Strictly Come Dancing star ‘unsettled’ by show changes as she opens up on new presenters

This year’s Strictly has brought with it a number of changes, including new presenters, changes to the professional line-up and controversy over the standard of celebrities

Strictly Come Dancing is back for a new series, and there are a number of new faces. Not everyone is happy about the huge changes, however, with one Strictly star saying she is “unsettled” by some of the moves made by the show’s producers.

British TV legend Angela Rippon became a huge hit when she signed up to the 2023 series, becoming the BBC show’s oldest contestant in the process. Angela and her professional partner Kai eventually became the eighth couple eliminated after fans had been wowed by her moves.

This year has seen a brand new presenting team with the evergreen Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman replaced by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. There are also five new dancers while there has also been criticism about some of the celebrities chosen for this year’s series.

Now Angela has had her say on the revamped show, admitting she is “unsettled” by some of the choices made by TV bosses, reports the Mirror.

Appearing on Vanessa Feltz’s At Home with Vanessa podcast, she said: “My own feeling is you have to give it a chance. My own feeling is I am unsettled by what they’ve done. Because, as a presenter, I feel that the role that Emma is taking on is a one person job.

“As for JoJo (Johannes Radebe), I just adore him, he’s another great mate. He’s such a stunning dancer. He’s going to be up taking over from Claudia. It is all smoke and mirrors even when it’s all live.

“What I would have suggested was that JoJo should still be in the group dances because he is brilliant, as well as being in the Clauditorium stuff. Because you could have pulled that off, because we know they’re pre-recorded.”

Long-time Strictly professionals Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez are among those who have left the show, along with Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.

Angela competed in 2023 when the Glitterball was won by Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach. But that series was most memorable for the fallout involving actress Amanda Abbington and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice.

The Sherlock star accused the Italian dancer of bullying and harassment. She left the show early and lodged a formal complaint with the BBC.

Giovanni, who later left Strictly, denied the allegations. But the BBC upheld six out of 17 complaints relating to verbal bullying and harassment, but claims of physical aggression were not upheld.

Angela said that everyone on the show was “aware of the tension between the two of them”. She continued: “But it’s not my place to really talk about it in public. Amanda was very distressed by it and I think the whole crew were very distressed. That was a big one off. “There had been other occasions when some of the professional dancers did not treat their partners particularly well, but that’s for them (the production company) to handle.

“I was so lucky in having Kai as a partner and friend and that’s what 90% of people who take part get. It’s a cauldron of tension, of passion, of all sorts of things.”