Strictly Come Dancing fans have furiously slammed this year's lineup as 'the worst to ever exist', after the latest two stars taking part were announced on Wednesday.

Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and TOWIE's Pete Wicks were both unveiled as part of the new series, joining comedian Chris McCausland, JLS singer JB Gill, 80s rocker Toyah Wilcox, Morning Live's Dr Punam Krishnan and singer Wynne Evans.

Despite the fact that this year's lineup is still being announced, many fans have already made their feelings known, complaining that they 'don't know half' of the stars taking part.

The BBC show is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach the celebs, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour.

Fans React To The Latest Lineup

Posts to X included: 'That finalised Strictly lineup may be the worst to ever exist. I can't sit through 10 weeks of Sam Quek and Pete Wicks. I can't;'

'Is it unkind to think perhaps quite a few high profile people have dropped out of Strictly this year...? The line-up has the unmistakeable feel of a b-list;'

'This Strictly lineup so far is really giving last minute replacements of bigger celebrities who have dropped out because of all the allegations...;'

'Wow! The new strictly line up screams boring…I don't know half of them. Reality tv stars shouldn't even be allowed.'

'And there's a trained dancer taking part?? Why doesn't strictly learn; we want bill baileys, we want to see ppl have fun, the underdogs.'

The Scandal Deepens

It's also been reported that the recent scandals that have engulfed the show may have put off some female stars from taking part after a leaked lineup implied this year's Strictly would feature nine men, as opposed to six women. 

This imbalance has led to speculation that female celebrities are avoiding the show due to the ongoing controversies. One Reddit user commented: "I do wonder if the scandal has affected this very uneven lineup. I will say unfortunately this doesn’t look like a great lineup." Another added: "I do wonder if they were originally on the lineup but pulled out when the scandal kicked off." 

Adding fuel to the fire, Tasha's signing has sparked further controversy, as she is a trained dancer. This raises concerns about fairness among other contestants who have no prior dance experience. An insider said: 'Tasha's signing has certainly raised a few eyebrows. She's a dancer by trade as well as a reality star and model, so it feels like she's too qualified to appear on the show.' They added: 'Tasha is certainly no novice and will always be so far ahead of her co-stars before training has kicked in. There is a feeling her being on Strictly is a touch unfair on everybody else competing, especially those totally new to dance.'

A History of Allegations

The BBC mainstay has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light. The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington quit the show last year before claiming that her partner Giovanni Pernice was abusive towards her - later leaving the show. 

Soon after it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked for 'kicking' his partner Love Island star Zara McDermott. 

There has since been a number of accusations against pro dancers old and new, leaving a dark cloud over the much-loved show on what is its 20th anniversary.

Laura Whitmore's Allegations

The allegations against Giovanni have come to light after a flurry of other accusations about the show’s professional dancers. Laura Whitmore accused BBC bosses of 'gaslighting' her over her Strictly Come Dancing experience with Giovanni Pernice. 

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, recently confirmed she'd spoken to the show about Giovanni's 'inappropriate behaviour', following her claims that she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago. 

And in a dramatic new statement, the star has shed more light on her Strictly experience, telling how it's 'all coming out now' amid the flurry of accusations against the show and its professional dancers.

Speaking to The Irish Post, Laura told how she believes that the industry has changed for women since she found fame, noting that women are 'louder' and are now 'pulling people up on things.' 

She added of her Strictly situation: 'The stuff I'm not going to talk to you about now, because it's under review, that's all coming out now, the stuff I tried to speak about eight years ago. 

When asked if she wasn't 'listened to' when she first raised her complaints, she shared: 'Or [I was] gaslit to make it seem normalised.'

Laura went on to add: 'It's a shame that it has to come out in such a victim-shaming way, which it always does. And being the first person to speak up about anything is always hard.'

The presenter's words come days after she broke her silence over the Strictly scandal and confirmed she'd spoken to BBC bosses about Giovanni's behaviour. 

Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room.

Laura admitted she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC.

Zara McDermott's Story

In a separate incident, Zara McDermott, who appeared on Strictly in 2023, came forward with allegations against her partner Graziano Di Prima. Zara, 27, spoke out last month about the BBC show, claiming her dance partner Graziano Di Prima, 30, had hit, spat at and kicked her during rehearsals last year. 

This led to Graziano's sacking from the programme. 

Zara revealed she danced with a fractured leg and ligament damage throughout the series after suffering the injury during rehearsals. She also claims that Graziano was aware of her pain, but insisted that they continue to practice. "She made Graziano aware of her discomfort but he was pretty adamant they needed to crack on." Sources say: "Zara didn’t want to make a fuss, so didn’t alert anyone at the BBC until two weeks ago." 

The Show Must Go On

Despite the scandal, Strictly Come Dancing will be returning for its 20th season. Fans are left wondering if the show can overcome these controversies and regain its former glory. Will the cast be able to bring back the magic and charm that audiences have come to love, or will the scandal overshadow the entire season? Only time will tell. 

A Timeline of the Strictly Scandal

Here are some of the key moments in the recent scandal surrounding Strictly Come Dancing: 

1. 16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show. 

2. 17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC. 

3. 16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing. 

4. 8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago. 

5. 10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos. 

6. 13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for "gross misconduct" after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC. 

7. 15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals. 

8. 16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for the first time. She states while the production team were "amazing to work with", she found the rehearsal room "completely different", confirming there's footage of "certain situations". 

9. 19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his "1970s attitude" and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a "p***" after getting a spray tan. 

10. 21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show. 

11. 22nd July: MasterChef's Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014. 

12. 22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year's series. 

13. 23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury. 

14. 23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after 'an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio'. 

15. 23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is 'deeply sorry', adding: "Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience. 

At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate." 

16. 24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the 'humiliation being of a sexual nature'. 

17. 27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying "I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong". 

She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others. 

18. 28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she "never felt pressured" by him and "personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day". 

Can Strictly Survive This Storm?

The show's future hangs in the balance. It remains to be seen whether the BBC can restore public trust and bring back the magic of Strictly Come Dancing. 

The BBC is under intense scrutiny to address the allegations, protect those involved, and ensure that all participants feel safe and respected. With the new season just around the corner, the spotlight will be on the show's ability to address these concerns and regain its reputation.