BBC Strictly Come Dancing bosses target 'national treasure' for new series
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Legendary Olympian Sir Mo Farah is rumoured to be lacing up his dancing shoes for a stint on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in what's seen as an attempt to rejuvenate the show after it was marred by controversies.
The hit dance series has been through turbulent times with Amanda Abbington levelling accusations of bullying against her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice in 2023.
Amanda unleashed a barrage of allegations regarding bullying behaviour, leading Giovanni to step back from the limelight post-scandal. Despite the controversy, he triumphed in the Italian version of Strictly and has since returned to the UK to embark on various dance endeavours.
Concurrently, Graziano Di Prima found himself cut from the show amid summer rumours that he had physically assaulted Zara, aged 27, which he vehemently refutes. He conceded that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime."
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In another blow to the show, Wynne Evans was removed from the Strictly live tour due to his conduct. Wynne recently appeared on This Morning to discuss the string of scandals he faced while participating in the BBC programme, confessing that the relentless negative media coverage plunged him into a profound mental health crisis.
"It took me into the darkest spot of my life. When the headlines keep coming and coming and coming, when something gets picked up and it just doesn't stop," he disclosed, reports the Mirror.
"I was at my lowest ebb, I wanted to end my life. I would have if I hadn't been surrounded by people.
"At one point, one the newspapers was so relentless, I remember saying to my girlfriend, 'I have to kill myself. I have to because this is what they want,'" he confessed, visibly emotional.
"You're full of these thoughts the entire time and it takes over your life," he shared with the presenters.
In other news, it's been suggested that Strictly Come Dancing are keen to recruit Sir Mo Farah for their line-up, as he's considered a "genuine national treasure".
An insider reportedly told The Sun: "His personality would provide the perfect tonic to the toxicity that's overshadowed Strictly. Bosses would love to sign him up but the talks are at a very early stage."
The BBC has been approached for a comment.
Strictly Come Dancing is due to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year
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