Strictly star details the new BBC measures to keep celebs and dancers safe (original) (raw)
BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Toyah Willcox reveals new BBC measures to keep couples safe
Toyah Willcox described joining Strictly Come Dancing as 'one of the happiest experiences' of her life and said there are 'amazing people' looking after celebrities and dancers
Toyah Willcox said she feels safe on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing star Toyah Willcox has revealed some of the measures the BBC has taken to make sure celebrities and professional dancers are safe.
The singer-songwriter, 66, said the show has been looking after its cast following its recent scandal including claims made by actor Amanda Abbington, who accused her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice of "bullying" and "aggressive behaviour" - which the professional dancer has denied. Former co-star Graziano Di Prima has also left the show amid allegations over his behaviour in the rehearsal room after being partnered with Zara McDermott last year.
On September 8, Toyah published a blog post on her official website in which she declared: "I feel safe with this team." She explained the BBC is ensuring everyone feels looked after and has introduced measures including a psychologist, a celebrity producer, and she said stars also receive the support of the press team.
The contestant praised the staff working on the show
Toyah said the team checks in with celebrities hourly. She wrote in the blog post: "I feel safe with this team. We have a psychologist with us all day, an amazing celeb producer, stunning press team…….It's a long time since I have felt this well looked after. What I mean by this is touring demands a level of complete independence, I do my own make up, carry my costumes etc, here in Strictly world they want us celebs to know they are here to support us 360 degrees."
Toyah also shared details of what goes on behind the scenes, with professional dancers Vito Coppola, Gorka Márquez, Nikita Kuzmin and Neil Jones "constantly pranking each other" and "teasing each other's moves" during group dances. She also said the women on the professional dancers team are "fabulous" and described Jowita Przystał as "my soul sister", adding: "Tiny, effervescent and full of fire…..she reminds me of a young me!"
The celebrity contestant added: "We have been working together for almost a month now. All the pro dancers tell us to eat as much as we can. I can feel my weight going up, I don’t need a lot of food, my energy is in my genes." She also admitted that the had to "second guess" how everything would be on the show due to the recent scandal but said it has so far been "one of the happiest experiences" of her life. She wrote: "For the past three months I have had to second guess how everything would be once in the run of the series……so far all my doubts have been quashed, this is one of the happiest experiences of my life and I LOVE DANCING. We have the most amazing people looking after us. Costumes/ hair/ make up/ talent support and psychologists who check in hourly."
Toyah described joining Strictly as 'one of the happiest' experiences of her life (
Image:
PA)
She opened up about her experience in a blog post on her website (
Image:
Ray Burmiston/PA Wire)
Earlier this month, Toyah admitted she had dance lessons at the height of her fame 40 years ago. The punk legend revealed she trained under Dee Dee Wilde from the world-famous dance troupe Pan's People. She gave Toyah lessons in 1981 before releasing her 1981 single Thunder in the Mountains. The star wrote in her blog about meeting a record industry mover and shaker at a gig soon after signing for the BBC show in May. She is one of 15 celebrities who star alongside the pros and hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Toyah said: "His wife Cherie was one of the dancers on Top Of The Pops….an icon of the show and I told her with pride that Dee Dee from Pan’s People gave me dancing lessons in 1981 just before the release of Thunder In The Mountains. I so wanted to tell her 'I am on Strictly and I am terrified'."
On entering the BBC show she added: "The thought of doing Strictly is so appealing, but the reality is hard, hard, work with young energetic competent dancers that I don’t want to let down. I am getting ready for the spray tan, the sparkles, the make over I so badly need, and for my life to ramp up.
"Over the last two months I have lied to friends who have asked me if I am doing the show, and I feel so bad about that. My family didn't even know…..well they do now. I found out on my birthday……..what a fabulous birthday that was. As you can imagine, running the live shows and prepping has been full on, lots of fitness training and I think this is why my confidence is slightly wavering BUT I think back to when I was a child when dancing was so freeing and full of self-expression and that's what I hope to bring to the show…..the joy of dancing….whether good or bad."
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