The BBC has issued an apology to actress Amanda Abbington and upheld some of her complaints against her former Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice. While allegations of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, claims of physical aggression were not.
Abbington, known for her role in Sherlock, called the BBC’s apology a “vindication” of her complaint and expressed hope that others would now feel more confident in coming forward with their own experiences. Pernice, on the other hand, expressed relief that the most serious allegations against him had been dismissed, stating that the past nine months had been “torrid” for him.
The BBC acknowledged that the production team did take steps to address the issues at the time but admitted that these measures were ultimately not enough. They have since implemented new protocols to strengthen their existing procedures.
Abbington withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing in October 2023, citing “medical” and “personal reasons”. She later lodged a formal complaint against Pernice, claiming that she had raised concerns about his behavior with producers early on in the competition.
The BBC’s review into Abbington’s complaints looked into 17 allegations, with six being upheld. The statement did not provide specific details about the nature of the complaints, but sources indicated that they related to verbal bullying and harassment.
Abbington has since spoken out about the online abuse and threats she and her family received after coming forward with her complaints. She emphasized the importance of the BBC making changes to prevent others from experiencing similar ordeals.
Pernice, who will not be returning to the Strictly professional line-up for the new series, has joined Italy’s dance show, Ballando con le Stelle. The new series of Strictly Come Dancing has already launched on BBC One, with the BBC introducing new measures to ensure the safety and well-being of contestants.
