BBC breaks silence after Strictly star axed over alleged misconduct towards Zara McDermott

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The BBC has issued a statement following the departure of Strictly Come Dancing's Graziano Di Prima from the popular dance programme.The broadcaster emphasised that any concerns raised are taken 'seriously' and assured that 'swift action' would be implemented.The statement comes in the wake of Graziano's own announcement to his followers confirming his exit as one of the professional dancers on the show, despite having been announced as part of the line-up just a few weeks earlier, the Mirror reportsA spokesperson for the BBC relayed to the Mirror: "We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing." The spokesperson added: "While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate."Graziano took to Instagram earlier on Saturday to share with his fans that he has parted ways with the show.

His former dance partner Zara McDermott has not made any statements regarding the matter as of yet.In his statement, Graziano expressed: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly.

My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime. "While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away.

I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation."He added: "There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends.