BBC boss says sorry over Strictly complaints

The BBC's director general has apologised to Strictly Come Dancing contestants who have had negative experiences on the show.

Tim Davie said he was "disappointed" to hear that several celebrity contestants had complained about abusive behaviour by their dance partners in rehearsals.

The BBC One show's professionals should not cross the line between being competitive and "unacceptable behaviour", he warned.

"There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind."

Strictly professionals Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice have both left the show afer allegations about their behaviour in training.

Pernice has denied "any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour".

Di Prima's spokesman has admitted the dancer kicked partner Zara McDermott in rehearsal. He has said he deeply regrets "the events that led to my departure from Strictly", and that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime".

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Davie said he was "very sorry that anyone has had an experience that hasn’t been wholly positive that’s something we do need to reflect on and I’m sorry about that".

"There are clearly learnings specifically about oversight in the training rooms that we had needed to address," he added.

With the "benefit of hindsight, you think could we have done more?" he added.