The as-of-late scandal-ridden Strictly Come Dancing faces a new crisis after a longtime worker claimed they were offered drugs by a star.
The BBC reality series reportedly launched an external probe to investigate cocaine use by two stars earlier this month, as well as claims that a star was drinking on the show.
In the latest turn of events, a whistleblower who worked behind-the-scenes on the show for a decade until 2023 has said he witnessed ‘partying at Elsetree studio after live filming.
The worker, who accuses an unnamed star of offering them cocaine, added that the cast and crew were ‘drinking and taking drugs’, with bags of white powder suspected to be cocaine found in a smoking area and the men’s toilet on two separate occasions.
The incident in which this crew member was offered cocaine occurred at a Blackpool show after-party, all per The Sun.
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The source said: ‘The main partying is on site at Elstree after filming of the live show has finished. Boozing and drug taking goes on until 3am, sometimes 4am.
‘I remember a bag of cocaine was found in the outside smoking area at Elstree and handed in to a senior producer. That person said, ‘Leave it on my desk’, no eyebrows were raised.
“On another occasion, a small bag of cocaine was found in the male toilets at Elstree. It was widely discussed by people working on the show.
“But in some ways it was seen as quite normal, to find that sort of thing.
“People think they can get away with it.
In a statement responding to the latest allegations, a spokesperson for the national broadcaster said: ‘We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us.
‘We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns.
In recent reports, the publication claimed a celebrity from the show had said it was ‘well known on the show that two stars took cocaine . . . it was talked about widely among the cast’.
This brewing trouble comes just weeks before the popular dancing competition returns to screens for its 23rd season toward the end of September.
The show faced plenty of issues last year after it was pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima exited amid accusations of bad behaviour from former famous partners Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott, respectively.
The pair have now been replaced with Alexis Warr and Julian Caillonwhen in a shake-up of the pros line-up.
Meanwhile, fires also had to be put out after last year’s contestant, Wynne Evans, was removed from the Strictly Live Tour after making inappropriate sexual comments.
Metro has reached out to the BBC for comment.
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