Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has revealed that he was left feeling suicidal after being at the centre of a bullying row, following Amanda Abbington's allegations.
The Sherlock actress, 53, took part in the BBC series three years ago and was partnered with the champion, 35, before quitting just weeks into the competition. She later alleged that she was suffering from PTSD and accused him of bullying and harassment.
A number of other celebrities then came forward with their own accusations, which the dancer vehemently denied. Following an investigation over 16 allegations, he was cleared on 10 counts while the broadcaster upheld six. Bosses issued an apology to the star, who reportedly received a financial settlement just last week.
Pernice's memoir reveals depression
Pernice later left the series and stepped out of the public eye, but has shared his side of the situation for the first time in his new memoir, Taking The Lead, where he spoke at length about working with Abbington, claiming that she set the tone for their 'banter'.
In an extract from a serialisation in the Daily Mail, he said that he battled a deep depression after the accusations first surfaced, reportedly penning: "Hunched on the sofa of my London flat, I scrolled through my phone as story after story brought bad news, plunging me deeper into depression. Is it worth it? I asked myself. What would happen if I wasn't here any more? Who would care?"
"Tomorrow, I pledged, I would end it all. My life was over and the emotional pain was becoming unbearable."
Pernice described himself as 'on top of the world' just a few months before, as he had won the Glitterball with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021, and also taken home a BAFTA for their efforts on the dancefloor.
However, he claimed the subsequent fall-out with Abbington left him in a "burnt-out shell". Reflecting on his time rehearsing with the actress in 2023, he claimed that she "quickly set the tone" for the way they communicated.
"In a text message for my 33rd birthday, she called me 'k*** head'. Our banter involved bad language, jokily calling each other the 'C' word. If somebody calls me rude names and makes rude gestures... it means our banter is at that level," he reportedly wrote.
"In fact, a BBC producer who saw a video of us calling each other the 'C' word asked Amanda: 'Are you OK with that?' Amanda replied: 'Yeah, of course. I started it.'"
He said that he was instantly impressed with Amanda's efforts in rehearsals, before claiming that she sent him a thank you message following their first session.
Fall-out and investigation
Touching on their brief time in the competition, he described 'moments of tension' but claimed that there were 'never any arguments' between them. He described his behaviour as supportive and encouraging, but reportedly said that he found her efforts confusing, and feared that she wasn't putting in enough time and effort.
As the competition continued and rehearsals became more intense, he alleged that their bond quickly fractured. Abbington then quit the series midway through, and later accused her professional partner of "unnecessary, cruel and abusive behaviour".
In the resulting public fall-out, Pernice claimed that 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."
"But my first dance teacher used to say, 'Never give up' and that mantra has stuck with me throughout my life. Even when I reached the brink of despair, that little voice told me not to give in."
The allegations sparked an internal investigation after at least three celebrities instructed lawyers at Carter Ruck over the alleged abuse, which Pernice denied.
At the time, former Met officers were brought on by BBC bosses to oversee the "evidence gathering", and reviewed footage of his rehearsals with Abbington, as well as their texts.
Following the probe, they found that he was not physically abusive, but the complaints about verbal bullying and harassment were upheld.
BBC and Abbington statements
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."
Abbington added in her own statement: "As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice's conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do. In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I've been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being "mad and unstable"."
"I've also received rape and murder threats, and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation."
"Despite this vile abuse, I've never regretted coming forward, and today's apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint. It's not just a vindication for me, it's a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing."
"I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed. The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering."
