Bobby Brazier breaks his silence on Strictly scandal

Bobby Brazier has broken his silence on the Strictly scandal as he recalled his time competing in last year’s competition alongside pro partner Dianne Buswell. 

The beloved BBC series is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach the celebs, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour. 

EastEnders star Bobby, 21, who finished second to ex Ellie Leach, said his own experiences did not reflect the reports but 12-hour days of training did sometimes lead to ‘bickering’.

He told MailOnline: ‘My own experience was great and was everything I wanted it to be. I didn’t expect it to be as great as it was.

‘[Me and Diane would] bicker here and there but we’d laugh it was just a real balance.’

‘It was real, you spend so much time with someone doing something you’ve never done, that’s really hard in a competition… so it’s never going to be completely one thing. I was so grateful it was everything to such an intense extent.’

 

He also shared advice for the latest batch of contestants, including EastEnders co-star Jamie Borthwick, 30, ahead of training. 

Bobby said: ‘Take your lunch breaks and when your professional doesn’t want to stop and you do, take that nap.

‘And request, humbly request, politely request that they wake you up nicely so you’re in a good mood ready to dance instead of tired and angry.’ 

Bobby spoke to MailOnline on behalf of Mentos to encourage people to rediscover their summer flavour by exploring new tastes and flavours, following the launch of Mentos discovery with 14 delicious fruity flavours in one roll.

The brand conducted new research that revealed 64 percent of Gen Z need excitement to get them through the week however this drops to 28 percent for over 45s.

69 percent of Gen Z feel like they have lost certain character traits over time and would be keen to re-discover them, including creativity and adventurous, but are still keen to try new flavours with 79 percent identifying as adventurous eaters. 

Bobby said: ‘I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity in my career so far to explore different parts of myself and what makes me happy, from modelling on some of the world’s biggest catwalks to acting and dancing. 

‘I’m excited to partner with Mentos to discover their new tastes and flavours and encourage people to do the same.

‘We can get so bogged down in everyday life, that we often forget the excitement and butterflies that come with putting ourselves out there and trying new things.’

The Strictly scandal erupted in January when actress Amanda Abbington accused her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice of abuse after she unexpectedly quit the programme just five weeks in.

Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, a has made a series of accusations about Giovanni’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. He strongly denies all of the claims. 

In one interview, Amanda compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.

Then, in July, it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.  

A Strictly source said: ‘Graziano’s abuse was ongoing, he kicked and hit her. There were multiple occasions where both physical and verbal attacks were made. It was more physical than verbal but all of it was dreadful.

‘There were occasions where he did some terrible things, it really was awful. What he did makes Giovanni look like a pussy cat.’

Graziano has since claimed he does not know the full particulars of what he is supposed to have done. 

The BBC will not give further details due to the ‘confidential nature of the circumstances’ in which the information was provided and their ‘obligations’ to ‘third parties’.

New contestant Pete Wicks, who was announced last week, is close friends with Zara, who starred on the 2023 series of Strictly. 

Pete has landed a spot on the Strictly line-up amid shocking reports Zara performed on the show with a ‘fractured’ leg following an injury in training and needed painkillers to get through ten-hour rehearsals. 

Bobby will be making an appearance at Mentos’ event August 17, where the brand will transform 15 Bateman St, Soho into a vibrant playground of taste, colour, and music with a free ‘Pick n Mix’ pop-up.