BBC Responds to Allegations: Two Television Personalities Charged with Cocaine Use in Strictly Come Dancing
In a series of recent developments, the BBC is currently grappling with allegations of drug use and abusive behaviour on its popular dance competition show, Strictly Come Dancing.
The first wave of controversy erupted in January this year, when Wynne Evans, a former contestant, made "inappropriate and unacceptable" comments at the Strictly Come Dancing live tour launch. Evans later apologised for his remarks.
More significantly, in July last year, actress Amanda Abbington accused Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice of "abusive or threatening behavior". These allegations were reportedly made on behalf of celebrity contestant Wynne Evans in a legal submission to the BBC in March.
Two unnamed stars of Strictly Come Dancing have been accused of regularly using cocaine during their time on the show. The allegations, first made in March 2025 by a legal team representing Evans, were reportedly well-known among the programme’s team. The BBC has since hired an external law firm, Pinsent Masons, to conduct an independent investigation into the drug use claims.
The broadcaster has clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with serious complaints, but has declined to comment further on the specific allegations. The accused individuals have not been publicly named as of early August 2025.
This investigation comes amid wider scrutiny of Strictly Come Dancing, which has faced several controversies in recent years related to bullying and staff behaviour. Notably, in July 2024, Strictly professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima confirmed he was leaving the show amid reports of alleged misconduct.
Laura Whitmore, another former host of the show, alleged "inappropriate behavior" during her time on the show. In these cases, the external individual conducting the investigation would report to an established BBC team.
The BBC upheld "some, but not all" of Abbington's allegations, and an apology from the corporation was described by Abbington as a "vindication".
In a concerning incident, one Strictly star was reportedly overheard telling another about a third celebrity on the show: "Have you seen their pupils... they're off their face."
The broadcast of the upcoming series of MasterChef may be affected by allegations against its presenters. The Sun on Sunday reported that a source said the drug-taking allegations were "well-known" on the Strictly Come Dancing show. It is not unusual for the BBC to engage an external individual to provide additional expert resource for an investigation.
The ongoing investigation led externally will be reported back to an internal team to determine appropriate actions. The two individuals accused of drug taking have not been named. The BBC has not revealed the identities of the two stars accused of taking cocaine.
This latest crisis is yet another challenge for the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing, as they strive to maintain the high standards expected of them in the face of mounting controversies.
- The ongoing investigation into drug use within Strictly Come Dancing has raised concerns about the show's pop-culture image, potentially tarnishing its reputation for family-friendly entertainment.
- Despite the numerous controversies surrounding Strictly Come Dancing, the spotlight on its celebrities and their involvement in scandals continues to fuel discussions in the realm of entertainment and pop-culture circles.
