Strictly's James Jordan launches furious defence as resurfaced clip sparks outrage over behaviour on show

James and wife Ola Jordan

James Jordan issued a furious statement of defence online

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Olivia Gantzer

By Olivia Gantzer


Published: 17/07/2024

- 22:19

Updated: 17/07/2024

- 22:33

James Jordan penned a lengthy statement after a resurfaced clip sparked backlash

Strictly Come Dancing has been plunged into yet more chaos as James Jordan has penned a furious defence following complaints.

Jordan, 46, took to Instagram on Wednesday to address criticisms that have come out about a resurfaced clip from 18 years ago.


It comes as the BBC show is at the centre of a controversy following a probe sparked by complaints made about professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

This week, his colleague Graziano Di Prima has been in the news for similar accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards his celebrity partner of last year, Zara McDermott.

Both dancers have been removed from the series as the investigation continues. Jordan hasn't been in the show since 2013, but it seems he has been caught up in criticisms and addressed them with a lengthy post.

The video in question shows him training his 2006 celebrity partner Georgina Bouzova as they talk about their time on the show.

Ola and James Jordan

James Jordan issued a furious statement of defence online

Getty

The footage ran through clips of their intense training regimes, which aired on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two and has recently recirculated on TikTok.

Jordan can be heard joking: "I'm a force to be reckoned with," before he hurls a chair and swears during rehearsals.

He goes on to tell Bouzova: "I'll kill you. Stand on your left leg," before telling the cameras: "I will push her to her limit.

"She will go through that pain, and as far as I'm concerned, tough luck."

Georgina Bouzova

The resurfaced clip came Georgina Bouzova's stint on Strictly Come Dancing

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In another clip, the actress explains: "Basically, he thinks I'm a bit of a porker," as she chatted about Jordan's criticisms of her.

However, Jordan has hit back at the backlash, writing: "For those of you who have seen the edited BBC VT of me training with Georgina 18 years ago - yes I had hair once!!

"But I just wanted to reassure you that footage was shot and edited together by the BBC team for transmission on It Takes Two 18 years ago in specific ways for the purposes of ENTERTAINMENT.

"Many of the clips were not related to Georgina at all (they are not allowed to do that these days as it misrepresents what actually happened) but were included for the purpose of exaggeration. The BBC thought it would be fun to put this VT together in the way they did.

"You can see Georgina laughing about it in the studio and in the clips... And I have never received ANY complaints from any of my celebrity dance partners in the 8 years I was on the show.

"Obviously if I had genuinely upset anyone, that footage would NEVER have been allowed to be used in that way by the BBC themselves.

"The Producers loved to paint me as the bad guy and I played along...always a perfectionist ...but I would never have deliberately upset anyone and pride myself on good friendships with my celebrity dance partners.

"I strongly suggest that nobody attempts to link this edited BBC VT with the current alleged reports of abusive behaviour taking place behind the scenes by other Strictly professionals.

"There is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the highly produced and exaggerated VT from the BBC archives that is featuring on social media. To be clear, I deplore bullying or abusiveness in the workplace. Big love to all of you. James."

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