Reports of toxic working environment on Strictly ‘very concerning’, says Bectu

Responding to reports of a toxic working environment for production staff on Strictly Come Dancing, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“Reports of a toxic environment for crew working on Strictly, many of whom are young and/or in junior roles, are very concerning and we are in touch with BBC Studios about the allegations.

“Everyone should be able to do their job free from any form of harassment. And in a sector where power imbalances can be particularly extreme, it’s critical that people feel empowered to come forward with concerns (and without fear that their careers will be adversely impacted), and can have confidence that allegations will be taken seriously, investigated and dealt with swiftly, and perpetrators held to account.

“The pressure of working on a high-profile how like Strictly can be immense and broadcasters must have appropriate measures in place to ensure a safe and respectful experience for everyone working on the production. These behaviours are by no means exclusive to one show or one broadcaster.

“Bectu has been working with other industry stakeholders to put in place the building blocks to ensure that bullying and harassment across the industry is tackled head on. It’s particularly important that freelance crew feel that they have meaningful protections at work. The development of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority is an important part of that framework and we are pleased that the BBC and other broadcasters have committed to its next phase of development.”