Strictly: Amanda Abbington accuses Giovanni Pernice of 'cruel' behaviour

Amanda Abbington spoke out about her ex-dance partner Giovanni Pernice's reported actions, calling them unnecessary, abusive, cruel, and disrespectful.

The actress, who quit last year's show in October, said in an interview with the Sun on Sunday that she was worried about facing criticism if she spoke up and alleged that the BBC had been aware of Pernice's actions for a long time.

Pernice's representative stated that he rejected the claims and dismissed any accusations of being abusive or threatening.

The BBC did not respond to the new allegations, but has previously stated that it has strong procedures in place to ensure the well-being of its staff.

Strictly Come Dancing is facing backlash due to issues raised by former dancers Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

Many news outlets had mentioned that Abbington, known for her role in Sherlock, faced challenges with her dance partner Pernice.

During her Sunday interview, Abbington expressed her thoughts on Giovanni's actions, stating that she believed his behavior was unwarranted, abusive, harsh, and unkind. She felt compelled to speak out against it to prevent him from mistreating others.

I really had to carefully consider whether to speak up about my concerns, knowing that there might be negative consequences. However, I couldn't stay silent knowing that others could potentially be affected in the future.

She mentioned that whatever took place in the training room was recorded and available on video, stating that she had no issue with others viewing the footage.

Come Dancing. She shared her experience working with him in a recent interview, praising his talents and dedication to the competition. Amanda was impressed by Giovanni's ability to teach her new dance moves and push her out of her comfort zone. She also appreciated his positive attitude and sense of humor, making their partnership enjoyable and rewarding. According to Amanda, Giovanni truly embodied the spirit of the show and helped her grow as a dancer.

Abbington expressed that she believes rehearsal spaces should be a safe environment where care and compassion are prioritized.

"I didn't receive that kindness while working on this project," she stated.

She mentioned that she planned to register a grievance because she believed the situation was unjust.

"It's crazy how everything has unfolded, with the threats on my life and the negative reactions," she said.

She said she had previously raised concerns about Pernice's rumored behavior to the producers, but they did not take any action.

This wasn't just a one-time thing for me. I really regret dancing with him.

It was recently revealed that Pernice will not be coming back to Strictly Come Dancing for the upcoming season.

In a message given to BBC News, a representative for Pernice said: "The BBC has told Giovanni about the investigation's accusations, and he has fully collaborated. The claims in the Sun on Sunday are not mentioned at all."

Giovanni is denying the claims made against him and is stating that he never engaged in any abusive or threatening actions.

"He has given a lot of important evidence to the investigation, and he is still very sure that he will prove his innocence."

The BBC stated that they do not provide specific comments on matters involving individuals.

The blog advised against engaging in unnecessary gossip, stating that individuals involved in a complaint are entitled to privacy and a fair investigation. If a complaint is received by the BBC, they will carefully assess the situation, gather all relevant information, determine if further action is necessary, and take appropriate measures as needed.

This is all part of the BBC's responsibility to take care of everyone involved in a complaint - this includes both those who have made the complaint and those who have been accused of wrongdoing.

Zara McDermott, who danced with Graziano Di Prima, has revealed she experienced troubling incidents during their training sessions.

In a different story, the Sunday Mirror has published accusations against a female professional dancer from the show, without revealing her name.

The article reports that a male competitor, who remains unidentified, has allegedly accused the dancer of yelling angrily in his face. He is reportedly unhappy with the senior staff for not backing him up both during his time on the show and after he quit.

The man competing on the show says that he and the dancer fought every day. He also mentioned that she would get really angry when the cameras were not rolling and he couldn't get his routines right. This information was reported by the newspaper.

In reply to this article, the BBC mentioned that they would refrain from discussing specific persons or making assumptions.

But, like we mentioned before, we are always open to hearing from people who want to bring something to our attention or discuss it with us directly. We have the necessary procedures and systems in place to handle these situations appropriately.

The second ex-Strictly dancer causing a lot of trouble is Di Prima.

On Tuesday, Zara McDermott, a TV host who danced with Di Prima on the show last year, wrote a message saying she experienced uncomfortable situations in the Strictly training room that she now feels upset when looking back on them.

A couple of days after, Di Prima's representative verified that the celebrity had kicked McDermott during practice last year, resulting in his dismissal from the production.

Di Prima expressed his sincere regret over "the circumstances that resulted in me leaving Strictly".

After McDermott shared information earlier this week, the company said it would have supervisors present at all upcoming rehearsals.

Additionally, there will be two new specialized welfare officers added as part of a series of additional initiatives.