Actress Amanda Abbington addressed the verdict of the BBC’s internal investigation into allegations about her Strictly Come Dancing dance partner Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour in rehearsals in a new bombshell interview.

During the interview, the Sherlock actress made further claims about Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour in rehearsals. Speaking to host Victoria Derbyshire, she claimed she “wouldn’t be sitting here now” had the BBC done more.

Victoria read out Giovanni’s past statement at one point, adding that the Italian dancer told Newnight: “We are unable to comment any further and the BBC has asked both parties to respect confidentially.” Giovanni has previously strongly denied all of Amanda’s past allegations.

Amanda, who shares two children with actor Martin Freeman, also revealed she has received an increase in death threats aimed at herself and her teenage daughter since the BBC report was revealed. Addressing what she describes as misinformation about her character, Amanda said it isn’t her nature to complain.

She said of the BBC probe on Newsnight tonight: “It’s nice. It’s a relief that they’ve apologised.” She added that nearly half of her complaints were upheld but said there is a “significant reason” some complaints weren’t upheld and her team will be investigating further.

Amanda told Victoria she is unable to share the significant reason at the moment but would like to at some point, adding: “What’s been said at the moment out there is just not true. There were some very serious things that went on and they were upheld by the BBC. There were breaches off all the codes of conduct.”

Amanda on newnight
Amanda Abbington appeared on Wednesday night’s edition of Newsnight 
Image:
BBC)
“It’s been one of the worst years of my life,” Amanda continued. “I’ve been through a lot – women go through a lot – but it has been a relentless time of my life. I have had to deal with horrible things that continue to happen for just complaining… not even complaining as I don’t like that word. Just for reporting what I deemed and other people before me deemed as bad behaviour.”

Discussing complaints that were upheld from what happened in the rehearsal room, Amanda said it was “ongoing litany of being verbally abused” by Giovanni and a 35 minute “rant” at her, including name-calling. Amanda said she is “open to criticism” and “doesn’t make problems or trouble where there isn’t any”.

“There were pockets of time where we got on and it was ok, which was wrong-footing for me because when you’re in that room you never knew where you were from one minute to the next and it can make you shut down,” she told Victoria. “I shut down in that room and I was called ‘mad’ and ‘unstable’.”

Amanda then said she was open to criticism and “doesn’t make trouble where there isn’t any”. “I have worked 32 years as an actress in an industry that started the MeToo movement and I have never had to leave a job and experience anything like I did in that room,” she added. “It was one of the hardest things I had to do. I did it for myself and previous contestants.”

After Newsnight host Victoria asked the Sherlock star about the behaviour, Amanda said with a shaky voice: “Um, yeah. It was one of the allegations that was upheld. There were two allegations,” she said before apologising for checking her 30-page probe report.

“There were two allegations of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature. They were upheld and one of them was physical and one was verbal.” A visibly shaken Amanda then said the other allegation was verbal before saying: “And they weren’t isolated one-off incidents. They were over a period of seven weeks.”

amanda and victoria on newsnight
‘They weren’t isolated one-off incidents. They were over a period of seven weeks’ 
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BBC)
Amanda then revealed she first told producers of her concerns “after about three or four days of being in the rehearsal room”. She claims they told her they were sorry and would monitor the situation. “I think the cameras went in quite soon after that,” she added. “This wasn’t an isolated incident and I know it had happened before to other contestants.”

She continued she was put in contact with some of Giovanni’s former celebrity partners through mutual friends and “invited them over”. She told Victoria: “We just wanted to make sure we weren’t on our own thinking this had only happened to us because we all have said the same thing. It wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t what the others were going through in other rooms. We wanted to connect with each other.”

Victoria then asked how the meeting went down, with Amanda saying she and the other people all “cried and burst into tears”. “We all said the same thing, it was managing a room and having to look after our own mental and physical wellbeing within that room,” she added.

Towards the end of the interview, Victoria referred to Sarah Vine’s recent opinion piece on Amanda in the Daily Mail. “Women like Abbington are part of the reason other women find themselves in genuinely awful and much more serious situations don’t get taken seriously,” an excerpt of the piece reads.

“I’m always shocked when women throw other women under the bus for standing up for something they think is wrong but ok,” Amanda said in response to Victoria reading the extract out. “I’ve had so many women come up to me since making this complaint thanking me for being brave enough to stand up and complain about something that was impacting me in a work situation.”

She went on to add that women have told her that her complaint has inspired them to “speak out” and many women have hugged her and thanked her. “I also did it for the women before me who had gone through the same thing,” she added. “I’m not the isolated person – it hasn’t only happened to me”.

Amanda concluded saying she “loved Strictly” and never wanted to “cause any trouble or ruin any careers.” “All I did was experience something in a workplace environment that was run by a corporation that is owned by the public and I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I went through,” she added.

Amanda, 50, previously said that she complained about dancer Giovanni, 33, whom she was partnered with on the show last year. She made allegations of “bullying” and “aggressive behaviour,” with Giovanni – who is no longer on the show – denying “abusive or threatening behaviour”. The BBC launched an internal investigation and the results were released earlier this week following the launch of the latest series.

Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice on Strictly It Takes Two
Giovanni has always strongly denied Amanda’s claims 
Image:
BBC)Don’t Miss

 

Amanda’s appearance on Newsnight this evening comes as it’s claimed the actress could sue the BBC. The BBC expressed regret to Amanda after confirming some of the grievances levied at the renowned Italian dancer, acknowledging six of the 17 issues she brought forward during her time twirling on the dance floor.

The probe uncovered moments of “inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace” including an incident where Pernice made an improper signal clear violation of the BBC codes. In reflecting on the BBCs proclamation, Amanda emphasised that coming forward “was not an easy thing to do”.

Meanwhile, the BBC asserted: “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. 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.”

A source reportedly close to Amanda said earlier this week: “Amanda is delighted and relieved, and feels her decision to speak out and complain has been rewarded. She hopes other celebrities might come forward now, safe in the knowledge they, too, will be listened to.”

The source told The Sun that Amanda “has been through hell” and “lost work” as a result of going public with her claims and “is “considering taking further” action against the BBC for damages and loss of earnings. The source said that Amanda “suffered enormously” and was diagnosed with PTSD, adding that she feels the BBC “breached its duty of care guidelines by not protecting her sooner”.

The source said it’s hard to “put a figure on how much she could expect” if things went her way, but it was speculated that it could be up to £300,000. The source described the prospect as the the BBC’s “worst nightmare” after a “costly investigation” and potential reputational damange for Strictly.

A representative for Giovanni said: “We are pleased this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour. Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations put to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.”

Since waving goodbye to Strictly in May, Giovanni has snagged a spot on Italy’s Dancing With The Stars, teaming up with Bianca Guaccero. Showbiz insiders are buzzing about the possibility of Giovanni making an unexpected return to Strictly, but those close to him hint that he’s still smarting from previous ordeals.

A friend revealed: “Giovanni feels he was thrown to the wolves, and is very bruised by some of the claims made by previous partners against him. He has always maintained his innocence so right now the thought of going back to Strictly seems outlandish.”
“Only four allegations against him were upheld for bullying, plus two sexual complaints, but he feels there was context to these, and he was only ever joking. Not to belittle Amanda’s experience, which is valid, but Giovanni feels like he could have been supported better too.”

The 20th anniversary show of Strictly kicked off on September 14, with chaperones now a fixture during rehearsals.