BBC bosses will release details of the Strictly Come Dancing bullying probe this week following a four-month investigation, The Sun on Sunday has learned.

Corporation execs have been poring over details of a report that looked into allegations lodged by actress Amanda Abbington, 50, against professional Giovanni Pernice, 34.

BBC bosses will release details of the Strictly Come Dancing bullying probe next week
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BBC bosses will release details of the Strictly Come Dancing bullying probe next weekCredit: PA

The report looked into allegations by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice
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The report looked into allegations by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni PerniceCredit: Pixel8000

Giovanni denies any wrongdoing and has since quit the show
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Giovanni denies any wrongdoing and has since quit the showCredit: Getty
He denies any wrongdoing and has since quit the show.

A source said neither he nor Amanda — who left the series last October and appointed a lawyer in May — is likely to be happy with the outcome of the inquiry.

The source added: “The BBC plans to update all sides on the outcome of the review early next week.

“The process has taken longer than many in the Corporation wanted, but there’s reasons for that.

“Timing has also been very difficult for the Beeb.

“They’re still reeling from the fallout of the Huw Edwards scandal so they didn’t want to be juggling two major crises at the same time.

“But they now feel in a position to announce what they’ve decided.”

According to the source, only a few details are likely be made public.

They added: “The BBC will make a statement on the findings but a lot of the report is likely to remain private and will only be sent to Amanda, Giovanni and their legal teams.

“Executives hope it will draw a line under the matter but, in reality, it’s very unlikely that it will do that.

“Whatever the outcome, neither Giovanni nor Amanda are likely to be happy so the BBC are bracing themselves for potential appeals.

“Amanda and Giovanni have very well-paid lawyers who will study every cough and spit of the report before advising them on what to do next.

“The BBC could be dealing with this for months and months.”

It comes as it was reported last week that the BBC has given the “green light” for Italian Giovanni to take part in Ballando con le Stelle (Dancing with the Stars), the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Host Milly Carlucci suggested the Beeb’s approval “should tell us something” about the nature of the bullying allegations against him.

She said: “We were in very close contact with the BBC to understand the extent of these [accusations].

“If there had been proof, as it were, the perpetrator of the Agatha Christie-style crime would have come out by now. It hasn’t come out.

“I don’t want to get into their affairs but we have been monitoring the matter with the BBC and they have given us a complete green light in having Giovanni with us.

“That should also tell us something, because the BBC seems to me to be a very serious company that wouldn’t have said to one of its partners, ‘Go ahead, it’s no problem’.”

 

The Sun on Sunday revealed in July how Sicilian professional dancer Graziano Di Prima, 30 was sacked for kicking his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27.

BBC boss Tim Davie apologised to alleged victims of the Strictly scandal at the launch that month of the corporation’s annual report.