The media have been getting in a tizz this week, about the illicit activities of Strictly contestants Seann Walsh and Katya Jones. The pair were photographed kissing on a night out, despite the fact that they both have significant others. Walsh's girlfriend, Rebecca Humphries announced that she is leaving him, and penned an open letter telling her side of the story, which received wide support. Some have even called for Walsh and Jones to be kicked off the show as punishment.
This is where the BBC could have seen itself as facing a dilemma. The extra drama from this incident has given Strictly a huge shot of publicity, and it's likely that the next episode to air featuring Walsh and Jones will receive a boost in ratings, if only from people tuning in wanting to see what the fallout will be. However, on the other side will be those who say the BBC should have kicked them off, and that's where the damage could be done reputationally.
In my opinion the BBC would have gone too far if they had kicked the pair off. Strictly (ha) speaking, they haven't done anything illegal, or that it seems would be against the show's rules, and it's not the BBC's role to be a moral arbiter. Couples on the show have ended up together so often that it's even been called the 'Strictly curse'. No one has previously been kicked out for it, and there's no reason to set a precedent now.
It remains to be seen what action the BBC will take, if any. There has been talk of producers deciding to make sure the dance Walsh and Jones do next time is 'made less sexy'. It seems that they will also appear on the 'It Takes Two' programme tonight to explain their side of the story, which producers will be hoping will take some of the heat out of the situation, and allow some of the drama to dissipate before the weekend's show. This could be good for everyone and take some of the pressure off not just the pair themselves, but everyone else working on the show and the other contestants.
