Ricky Whittle has accused BBC producers of fabricating a romantic storyline between him and his professional dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing in a bid to boost audience interest.
The former contestant, who competed on the 2009 series, alleged bosses deliberately edited footage to imply a love interest with Natalie Lowe, despite the fact he was in a committed relationship at the time.
The 45-year-old, best known for playing Calvin Valentine in Hollyoaks between 2006 and 2011, claimed producers “stitched him up” by manipulating interview clips and manufacturing misleading video segments.
The allegations come as Whittle prepares to return to the UK next month for a charity football match, having lived in Los Angeles since 2012.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Ricky Whittle has accused BBC producers of fabricating a storyline
|PA
“The BBC totally stitched me up. They manipulated a romance, they fixed it so that we were the romantic couple,” Mr Whittle told the Daily Mail.
The actor detailed what he says were deliberate attempts by the production team to create a fictional love story between him and Ms Lowe.
He claims editors cut his interview responses to craft a narrative that suited the show.
“They manipulated interviews in the VTs shown during the show. I remember them asking me questions about Natalie like, ‘Was seeing her the best part of your day?’ or me saying she was amazing, and they cut it together with soft, beautiful music in the background,” he told the paper.
Ricky Whittle and dance partner Natalie Lowe during the photocall for Strictly Come Dancing
|PA
He also alleged producers filmed staged footage of the pair holding hands, accompanied by romantic music, despite being in a relationship at the time with Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson.
“They knew what they were doing. Other couples were the ones who argued, but Natalie and I were the romantic couple,” Whittle claimed, suggesting producers assigned narrative “roles” to each pairing for entertainment value.
Whittle finished runner-up to sports presenter Chris Hollins in the 2009 final.
His time on Strictly coincided with the breakdown of his relationship with Stenson, who had initially supported him during the competition.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Ricky Whittle was in a committed relationship when he was paired with dance partner Natalie Lowe
|PA
Their split later became an example frequently cited in discussions of the programme’s so-called “curse”.
Ms Lowe, who partnered Mr Whittle throughout the series, remained with Strictly until her departure in 2017.
Despite the controversy, Whittle praised aspects of his experience, including the late head judge Len Goodman, whom he credited with offering him valuable backstage support.
After leaving British television, Mr Whittle built a successful acting career in the United States, securing roles in American Gods, The 100, Netflix’s Nappily Ever After, and the 2024 action thriller Land of Bad.
He will return to the UK on December 15 for Game4theChildren, a charity football match held at QPR’s Loftus Road Stadium in aid of Shelter and the club's Community Trust.
Mr Whittle will join celebrities including comedian Russell Howard, actor Phil Dunster and fellow Strictly star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Hollyoaks Actress Carley Stenson and Ricky Whittle were in a committed relationship at the time of his Strictly appearance in 2009
|PA
Football legends Clarence Seedorf and Claude Makélélé will captain the teams, with Ronald de Boer, Jaap Stam, Louis Saha and Mark van Bommel among the players taking part.
The BBC has not responded to requests for comment regarding Whittle’s allegations.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter