Bobby Brazier breaks his silence on Strictly scandal as he recalls ‘bickering’ with partner Dianne Buswell during ‘intense’ training and shares advice for latest contestants

Bobby Brazier has broken his silence on the Strictly scandal and reflected on his time competing in the competition last year with his professional partner Dianne Buswell.

The much-loved BBC series is currently embroiled in controversy over the way its professional dancers teach the celebrities, with multiple allegations of bullying and offensive behaviour.

EastEnders star Bobby, 21, who finished runner-up behind ex Ellie Leach, said his own experiences didn’t match the reports but that 12-hour training days sometimes led to “squabbles”.

He told MailOnline: ‘My own experience was amazing and everything I expected it to be. I didn’t expect it to be as amazing as it was.

‘[Me and Diane would] ‘A little bickering here and there, but we laughed, it was just a matter of balance.’

“It was really, you spend so much time with someone who’s doing something you’ve never done before, that’s really hard in a competition… so it’s never going to be all one thing. I was so grateful that it was everything at such an intense level.”

He also gave advice to the latest batch of participants, including EastEnders colleague Jamie Borthwick, 30, ahead of the training.

Bobby said, ‘Take your lunch breaks and if your pro doesn’t want to stop and you do, take a nap.

‘And ask, ask humbly, ask politely if they can wake you up gently, so that you are in a good mood and can dance, instead of tired and angry.’

Bobby spoke to MailOnline on behalf of Mentos to encourage people to rediscover their summer taste by trying new flavours and aromas, following the launch of Mentos Discovery which features 14 delicious fruit flavours in one roll.

The brand conducted new research which found that 64 percent of Gen Z need excitement to get through the week, while for people aged 45 and over, that figure drops to 28 percent.

69 percent of Gen Z feel like they’ve lost certain character traits over time and would like to rediscover them, including creativity and adventure, but they’re still eager to try new flavors 79 percent identify as adventurous eater.

Bobby said: ‘I’ve been lucky enough in my career so far to have had the opportunity to explore different sides of myself and what makes me happy, from modelling on some of the world’s biggest catwalks to acting and dancing.

‘I’m looking forward to working with Mentos to explore their new flavors and aromas and encourage people to do the same.

‘We can get so stuck in everyday life that we often forget how exciting and fun it is to put ourselves out there and try new things.’

The Strictly scandal broke in January when actress Amanda Abbington accused her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice of assault after she unexpectedly quit the programme after just five weeks.

Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, has made a series of allegations about Giovanni’s teaching methods and has described his behavior as “unnecessary, insulting, cruel and mean.” He strongly denies all allegations.

In an interview, Amanda compared the dance show to “the trenches” and told Channel 4 News that BBC producers were “appalled” by clips that allegedly included “degrading sexual behaviour”.

In July it was revealed that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.

A Strictly source said: “Graziano’s abuse continued, he was kicking and punching her. There were multiple occasions where there was both physical and verbal abuse. It was more physical than verbal but it was all horrible.

“There were times when he did horrible things, it was really horrible. What he did makes Giovanni look like a pussy cat.”

Graziano has since claimed that he does not know all the details of what he is alleged to have done.

The BBC would not provide further details due to the “confidential nature of the circumstances” under which the information was provided and its “obligations” to “third parties”.

New contestant Pete Wicks, who was announced last week, is a good friend of Zara, who starred in the 2023 series of Strictly.

Pete has secured a spot on the Strictly line-up after shocking reports emerged that Zara performed on the show with a ‘broken’ leg as a result of an injury during training and needed painkillers to get through the ten-hour rehearsals.

Bobby will be attending the Mentos event on August 17, where the brand will transform 15 Bateman St, Soho into a vibrant playground of flavour, colour and music with a free ‘Pick n Mix’ pop-up.