Strictly Come Dancing is back, baby. The glitteriest show in television is here to get us through the autumn/winter, and make us consider whether we should book some salsa lessons.
This year, though, there has already been scandal. No, we're not talking about the dreaded Strictly curse, which, let's face it, is the usual reason Strictly hits the headlines. There has been a lot of controversy as, according to tabloids, three of the professional dancers on the show have refused to be vaccinated.
Which has led to a lot of speculation: just who has - and hasn't - been vaccinated? And do we have a right to know? On one hand, it's personal medical information that we'd never normally have access to, and the BBC can't ask stars to disclose it.
![Strictly Come Dancing judges](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/614d/bc79/e58d/0fab/ccb8/1602/strictly-come-dancing-judges.jpeg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
But then, if you're a celebrity on the show, wouldn't you want to know the vaccination status of your partner? Not only would you not want to catch coronavirus, but it could also affect your time on the series if you were to become ill. (Though this year, Strictly's executive producer has suggested getting Covid might not rule you out of the competition - she told the Metro: 'It might mean they could miss a week and still get enough training in to return [after 10 days of self-isolating].'
Strictly Come Dancing: from racist remarks to fix claims - the biggest scandals to hit the BBC show
Strictly Come Dancing: The biggest scandals in the dancing world - STACKED
![Ola Jordan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0847/31f6/c844/b59f/8f0a/strictly-come-dancing-scandals-ola-jordan.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Ola Jordan calls the show a fix
Ola Jordan had been on Strictly since the fourth series in 2006 but in 2015, she quit.In an interview with The Sun, the professional dancer hinted that the show was fixed, "Some of the marking is way off. People are over-marked and under-marked."All the pros talk about the marking. We ask each other, 'What is all that about? Why are they trying to over-mark that person?'."However, a spokesperson for the BBC denied Ola's claims as "nonsense" and said, "Each judge scores each dance independently, based on its merits and on their expert opinion."
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Dancers in drug scandal
In April 2016 a doctor claimed that he had given enhancing drugs to 150 sport stars – including two Strictly dancers.However, a BBC spokesperson reportedly said, "In the absence of any evidence or further information being presented to us, we will not be commenting."
![Anthony Ogogo](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0910/31f6/c844/b59f/8f23/strictly-come-dancing-anthony-ogogo-scandal.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anthony Ogogo calls out Strictly for 'ethnicity' pairing
The professional boxer who was second out of the competition told The Sun, "I didn't think that the BBC would put us [himself and his dance partner Oti Mabuse] together because we're black or mixed race."I honestly thought they would spread the minorities around."
![Jamelia](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0943/31f6/c844/b59f/8f28/strictly-come-dancing-jamelia-scandal.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Jamelia calls the show fake
In 2015 when Jamelia and Peter Andre were in the bottom two, Jamelia was voted off by the judges even though she received a higher score that him.After leaving the competition Jamelia claimed that the show was fixed. Appearing on Strictly's spin off show It Takes Two the singer said, "I think we did a great last dance."But it wasn't until they re-recorded Pete's standing ovation, I'd say that was the moment we knew we were going home."
![James Jordan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0aef/31f6/c844/b59f/8f50/strictly-come-dancing-james-jordan-scandal-tweet.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Jordan brands the show as bias
Jamelia isn't the only person who thought the show was being bias to Peter, professional dancer James Jordan also tweeted, "I love Peter but I wonder if he will open or close every show? Fairness."Peter left the competition in week 10 – the week after Jamelia's exit.
![Anton Du Beke](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0b47/31f6/c844/b59f/8f5d/strictly-come-dancing-anton-dy-beke-racist.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anton Du Beke's racist comment
Back in 2009 the BBC received complaints after Anton said to his dance partner Laila Rousaa, "Oh my God, you look like a P---."This came after he reportedly asked Laila, "You're not a terrorist, as you?" after finding out that her father is Moroccan and her mother is Indian.Anton apologised and explained, "Laila and me have strong personalities and she gives as good as she gets."I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language."There was no racist intent. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused."Footballers' Wives star Laila accepted his apology and said, "I'm really enjoying the show and dancing with Anton and hope we can go as far as possible in the competition."
![Bruce Forsyth](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0e32/31f6/c844/b59f/8f90/strictly-come-dancing-bruce-forsyth-scandal.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Bruce Forsyth defends Anton Du Beke's racist comment
Following Anton Du Beke's offensive comment, Bruce Forsyth stepped in and defended his co-star. At the time he said, "We used to have a sense of humour about this. "You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing."However he later backtracked and said in a statement, "To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable."
![Gemma Atkinson and Simon Rimmer](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/0fb5/31f6/c844/b59f/8fa7/simon-rimmer-gemma-atkinson-rumours.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gemma Atkinson and Simon Rimmer accused of one night stand
In 2017 there were rumours flying around that two contestants had a one night stand. Later on after fans accused Gemma Atkinson and Simon Rimmer of being the culprits, they laughed off the rumours with the chef tweeting, "Gemma is like a daughter to me and has become a friend of all my family. I think it's funny."
![Anastacia](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5b6b/1188/31f6/c844/b59f/8fe1/strictly-come-dancing-anastacia-scandal.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anastacia doesn't dance but STILL gets through
There was a bit of controversy surrounding Anastacia and Melvin Odoom in 2016 when they both fell into the bottom two.Because the America singer had a scar tissue that rupture she was unable to take part in the dance off which meant Strictly had to turn to the public votes. Unfortunately Melvin received the lowest amount of votes and was sent home but fans were left furious.Anastacia went on to speak about the incident on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and said, "I didn't want to have to injure myself but with a Dance Off, you just don't know what to do. "It's all a bit confusing... I totally thought I was going to go. I mean, [Melvin] lives here, I'm an American. Who knows her? "So when they called my name, it just was the worst. I wanted him to go through because I couldn't dance."
![Vick Hope](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5bd3/3362/4cab/517c/33ca/ae8c/vick-hope-tv-ban.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Vick Hope claims the producers were involved in the results
Vick Hope and her dance partner were booted off Strictly Come Dancing 2018 following their dance off with Seann Walsh and Katya Jones. However after leaving the show, she hinted that the judges decision may have been fixed.On her radio show, she explained, "We had to have a dance off as well – it was very strange – so after the dance off, then the judges have to give their decisions."But there was a bit of a conflab with some producers and then they gave their decisions, and it was just stunned silence in the studio, it was a really weird atmosphere."She also said that Shirley Ballas 'relished' in giving her negative feedback. Her comments were pretty harsh to be fair.
![Danny John-Jules](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5beb/0299/9c42/d038/1f3d/fa06/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-13%20at%204.57.33%20PM.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Danny John-Jules 'decided not to join us' on It Takes Two exit interview
In 2018, Danny John-Jules was repeatedly forced to defend himself after a string of allegations that he had been bullying his dance partner, Amy Dowden – to the point she was often left in tears, and told bosses she couldn't cope. Despite putting on a united front, rumours continued to swell, and when they were booted off the week following the scandal Danny reportedly refused to have anything more to do with the show.Reports were substantiated the next day. Due to appear on spin-off show 'It Takes Two' with Zoe Ball, Danny "decided not to join" dance partner on the sofa for their exit interview, leaving a tearful Amy to do it alone – wishing him only the best, of course.
![Strictly Come Dancing curse](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/6170/2f53/51e6/6209/db25/8b8f/strictly-curse-celebs.jpeg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Strictly Come Dancing curse
Finally, we can't ignore the fact that the majority of scandals surrounding the BBC One show is because of the alleged Strictly curse. There's been far too many relationship break ups during or after celebrities take part in Strictly Come Dancing.
It led former Strictly pro James Jordan to lament those dancers who are refusing the vaccine on Good Morning Britain.
"I would normally protect the professional dancers until the cows come home but on this particular occasion I can’t unfortunately," he said.
"I definitely believe they don’t deserve their right on the show and the celebrities have every right to refuse to dance with them."
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Also, is it fair that people are trying to guess who hasn't been vaccinated? As a Strictly professional, you probably wouldn't be too happy if people were wrongly accusing you of not having the vaccine...
The show have insisted they're following protocol, though. A Strictly spokesperson has said that they "do not comment on speculation of somebody’s Covid vaccination status".
However, they added, "Strictly Come Dancing production has, and will, continue to follow strict government guidelines to ensure the safety of all on the show."