This week, Jacki and Lyle discuss a scandal that has had the UK talking this week, and one that has dominated the build-up to one of the nation's most-watched TV shows - the Strictly Come Dancing scandal. Jacki and Lyle analyse what has allegedly taken place in the rehearsal rooms of one of the UK's most beloved entertainment shows, with allegations levelled at Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice by reality TV star Zara McDermott and actress Amanda Abbington respectively. Di Prima is alleged to have kicked, hit, and spat at McDermott during training sessions for the show, which have been revealed to last up to 10 hours on certain days as pro dancers and their celebrity partners vie for the coveted Strictly trophy. Abbington, meanwhile, has publicly accused Pernice of 'sexual bullying', most recently in an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 News. The allegations are now being investigated by the BBC, and Director General Tim Davie revealed recently that the broadcaster had taken steps to ensure situations like this would not happen again, including having Strictly producers present at every training session to observe and ensure the safety of the contestants. Jacki and Lyle discuss how exactly it came to this, as well as the importance of risk assessing projects like this ahead of time. Jacki praises the response of the BBC, and Lyle agrees whilst also insisting that the better situation would have been for the BBC to have acknowledged these concerns sooner and adopted a more proactive risk assessment strategy as opposed to a reactive one. Jacki offers her own opinion on the merit, or lack of, in Abbington's interview with Channel 4, before she puts Lyle on the spot in asking whether he would take up the Strictly invite if offered! Previous Strictly scandals, of an ironically very different kind, are discussed, before Lyle's relative dancing talents are brought to the fore!

Artwork & music by Lyle Fulton

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