Amanda Abbington hits back over Giovanni Pernice’s Strictly Come Dancing claims

Amanda Abbington hits back over Giovanni Pernice’s Strictly Come Dancing claims Amanda Abbington spoke out after former Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice said that he had suicidal thoughts over her bullying allegations. Amanda Abbington has hit back after former Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice said that he had suicidal thoughts over her bullying allegations. The Sherlock actress, 54, took part in the competition in 2023, where she was partnered with the champion, 35. Viewers were stunned when she quit just weeks into the competition, and she later alleged that she was suffering from PTSD, accusing the pro of bullying and harassment. He fiercely denied all claims, with BBC bosses investigating 16 allegations - he was cleared on 10 counts while six were upheld. The broadcaster also issued an apology to the star. Pernice spoke about his experience in his new memoir, Taking The Lead, where he claimed that he was left a ‘burnt-out shell’ after their fall-out, and battling a deep depression. In response, Abbington told the Sun: “It’s sad, though not surprising, that Giovanni is continuing down this route. “He took part in the BBC investigation that made findings against him, following which the channel paid me compensation. “He is grossly mischaracterising what happened to suit his own narrative, but I have no interest in engaging with that. My focus is on moving forward.” A friend of the Mr Selfridge star added: “Amanda will forever regard Giovanni as a monster. She stands by her allegations - she’s not the only one who was a victim of his behaviour.” In a serialisation of his book, published on Saturday by the Daily Mail, Pernice said that he was instantly impressed with his former partner’s efforts in rehearsals, claiming that she sent him a thank you message following their first session. He described ‘moments of tension’ but reportedly said that there were ‘never any arguments’ between them, describing his behaviour as supportive and encouraging. As the competition continued and rehearsals became more intense, he alleged that their bond quickly fractured. Abbington then quit the series midway through, and later accused her professional partner of "unnecessary, cruel and abusive behaviour”. Following a public fall-out, Pernice claimed that it had become “increasingly difficult” to read “all the bile that was flowing in my direction”, before thanking then-girlfriend Molly Brown for remaining by his side. “She could see that I was spiralling and she was there to talk to me when I was down,” he added. “There were certainly times I would have killed myself if Molly hadn’t been there.” The accusations sparked an internal investigation. Former Met officers were brought on by BBC bosses to oversee the "evidence gathering", and review footage of Pernice’s rehearsals with Abbington, as well as their texts. Pernice has always denied all allegations. The probe found that he was not physically abusive, but complaints about verbal bullying and harassment were upheld - though the exact details of the complaints have not been made public. In a statement, the broadcaster said: “The BBC has now concluded its review into the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice. We take any allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously, and this review has taken time due to its complex nature and our desire to ensure a rigorous and robust process was undertaken. "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, of the complaints made. 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.” The Mirror has contacted Giovanni’s reps for a comment. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .