The BBC has hit back at claims that Strictly Come Dancing bosses are investigating several contestants for reportedly taking weight loss drugs.
In 2025, Strictly season begins with 15 celebrities ready to take to the dance floor in hopes of winning the Glitterball Trophy.
Alex Kingston, Danny Dyer, George Clarke, Ross King and Ellie Goldstein are some of the amateur dancers set to dance up a storm as the hit reality series tries to move on from past controversies.
New reports, however, have claimed that five celebrities (who have not been named) have undergone weight loss stunts prior to their appearances on the show.
On the Sun Drugs could include Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy, which can suppress appetite and reduce hunger.
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Competitors who make it to the grand finale participate in the show for up to four months, requiring sustained practice over a long period of time, with rehearsals lasting around eight hours a day and five days a week before the rigorous live performances.
As such, one TV insider claimed that strict bosses have been left worried.
In a statement to Metro .
It comes after a source told The Sun that the performers were “unaware” of who had been using drugs, but “what is being asked of the contestants is next level”, possibly exceeding the exercise recommended by health professionals.
The source continued: “The BBC is continuing with normal protocols which see them closely monitoring the contestants’ health throughout the show, with any sign of them being unwell or struggling physically being taken to task immediately.
“Moreover, they are powerless to intervene in any way, and not only because the stars are not obligated to tell them, but also because the medications have certain substances that they are allowed to use.”
Weight loss drugs and their side effects
Medications to help manage weight are free on the NHS, including Orlistat, Liraglutide, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
“All medicines to support weight management should be used alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity,” explains the NHS website.
Orlistat works by preventing the absorption of about a third of the fat from foods.
Meanwhile, weight management injections like tirzepatide (Mounjaro), semaglutide (Wegovy), and liraglutide (Saxenda) work by “reducing appetite, making you feel full, and slowing the time it takes for your stomach to empty.”
“While taking this medication, you will need to eat a balanced, reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly,” the website details.
The series has already faced a knock-on before airing after Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn was forced to drop out due to medical reasons.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to withdraw from this Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons.
“I was really looking forward to the tour and I’m so sorry to disappoint everyone who was hoping to see me on the dance floor. Thank you all for your support and I’ll be back on my feet very soon anyway. Love to everyone, Kristian,” he wrote in a statement at the time.
He was replaced by Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, who said he wanted someone who was going to push him from a professional partner.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens on September 20, 2025.
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