Amanda Abbington reveals she held secret meeting with Giovanni Pernice's ex partners and 'they all said the same thing'
10/03/2024 03:06 AM
AMANDA Abbington held an emotional secret meeting with Giovanni Pernice’s former Strictly Come Dancing partners at her home.
The actress, 50, appeared on Newsnight for her first interview since the findings of a BBC investigation into Giovanni‘s conduct on Strictly were released.
Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, Amanda revealed she met with celebrities who were previously partnered with Gio, 34, and said: “we all cried, we all burst into tears.”
She continued: “We just wanted to make sure that we weren’t on our own and thinking this had just happened to us.’
“Everyone I spoke to all said the same thing, it wasn’t pleasant and it wasn’t what everyone else was going through in the other [rehearsal] rooms.”
The BBC upheld six of the 17 complaints she made against the Italian, dancer who later quit the show, and apologised to Amanda.
It found instances of Giovanni using swear words and “belittling” language and giving negative feedback.
And the report also found there there were two moments of “inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace”.
These incidents were made and received consensually as jokes, humour and compliments of Amanda dancing, the report found.
Amanda made more bombshell claims about Gio during the interview.
She said: “It was an ongoing litany of being verbally abused, sexual innuendo, sexual gestures.
“There was a 35 minute rant at me with him throwing his hands in the air and calling me names and how he couldn’t cope with it anymore.
She continued: “When I got a dance step right he would outline his erection in his trousers and tell me my dance move made that happen, because I got it right.”
A spokesman for Giovanni told The Sun: “It’s disappointing that Ms Abbington would knowingly mislead the outcome of the report in order to further damage Giovanni’s reputation.
“While Ms Abbington may not like the outcome of the six month investigation, she should not seek to spread false and defamatory claims.”
Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can't continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love."
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024:Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
