Iconic British Olympian in talks to join Strictly Come Dancing as BBC bid to clean up scandal-hit show
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OLYMPICS running legend Sir Mo Farah is in talks to appear on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
BBC chiefs are courting his team in a bid to restore the scandal-hit show's family-friendly image, it is understood.
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Olympic running legend Sir Mo Farah is in talks to appear on this year's Strictly Come Dancing
Credit: PA
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The show's reputation took a hit in 2023 when actress Amanda Abbington alleged she was bullied by her pro partner Giovanni Pernice
Credit: Louis Wood
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Giovanni denied the claims
Credit: Getty
Its reputation was dented when actress Amanda Abbington accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying in 2023.
Team GB hero Sir Mo, 42, however, is seen by BBC bosses as a 'genuine national treasure' whose squeaky-clean image and profile would be popular with viewers and rebuild trust.
A source said: 'His personality would provide the perfect tonic to the toxicity that's overshadowed Strictly.
"Bosses would love to sign him up but the talks are at a very early stage.'
Sir Mo won 5,000 and 10,000m golds at the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2012 and 2016.
He came fifth in I'm A Celebrity . . . in 2020 when it filmed in Wales because of Covid.
Asked if he would consider Strictly, Somalia-born Sir Mo replied: 'Hopefully, when the time is right,' before joking he had 'two left feet'.
He would not say if he had had an approach.
A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.
My Strictly ordeal with Giovanni was so toxic I was relieved when cancer scare meant I could quit, says Amanda Abbington
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