Strictly Star's Injury: "Injuries That Still Affect Me"

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Paralympian Will Bayley, has revealed that his time on the show left him with injuries that continue to affect him today. The table tennis champion, who participated in the 2019 series, claims he sustained a serious knee injury during rehearsals for a jump, despite expressing concerns about his ability to perform the move safely.

Bayley, who was born with arthrogryposis and has previously battled Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, claims he had already informed the show that he could not perform jumps due to his condition. However, during rehearsals, his professional partner Janette Manrara allegedly insisted he attempt the jump, even after Bayley voiced his doubts.

The athlete recalls the incident, stating that Manrara criticized his initial attempts, labelling them "rubbish," and demanded he show more passion. Determined to meet her expectations, Bayley attempted the jump again, resulting in a painful landing that ultimately led to his withdrawal from the show in week seven.

The incident left Bayley in "horrific pain" and he underwent reconstructive knee surgery in January 2020 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Despite the severity of the injury, he claims he was not immediately transported to a hospital. Instead, he was taken to a hotel room where a paramedic provided basic care, with a hospital visit only occurring two days later.

Bayley criticizes the show's lack of care, stating that "all they cared about was trying to get me to dance." He also alleges that he was made to feel responsible for the injury, with no apology or support offered by the BBC.

While the BBC did cover the cost of his surgery in 2020, they denied his request for compensation for lost earnings, leading to a period of depression and weight gain for Bayley.

The Paralympian, who was made an MBE in 2017, asserts that the pressure exerted on Manrara by the show's producers ultimately led to his injury. He feels that she was under immense pressure to deliver a certain level of performance, forcing her to push him beyond his limitations.

While acknowledging Manrara's passion as a teacher, Bayley maintains that he didn't hold her personally responsible for the incident, stating that he felt pressured to meet the show's expectations and not let his partner down.

This isn't the first time negative experiences on the show have been brought to light. Previous contestants Zara McDermott and Amanda Abbington have also accused their former dance partners, Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice respectively, of misconduct. These allegations continue to fuel the debate surrounding the pressure and potential risks associated with participating in Strictly Come Dancing.