Candidates vying to become the new Strictly Come Dancing presenters face BBC “vetting” to avoid future scandals, in a move that will send “shivers” through the showbusiness world, insiders have said.
Nine potential successors to Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are this week being put through their paces in a full-scale reconstruction of a live Strictly Come Dancing episode.
Emma Willis, Rylan Clark, Zoe Ball and Tom Allen are among the names said to be taking part in auditions to discover which pairing of entertainment stars has the wit, sparkle and personal chemistry required to lead the “jewel in the BBC’s crown” into a new era.
Over the past week, they have been asked to perform in front of a judging panel and a live band, according to reports, and have all signed non-disclosure agreements regarding the “chemistry tests” taking place at a secret location.
But the contenders have to jump through an additional hoop – the presenters now face being “vetted” as the BBC seeks to make sure it isn’t plunged into further scandal following the sacking of Scott Mills.
The BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show DJ was dismissed after the corporation said it discovered new information about allegations of a historical sexual offence, first investigated in 2017, over which no charges were brought.
‘Nerves about Strictly’
An insider said: “The presenters in the mix have been told they will have to answer questions in a vetting-style process. This is the BBC’s biggest family show and there are a lot of nerves because Strictly has faced so many controversies in recent years.”
The person added: “There has always been a form of vetting on Strictly. With so many of the professional dancers coming from abroad, the show has to check that they have the right paperwork and certifications.”
It is standard practice for the production teams behind celebrity shows like Strictly to trawl through the social media of talent taking part for any historic posts likely to cause offence. Because the Strictly hopefuls are already well known, there are unlikely to be any bombshells in their online activity.
But the Mills affair has made the BBC more cautious about making high-profile talent appointments, including the DJ’s replacement on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
One senior figure said: “Sara Cox was the safe move to make. They will have wanted a woman after Mills and someone without a hint that there was anything in their past to be discovered.”
‘Celebs may prefer not to work for BBC’
One talent agent said: “If it’s standard employer checks like Disclosure and Barring Service (for a criminal record or police reprimands), that’s one thing. But a deep trawl to find something embarrassing that would send a shiver through the showbusiness world.
“A lot of celebrities have a past or have done risky or unwise things. They are still entitled to private lives. It might mean they prefer not to work for the BBC if it means a level of intrusion.”
There was some relief for Strictly recently when police said an investigation into a star name on the show, arrested on suspicion of rape, will be shut down because of “insufficient evidence” to pursue a prosecution.
But the show has weathered bullying allegations against pro dancer Giovanni Pernice (partially upheld after an inquiry), the sacking of dancer Graziano Di Prima for allegedly kicking his celebrity partner, a reprimand for contestant Wynne Evans for allegedly making sexualised comments to a female dancer, as well as allegations of alleged cocaine use by two stars.
With so much riding on the Strictly host selection – incoming BBC director-general Matt Brittin is understood to be taking a close interest in the process – industry figures believe it is sensible for the BBC to rattle the cupboards for any skeletons.
Widely admired within the BBC for his radio and TV work, Clark could be seen as a risky choice for Strictly. He prompted a social media backlash after saying on live TV that migrants arriving in the UK on small boats were told “have a lovely time and welcome” by the authorities.
A Strictly source said: “Like all other broadcasters and streamers, it is standard practice that production companies making shows for them are required to undertake vetting processes which are always kept under review.”
The BBC did not respond to requests to discuss the nature of the vetting or whether an external vetting team had been brought in to question the Strictly contenders.
The stars competing to land a role on the show are understood to be Willis, Clark, Ball, Allen, Angela Scanlon, Alex Jones, Alison Hammond, Mel Giedroyc and Fleur East.
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