone who would be present during training-room rehearsals “at all times”, have been introduced.
Speaking about the situation, head judge Shriley said: “To be perfectly honest, I stay in my lane. I don’t condone anything that some people may have gone through, but all I could say is the show that we will be producing this year is full of humour.
“I’ve never laughed so much in all my life from the launch show. I mean that Chris McCausland and Wynne Evans, they’ve got their own little battle going on. I think it’s just such great camaraderie … this year and everybody seems bright and light, and nothing is going to dampen this show in any shape or form.”
She continued to PA:”It’s got new twists and turns this year, and don’t forget the millions and millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of people that this show brings joy to, from every age group – from four all the way up to grandpa or grandma.”
Comedian McCausland, who is the first blind Strictly contestant, opera singer Evans, DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, JLS star JB Gill, singer Toyah Willcox, Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri and reality TV star Pete Wicks are among the celebrities who are set to join the show this season as the first 2024 episode airs on Saturday.
Shirley went on to say that during competitive reality shows it is about the “pressure you put on yourself”.
Using her appearance competing on The Masked Singer as an example, she said: “Nobody put it on me. I had to go out there in front of millions and sing, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something out of my comfort zone.
“I had the most thrilling and marvellous time. It was probably one of the highlights of my career. So, when people go on to the show (Strictly), of course, each person puts themselves under different pressures, people are there for different reasons.
“People are there just have a good old time, like Chris McCausland. He just wants to be part of it. See what he can do, pick up some steps. So, I think the whole thing is going to be absolutely joyous this year.”
As part of the probe, it was reported that Strictly staff were asked to hand in their phones.
With just days before the series launch on Saturday, the £250,000 BBC investigation has reviewed all evidence.
And it has been revealed that crew members had their phones searched for references to Giovanni Pernice or Amanda Abbington, reports the Mirror.
Staff reportedly had their emails, texts and WhatsApps examined after the allegations.
The subject access request is understood to have been made to the BBC by Amanda’s team, to provide any personal data or information that might shed light on Gio and Amanda’s relationship.
A source said: “People complied with it in the hope that it shoots down any claims of a cover-up.”
Strictly Come Dancing's scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what's happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for “gross misconduct” after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he “deeply regrets it”, adding his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime.”
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were “amazing to work with”, she found the rehearsal room “completely different”, confirming there’s footage of “certain situations”.
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his “1970s attitude” and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a “p***” after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year’s series.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after ‘an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio’.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is ‘deeply sorry’, adding: “Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
“At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.”
24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the ‘humilation being of a sexual nature’.
27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong”.
She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others.
28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she “never felt pressured” by him and “personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day”.
10th August: Graziano breaks his silence on his Strictly axe, saying “these vile, false allegations have ruined my life.”
He also told of the “shocking” end to his friendship with Zara McDermott.
We also revealed that Amanda Abbington was also quizzed for a second time as Strictly execs recruited 15 new staff to monitor rehearsals.
11th August: Just as the investigation was expected to conclude, Amanda made a dramatic intervention. Giovanni was on the brink of being cleared until Amanda handed in more text messages.
24th August: Graziano Di Prima called in top lawyers to sue the BBC and to try to clear his name. He recruited big hitters Whitestone Chambers to fight his corner.
A source said: “They’ve also looked at his BBC contract and believe there are grounds to sue.”
Meanwhile, the BBC also delayed releasing the findings of the probe into Giovanni Pernice. The Sun revealed that the results of the three-month investigation were unlikely to be announced in August.
Sherlock actress Amanda made a series of accusations about Giovanni’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”.
But the complainant, 50, is braced for bad news, as she suspects bosses have sided with the Italian dancer, 34.
A source said: “The BBC are hopeful they will finally be able to share the findings of the probe but considering there have been so many delays, nothing is set in stone.
It is accepted the dossier won’t be released in full but instead a simple statement may be put out covering the conclusion.
“Either way there are many interested parties and it could pave the way for more celebrities or crew members to speak up.
“It’s down to the wire, but the BBC hope the sparkle of the new series launch could sweep away the scandal.”
