Strictly Come Dancing returns – but no mention of recent controversies

Another professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima, has also left the show.

Di Prima’s spokesman admitted to BBC News that he had kicked his partner Zara McDermott in a rehearsal last year.

Other former celebrity contestants – TV presenter Laura Whitmore and paralympian Will Bayley – have also spoken out about their experiences on the show.

Last month, a BBC News investigation heard allegations of a “toxic culture” from some former junior staff on the show – though other workers told a positive story of dancers and crew who were kind and respectful to them.

But for now, the show goes on – and while there was no mention of the claims in Saturday’s show, the new contestants, speaking at a press event ahead of the launch, expressed a desire to move on.

Contestant Nick Knowles said: “It’s important that people are listened to, and they have been, so that seems to me all good.”

Former Love Islander Tasha Ghouri agreed, saying it was “about moving forward”.

“It’s about our own experiences really,” she added.

For more, watch our iPlayer special – Strictly: The Story Behind the Headlines.