Strictly's Will Bayley: Jump Led to Career-Threatening Injury
Paralympic table tennis champion Will Bayley has accused Strictly Come Dancing bosses of negligence, claiming a jump during rehearsals caused a severe leg injury that significantly impacted his sporting career.
The 36-year-old, who was born with a debilitating limb condition, alleges that he was pressured to perform the jump despite expressing concerns and his coach advising against it. He claims that his professional partner, Janette Manrara, dismissed his initial attempt as "rubbish" and urged him to "go for it".
Bayley described the moment of the injury, saying he heard his leg crack and felt "horrific pain". He claims he was then taken to a hotel room and given ice, rather than being taken to a hospital immediately, despite the severity of the injury.
"I was lying on the floor thinking my whole career was over," Bayley said. "I heard my leg crack, I couldnât breathe. They stood me up and felt my knee coming out my socket. There was a paramedic on set and I was taken to a hotel room and given ice. The producers said they would see how it was in the morning."
The following morning, Bayley was taken to a physio room where his knee was strapped. He claims he was encouraged to attempt some dance moves, despite his knee being unstable. It wasn't until two days later that he was taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a torn knee ligament and forced to withdraw from the show.
Bayley has accused Strictly bosses of a lack of duty of care, stating, "I felt like Strictly didnât want me to go to hospital at the time. They knew then I definitely wouldnât be able to dance." He also claims he was made to feel responsible for the injury, with producers making him feel like it was "his fault".
The injury has left Bayley with lasting pain and limitations, significantly impacting his ability to train and compete in table tennis. "My knee will always be a problem," he said. "I can now only train for a couple hours before itâs sore. I felt like it was my fault. The bosses made me feel that."
Beyond the physical injury, Bayley also claims he was marginalized by Strictly producers during his time on the show. He was left out of the show's WhatsApp group, felt pressured by casting director Stefania Aleksander, and claims his request for compensation for lost earnings due to the injury was ignored.
"I was made to feel lucky to be on the show and less important than other celebrities," Bayley said. "She [Aleksander] had her favourites."
Bayley's accusations come at a time when Strictly is under scrutiny for allegations of misconduct. Actress Amanda Abbington claims she suffered PTSD after her experience with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, while another professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima, was sacked for a video showing him kicking his partner Zara McDermott.
The BBC has launched an investigation into these allegations and has implemented new measures, including a chaperone present at all times during training. Will Bayley's story adds another layer to the ongoing investigation, highlighting concerns about the show's duty of care to its contestants.
