Richard Madeley weighs in on Strictly drama as he claims 'people have known about the issues for years and years' as the scandal deepens

Richard Madeley has weighed in on the Strictly scandal as the BBC crisis continues to deepen. 

Hosting Good Morning Britain alongside Charlotte Hawkins on Thursday,the presenter admitted that he wasn't surprised about the allegations. 

The TV star,68,confessed he knows lots of people who have been involved in the hit dance show and they have been talking about these issues for years. 

Discussing what would be coming up on today's programme,Richard revealed they would be speaking to Strictly alumni Reverend Richard Coles and Edwina Currie about their time on the show. 

He then added: 'I have to say the people that I know involved in that programme all talk about these issues and they say they've all known for years and years and years but the lid has been kept on it and now that lid is coming off.'

Executives at the BBC are said to be 'deeply worried' that the fans will stop watching as scandal continues to surround their their flagship show

When a group of Strictly production staff witnessed the way Graziano treated Zara in last year's series,they reported their concerns to their superiors. But,instead of sacking him,senior execs ignored their worries and have Graziano 'quiet warnings'.

It was only when staff backed up their allegations with video evidence last week – including a clip of Graziano hitting Zara - that bosses were galvanised into action and sacked him. But this was nine months after they had first raised the alarm.

Read More

'THIRD Strictly pro named as a person of interest amid show probe'

One BBC insider told the Mail's Katie Hind: 'There is absolutely no doubt that those very high up on Strictly,and wider at the BBC,knew about Graziano's behaviour - but they allowed him still to appear on screen.'

The BBC's official response was: 'While we would never comment on individual cases,it is well known that the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.'

But Strictly sources told the Mail they believe there was a 'cover-up' of Graziano's behaviour,which 'bosses hoped would save fan-favourite Di Prima from being ousted'.

Zara herself admitted in her statement shared on Tuesday that she was too worried about coming forward to complain about Graziano's behaviour,in a sign that she too didn't want to tarnish the show's wholesome reputation as well as her own career prospects.

'I have wrested with the fear of opening up - I was scared about public backlash,I was scared about my future,I was scared of victim shaming,' Zara wrote on Instagram.

With news this week that a third professional dancer - who is no longer on the show - is also part of the probe into the BBC series,insiders have told The Sun that it is 'becoming clear is that there appears to be a more widespread issue over the conduct of some of the professionals in training.'

'The more people who come forward,the clearer the picture is becoming.'