logo
BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars issue 'sad' update after 'unforeseen circumstances'

BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars issue 'sad' update after 'unforeseen circumstances'

Edinburgh Live29-05-2025
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
BBC's Strictly Come Dancing favourites have made a "sad" announcement after being forced to alter their show. Professional dancers Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola were all set to take to the road this summer in their new stage show, 'Red Hot and Ready'.
They were due to be accompanied by Pasquale La Rocca, a familiar face for fans from the American edition of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars. Yet, in an unexpected twist, the dynamic duo had to announce a modification to their plans.
Taking to Instagram, they aired a joint message which stated: "Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen illness, Pasquale has had to withdraw from our tour.
"We're extremely sad at this news as Pasquale was a valued member of our company. We want to wish him all the love, health and best wishes for a quick recovery and hopefully we'll see him back on the 'Red Hot & Ready' stage in the future."
(Image: Vito Coppola Instagram)
The sentiments continued with both Dianne and Vito dispensing individual well-wishes to their colleague.
Dianne expressed: "(Loveheart) you @pasqualelarocca get better soon my love x," whilst Vito contributed: "Friend @pasqualelarocca.", reports the Express.
Meanwhile, one sympathetic fan penned: "So so sad @pasqualelarocca is such an asset to any production but health comes first. Sending love and healing,".
Another fan expressed their disappointment, saying: "Gutted. But health comes first. We will miss you @pasqualelarocca get well soon x".
A third wrote: "Oh no! Such sad news. I was really looking forward to seeing him dance. Wishing you a speedy recovery Pasquale. xx".
It's still unclear who will step in for Pasquale on the tour, as Dianne and Vito have yet to make an announcement. They are also set to be joined by Talia Fowler, Jaih Betote, Rosa Carne, Robbie Kmetoni and Anais Riera.
The show promises fans a high-energy dance spectacle, filled with stunning choreography, pulsating music and breathtaking moves, ranging from seriously sexy to irresistibly charming, all celebrating the pure joy of dance.
"From a seriously romantic Waltz, to a futuristic Foxtrot, the passion of the Tango and Paso Doble cut right through. Revel in the emotional power of the Cha Cha, the Samba and Jive, whilst our smoking, irresistible Rumba always leaves you breathless."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wynne Evans accuses BBC's Strictly Come Dancing of being ‘fundamentally flawed' in its duty of care
Wynne Evans accuses BBC's Strictly Come Dancing of being ‘fundamentally flawed' in its duty of care

Scottish Sun

time5 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Wynne Evans accuses BBC's Strictly Come Dancing of being ‘fundamentally flawed' in its duty of care

WELSH opera singer Wynne Evans has accused the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing of being "fundamentally flawed in its duty of care". The tenor, 53, known for the insurance advertisements, competed in the 20th anniversary series of the hit dancing programme with professional dancer Katya Jones. Advertisement 4 Go Compare singer Wynne Evans claims BBC's Strictly is 'fundamentally flawed in its duty of care' after he was 'dropped' by the corporation Credit: PA 4 Opera singer was 'close to the edge' while battling illness and claims BBC 'twisted facts' Credit: Rex 4 He says he was told not to trust anyone in rehearsal room and BBC engaged in 'lies and cover-ups' to protect themselves Credit: Chris Eades In May, Evans announced he had been dropped by the BBC and would no longer present on BBC Radio Wales after apologising for using "inappropriate language" during the launch of the Strictly tour. The apology came after the Mail On Sunday reported in January he had aimed a sexual joke at one of the other professional dancers, Janette Manrara. In an Instagram post with a photo of the Strictly professionals, Evans said: "What it Feels Like to See Pictures of Strictly? "I'll be the first to admit I've made mistakes. Not quite the way the Daily Mail would have you believe, but mistakes all the same." Advertisement Evans accused the BBC of engaging in a series of "lies and cover-ups in order to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing" and said this was the "hardest part" for him. He added: "From my dealings right at the very top with (BBC director-general) Tim Davie, through BBC Wales and the HR department, one feeling has been constant: the only thing they truly care about is protecting themselves and their jobs and Ratings - people come second. "When I first stepped into the rehearsal room at Strictly, I thought it would be a magical experience. And at the start, it was. But the very first thing I was told was: 'Don't trust anyone in this room - not even me.' "That hit me hard. I've always worn my heart on my sleeve, and while I may sometimes sail close to the line, there's never malice in what I do. Advertisement "What I wasn't prepared for was the way people will protect their personal and BBC brands, at any cost." Evans claimed in his post that the HR department "twisted facts, invented files and dates, and created a version of events that simply wasn't true". Wynne Evans reveals heartbreaking conversation he had with his daughter after Strictly sacking shame "Statements were issued in my name that I hadn't even seen, let alone agreed to. My voice was taken away," he said. Evans previously said he had never approved of the statement that was issued by the BBC in January in which he apologised for making an "inappropriate and unacceptable" comment. Advertisement At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: "The apology issued on Wynne's behalf by the Strictly Come Dancing Tour PR representative on Saturday January 25 was fully approved by Wynne." Evans also said in his post on Tuesday: "Tim Davie publicly promised that the BBC would safeguard people who took part in Strictly. "I thought about that promise while sitting in a psychiatrist's office near the BBC, staring out of the window at the BBC building, fighting to save my own life. That's how close I came to the edge. "I'm not writing this as a victim, as I said I will own my mistakes. I'm writing it because the system is broken. Advertisement "Strictly is now fundamentally flawed in its duty of care. It's allowed to continue because of ratings, while people's wellbeing is left in tatters." The BBC published a review in 2024 that looked into allegations of bullying and harassment against former Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice, made by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington. The corporation upheld some but not all of the complaints made and introduced a series of new measures aimed at improving welfare. This included the introduction of a chaperone who is present "at all times" during training room rehearsals. Advertisement Evans performed in the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Of The Opera and won 2023's Celebrity MasterChef. In May, he told the Sun that the comment he made on the Strictly Come Dancing tour was not sexual or directed at one of the female cast, but instead was a nickname for fellow contestant, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick. In June, the opera singer announced his return to radio with The Wynne Evans Show, a live weekday internet broadcast. The BBC declined to comment on Evans' social media post. Advertisement The Sun has contacted the BBC for comment.

Wynne Evans recalls the moment he 'fought to save his own life' near BBC building
Wynne Evans recalls the moment he 'fought to save his own life' near BBC building

Daily Mirror

time5 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Wynne Evans recalls the moment he 'fought to save his own life' near BBC building

Wynne Evans has opened up on how the Strictly Come Dancing scandal affected him in a candid post as he calls the system 'broken' and takes aim at BBC bosses Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans has candidly revealed how "close to the edge" he came following the Strictly scandal. The former Go Compare star, 53, has accused the BBC 's Strictly Come Dancing of being 'fundamentally flawed in its duty of care'. ‌ His comments come almost a year after his appearance on the BBC dance competition. As part of the 20th series, Evans partnered professional dancer Katya Jones. ‌ However, in May, Evans announced he had been dropped by the BBC and would no longer present on BBC Radio Wales after apologising for using 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly tour. ‌ And he revealed his thoughts after the turmoil saw him chat to a psychiatrist. In his post on Tuesday, the tenor said: 'Tim Davie publicly promised that the BBC would safeguard people who took part in Strictly. 'I thought about that promise while sitting in a psychiatrist's office near the BBC, staring out of the window at the BBC building, fighting to save my own life. That's how close I came to the edge." ‌ He went on: "I'm not writing this as a victim, as I said I will own my mistakes. I'm writing it because the system is broken. Strictly is now fundamentally flawed in its duty of care. It's allowed to continue because of ratings, while people's wellbeing is left in tatters.' Evans also accused the BBC of engaging in a series of 'lies and cover‑ups in order to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing' and said this was the 'hardest part' for him. He added: 'From my dealings right at the very top with (BBC director-general) Tim Davie, through BBC Wales and the HR department, one feeling has been constant: the only thing they truly care about is protecting themselves and their jobs and Ratings – people come second. ‌ 'When I first stepped into the rehearsal room at Strictly, I thought it would be a magical experience. And at the start, it was. But the very first thing I was told was: 'Don't trust anyone in this room — not even me.' 'That hit me hard. I've always worn my heart on my sleeve, and while I may sometimes sail close to the line, there's never malice in what I do. What I wasn't prepared for was the way people will protect their personal and BBC brands, at any cost.' Elsewhere in his post, Evans claimed in the HR department had 'twisted facts, invented files and dates, and created a version of events that simply wasn't true'. ‌ He said: "Statements were issued in my name that I hadn't even seen, let alone agreed to. My voice was taken away." He had previously shared an apology after the Mail On Sunday reported in January he had aimed a sexual joke at one of the other professional dancers, Janette Manrara. In May, he told the Sun that the comment made on the show's tour was not sexual or directed at one of the female cast. He said it was actually a nickname for fellow contestant, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick. The BBC declined to comment on Evans' social media post.

Strictly bosses 'in talks' with England rugby legend amid rumours over pro pairing
Strictly bosses 'in talks' with England rugby legend amid rumours over pro pairing

Daily Mirror

time5 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Strictly bosses 'in talks' with England rugby legend amid rumours over pro pairing

Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year with pros like Nadiya Bychkova having already begun rehearsals, ahead of the line-up of contestants being announced A retired rugby union player is reportedly in talks to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. There's already speculation over who they could be partnered with for the BBC dance contest if they end up taking part in the upcoming series. ‌ The show is set to return later this year and rehearsals underway for the professional dancers. The line-up of contestants for the new series of Strictly has yet to be announced, but there's been speculation over potential contestants in recent weeks. ‌ Chris Robshaw, 39, who captained England's national team, is now among those rumoured for the dancefloor when the show returns. Since his retirement from rugby in 2022, he's already been on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. ‌ It's been teased that Chris would likely be paired up with pro Nadiya Bychkova, 35, if he does Strictly this year. She was announced as one of the returning dancers in April, alongside two new additions to the pro line-up. Chris, who is married to classical singer Camilla Kerslake, is thought to be almost 6 foot 2 inches tall so there's speculation that Nadiya would be only pro close to matching his stature, unless he has a same-sex partner for the competition. A source teased to the Sun that Chris, who is reportedly in "advanced talks" for Strictly, and returning pro Nadiya could deliver "sizzling performances" if they are partnered on the show. ‌ The source said: "Chris is likely to be the hunkiest celebrity signing for the 2025 show and if he does get paired with Nadiya will deliver some sizzling performances. But as a former rugby star he'll also have some big dance shoes to fill as plenty of other players have gone onto Strictly and done remarkably well." A number of former rugby players have competed on Strictly since the TV show launched in 2004, with Martin Offiah placing fourth in the first series. Matt Dawson was runner-up in 2006 and Kenny Logan then placed fifth in 2007. Austin Healey also achieved a top five position when he competed in 2008, having placed fourth. Gavin Henson, who appeared on the show in 2010, and Ben Cohen, who competed in 2013, ended up in fifth and eighth place respectively. ‌ More recently, contestants with a background in rugby haven't done as well on Strictly though. Thom Evans placed twelfth when he competed in the ballroom back in 2014 and Ugo Monye placed eleventh in the contest in 2021. The line-up of contestants for the new series has yet to be announced. The BBC however has already confirmed which pros will be returning to the dancefloor, with Nadiya among the dancers coming back for another series. ‌ Nadiya and the other pros have already started rehearsing for the upcoming series. They have posted updates from training on Instagram, including introducing Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, who are the newest pros on the show. A photo of the group together in a dance studio was shared by Nadiya last night. She wrote in the caption: "Back in the ballroom bubble with the best in the business. Another season, another adventure - and I'm so ready for it."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store