GIOVANNI Pernice has been slammed by an anti-bullying charity after speaking out on a BBC investigation into his conduct on Strictly.

Giovanni broke his silence on ITV’s Lorraine on Tuesday and insisted he is “strict” but “not a bully” after his former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington made allegations against him.

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The boss of National Bullying Helpline has slammed Giovanni PerniceCredit: Rex

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Amanda accused Giovanni of bullying her during their time working togetherCredit: Channel 4

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He claimed he is ‘strict’ but not ‘a bully’Credit: PA
The professional dancer also denied ever clashing with the actress in the rehearsal room, despite her claims that he made offensive comments towards her.

The investigation upheld six of Amanda’s complaints, with sources saying those upheld related to verbal bullying and harassment.

But the most serious allegations of physical aggression were not upheld.

Speaking on Shelagh Fogarty’s LBC show today, Christine Pratt, the founder of the National Bullying Helpline, said: “What I have seen over the last couple of days, is what Giovanni is now saying publicly. And that concerns me.

“We’ve got two very talented people here and both are very well liked by the public, so it is a very emotive subject.

“I’m very sorry this is happening, and I feel for both of them. Particularly Amanda. She has taken this very personally and she’s very distressed.

“That, coupled with what Giovanni is saying at the moment, is a huge red flag. It troubles me.”

Christine continued: “In the workplace, there are two very powerful words. Capability and conduct.

“Someone can be very good at dancing, or running a business, or what they can do. They can be the best. But we’re not talking about his capability or skill, we’re talking about his conduct.

“The BBC has said that he breached their anti-bullying and harassment policy on six counts. But he is insisting that he is not a bully, and that troubles me.

Giovanni Pernice stands by strict methods as he reveals upset at not winning the Glitterball with ‘brilliant’ Amanda
“I don’t believe Giovanni is pausing and thinking. I do not know who is advising him right now. But his public statements do trouble me immensely. I think he believes that bullying doesn’t have to be physical to be serious. He is alluding to that.

“He needs training, he needs coaching. There are boundaries, and if you go beyond those and the person you are training is struggling, you have to reflect on what it is you are doing.

“Giovanni his eye on the trophy, he has said he will continue the way he has been teaching. That is a massive red flag.”

She added: “I’m not here to judge him, I’d like him to get some support and some help. To understand how he can get that trophy without destroying people.”

The Sun has contacted a representative for Giovanni for comment.

Giovanni told Christine Lampard on ITV’s Lorraine on Tuesday: “The investigation didn’t find me a bully.

“Bully is a big word, there’s a big difference between bullying and caring about what you do.”

Sherlock star Amanda, 50, quit Strictly Come Dancing last year and later made a formal complaint about Giovanni along with three of his former dance partners.

When asked if he wanted to say “sorry” to Amanda, Gio said he would like to have a cup of tea with her and discuss what happened between them in a civil way.

ITV host Christine, whose friend and Lorraine co-star Ranvir Singh also complained about Giovanni’s conduct, told him: “Amanda sat in this studio and described to us how it felt like bullying, to be in the rehearsal room with you.

Giovanni replied: “It’s in the public domain the fact I’m a strict teacher. If you want to achieve greatness, I think this is the right way.”

Following his interview, a spokesperson for Amanda said: “Mr Pernice’s claim that ‘everything in the rehearsal room worked perfectly’ is false and delusional, and underlines the toxic culture Ms Abbington endured on the show.”

MOVING ON

Giovanni is currently taking part in Italy’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.

He relocated to Italy as Amanda spoke out about her ordeal on Newsnight following the BBC investigation.

She claimed her nightmare rehearsals with Gio got so bad she was actually relieved when a cancer scare meant she could quit the show.

The BBC apologised to the actress as she revealed her experience with him was “morbid and toxic”.

Meanwhile, Giovanni is due to make a brief return to Strictly in a one-off special celebrating the show’s 20 years on screen.

In December’s anniversary special, he will appear in footage from 2021 dancing with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf winner of Strictly Come Dancing.

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Amanda accused him of bullying her behind the scenes on Strictly and later spoke out on Newsnight following the BBC’s report