Les Dennis wades into Strictly Come Dancing bullying row (2024)

Les Dennis called his stint onStrictly Come Dancing 'the hardest thing ever' as he waded into the bullying row on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain.

The 70-year-old comedian and his professional dance partnerNancy Xubecame the first pair eliminated from the show in 2023 when they failed to survive the dance off.

On Wednesday morning, during an appearance on the ITV breakfast show, the entertainer was quizzed about his time on the BBC hit by host Richard Madeley.

He explained: 'I was only there for two weeks and you rehearse with your partner separately. I was in a bubble between home and wherever I was on tour. I was in 42nd street at the time.

Les insisted that his 'experience was great,' but admitted that the show is 'the hardest thing ever' and your professional partner 'wants to push you'.

Talking to Richard and his co-host Trisha Goddard, the comedian added: 'I used to joke to friends that I felt like I was in Black Swan.

'It is tough, your professional partner wants to win as much as you do and they want to push you outside of your comfort zone.'

Directed by Darren Aronofsky and co-starring Mila Kunis, Black Swan (2010) is a psychological thriller about a troubled ballet dancer (Natalie Portman) and her diabolical quest for perfection.

At the time of Les' departure from the show, it was reported that Les struggled to connect because the funnyman's energy levels didn't match that of Nancy's.

A source told The Sun:'Les the entertainer may have charmed audiences with his style, but behind the scenes it was a vastly different story.

'Les was often moody and erratic because he found the training a very draining process. He's almost 70 so was knackered just two weeks in and this led to clashes with Nancy.

'His mood didn't match Nancy's enthusiasm and positivity which created tension and discord in the studio.'

The insider added that Les would often lose his cool at the slightest mistake while Nancy was patient and encouraging.

The source further described them as 'polar opposites' and said they struggled to 'gel' which showed in their performance.

Les' most recent GMB appearance comes as Strictly Come Dancing remains locked in an explosive bullying probe.

The Strictly scandal erupted in January when actress Amanda Abbington accused her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice of abuse after she unexpectedly quit the show 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 puss* 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 circ*mstances' in which the information was provided and their 'obligations' to 'third parties'.