Amanda Abbington has responded after former Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice said he had suicidal thoughts over her bullying allegations. The Sherlock actress, 54, competed in the show in 2023 partnered with Pernice, 35, and quit weeks into the series. She later alleged she was suffering from PTSD and accused the professional dancer of bullying and harassment.
Pernice has denied all claims. The BBC investigated 16 allegations, clearing him on 10 counts while upholding six. The broadcaster also apologised to Abbington.
Pernice's memoir claims
In his new memoir, Taking The Lead, Pernice claimed he was left a 'burnt-out shell' after their fallout and battled a deep depression. In a serialisation published by the Daily Mail, he said he was instantly impressed with Abbington's efforts in rehearsals and claimed she sent him a thank you message after their first session. He described 'moments of tension' but reportedly said there were 'never any arguments' between them, describing his behaviour as supportive and encouraging.
As the competition continued and rehearsals became more intense, he alleged their bond quickly fractured. Abbington then quit mid-series and later accused her professional partner of "unnecessary, cruel and abusive behaviour".
Abbington's response
In response, Abbington told the Sun: "It's sad, though not surprising, that Giovanni is continuing down this route. He took part in the BBC investigation that made findings against him, following which the channel paid me compensation. He is grossly mischaracterising what happened to suit his own narrative, but I have no interest in engaging with that. My focus is on moving forward."
A friend of the Mr Selfridge star added: "Amanda will forever regard Giovanni as a monster. She stands by her allegations - she's not the only one who was a victim of his behaviour."
Investigation findings
Following a public fallout, Pernice claimed it had become "increasingly difficult" to read "all the bile that was flowing in my direction", before thanking then-girlfriend Molly Brown for remaining by his side. "She could see that I was spiralling and she was there to talk to me when I was down," he added. "There were certainly times I would have killed myself if Molly hadn't been there."
The accusations sparked an internal investigation. Former Met officers were brought in by BBC bosses to oversee the evidence gathering and review footage of Pernice's rehearsals with Abbington, as well as their texts. The probe found he was not physically abusive, but complaints about verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, though the exact details have not been made public.
In a statement, the broadcaster said: "The BBC has now concluded its review into the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice. We take any allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously, and this review has taken time due to its complex nature and our desire to ensure a rigorous and robust process was undertaken. Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we rightly expect very high standards. While competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience. It is a great shame if this hasn't been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show. We have assessed the complaints, and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."
The Mirror has contacted Giovanni's reps for a comment.
