Amanda Abbington has responded after her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice opened up about the impact of their bitter fallout.
The Sherlock actress, 53, appeared on the BBC show in 2023 alongside Pernice, 35, but left the competition just weeks after it began. Abbington later said she had suffered from PTSD and accused the professional dancer of bullying and harassment, allegations he has consistently denied.
The BBC launched an investigation into 16 allegations, with 10 not upheld and six upheld. The broadcaster subsequently apologised to Abbington. Pernice has now addressed the ordeal in his memoir Taking The Lead, saying he was left a "burnt-out shell" and suffered a deep depression following the row.
Abbington's Response
Abbington hit back in a statement to The Sun, saying: "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."
Pernice's Account
In a serialisation of his book published by the Daily Mail, Pernice said he was initially impressed by Abbington's commitment in rehearsals and claimed she sent him a thank you message after their first session.
He described "moments of tension" but said there were "never any arguments", portraying himself as supportive and encouraging. However, he alleged their relationship deteriorated as rehearsals became more intense. Abbington eventually quit the show and later accused him of "unnecessary, cruel and abusive behaviour".
Pernice said it became "increasingly difficult" to deal with "all the bile that was flowing in my direction" and credited then-girlfriend Molly Brown with supporting him.
"She could see that I was spiralling and she was there to talk to me when I was down," he said. "There were certainly times I would have killed myself if Molly hadn't been there."
BBC Investigation Findings
The allegations prompted a BBC investigation overseen by former Met officers, who reviewed rehearsal footage and messages between the pair.
The probe found Pernice was not physically abusive, while complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld. The specific details of those complaints have not been made public.
The BBC 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."
