Graziano Di Prima to leave Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima has confirmed that he’s leaving the present.

In a press release on Instagram, he mentioned he “deeply regrets” the occasions main as much as his departure and acknowledged that his “intense ardour and willpower to win may need affected my coaching regime”.

A BBC spokesperson confirmed that Di Prima was “now not part of the line-up {of professional} dancers for the upcoming sequence”.

“Whereas we’d by no means touch upon particular person circumstances, it’s well-known that the BBC has established a sturdy obligation of care procedures, and if points are raised we are going to all the time take them severely and act swiftly as acceptable,” they mentioned.

Di Prima, 30, first joined the Strictly line-up in 2018 because the associate of radio DJ Vick Hope.

He remained a part of the present for the next two years, although didn’t have a star associate, then in 2021 danced with comic and Unfastened Ladies host Judi Love.

He returned in 2022 and was paired with actress Kym Marsh, with whom he reached the quarter finals, and final 12 months danced with TV presenter Zara McDermott.

Away from Strictly, Di Prima has competed in quite a few worldwide dance competitions and toured globally with dance firm Burn The Ground.

In his assertion, he mentioned he understood that it was “greatest for the present that I step away”.

“Whereas there are facets of this story involving exterior influences that I can not focus on right now, I stay dedicated to being sturdy for my household and mates,” he mentioned.

“I want the Strictly household and the BBC nothing however success sooner or later. I additionally need to thank everybody who has supported my profession, each professionally and personally. When the time is true, I’ll share my story.”

The episode will not be the primary time Strictly – which is among the many most watched exhibits within the BBC line-up – has confronted a criticism concerning the practices of one in every of its skilled dancers.

Final month, following widely-reported complaints about his educating strategies, the present confirmed that long-standing skilled Giovanni Pernice wouldn’t be a part of the 2024 sequence.

Pernice had mentioned earlier he was shocked by the allegations and rejected “any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour”.