Strictly Come Dancing was plunged into further crisis this evening after Amanda Abbington claimed that sacked dancer Giovanni Pernice was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic’ footage’.
In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
The Sherlock star sensationally quit the dance competition last year citing ‘personal reasons’ before reports surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner left her with PTSD.
Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, was later suspended, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities.
Yet in a dramatic twist in the Strictly saga, the actress has claimed Giovanni tried to stop her legal team from accessing the video ‘evidence’ after producers were forced to put cameras in the dance studio after Amanda raised concerns.
‘There’s 50 hours of footage that’s being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,’ she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
‘It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn’t want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he’s got nothing to hide.’
Amanda Abbington becomes emotional during an interview with Channel 4 about the online trolling she received after quitting Strictly Come Dancing last year
Amanda cited ‘personal reasons’ for leaving the BBC show last October but it was later revealed she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice left her with PTSD
Amanda sat down with fellow BBC Strictly contestant – and Channel 4 News Presenter – Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Amanda seemingly hit back yesterday at her former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice after he seemingly branded her a ‘mad woman’
A spokesperson tonight for Giovanni told MailOnline: ‘We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.’
The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni’s rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was ‘going on’ between the pair.
Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue.
‘So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,’ the actress explained, as she fought back tears.
‘Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn’t ask for the cameras, I know that he didn’t ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said, ‘we’re going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what’s going on’.
‘And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry’.
‘That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.’
Throughout the interview, Guru-Murthy, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’, with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement.
‘Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,’ she said, clarifying it was not harassment.
Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the Beeb investigators and ‘remains fully confident in clearing his name’.
Disputing Amanda’s claims once again following tonight’s interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: ‘The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.
Amanda and Giovanni on Strictly last year
In the Channel 4 News interview, claimed that sacked dancer was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic’ footage’
Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who interview Amanda today, also starred on the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing
Amanda and Krishnan Guru-Murthy pictured following her interview
‘They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.’
After the fallout, Amanda said she did not hear from any one at the BBC again, claiming: ‘I haven’t spoken to anyone from the BBC since Strictly.
‘No one from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, either through me or my lawyer.’
In a message to those in charge of the BBC show that has been running since 2004 she added: ‘Just be aware of what’s going on and when you know it’s going on, nip it in the bud. Don’t allow it to continue.’
Amanda went on to claim that she has faced a number of violent threats from both Strictly fans and ‘Giovanni fans’ who have asked her ‘how can you destroy something like Strictly’.
She revealed the extent of the alleged harassment she has received in recent months from trolls, telling Channel 4 that ‘It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving’.
‘The aftermath has been something I was not expecting. The death threats and the rape threats not only to myself but to my daughter. The threats of death to my son,’ she added.
‘When you get one or two of the those you can [shrug it off],’ she added. ‘But when it’s dozens of people saying ‘just go kill yourself’, ‘go die of cancer‘, ‘just kill yourself, your kids will be better off without you as a mother’.
Amanda detailed other horrific messages she allegedly received. Others included ‘I hope your daughter gets raped, I hope your son is stabbed’, ‘you don’t deserve any good things you have done’, ‘you’re a snowflake, you’re stupid, you’re an idiot’.
The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.
Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda as well as two other, unnamed contestants.
Graziano was axed from the show last week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zasra McDermott during rehearsals last year.
And just yesterday, Paralympian Will Bayley became the latest star to speak about his time on the show.
The 36-year-old, who was paired with Janette Manrara in 2019, said he was left with life-changing injuries after being made to redo a jump in a routine as he criticised the show’s duty of care.
Tonight, Amanda revealed the extent of the harassments she has received in recent months. ‘It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving,’ the Sherlock star said
Giovanni seen smoking in Brighton in July
Amanda and Giovanni pictured during the show last year
‘If the BBC are brilliant enough to get people with disabilities in, they have to really support those people and make them safe,’ he told BBC Breakfast.
‘And it’s not like I’ve brought this up now… I’ve brought this up many times. It’s just because the other stories have come out that mine has actually got listened to.
‘If someone gets an injury like mine, it will affect them for the rest of their life. I’ll never get over this knee injury, I have to deal with that.’
Amanda echoed Will’s calls in the interview with Channel 4 calling for a more open environment where celebrity contestants can voice concerns without fear of retribution.
The BBC said: ‘We have longstanding protocols for dealing with injuries if they occur and that includes contestants receiving all necessary treatment and support as required.’
When talking about what could be improved on the show she said: ‘Allowing people to go and complain that’s the other thing. Being able to voice your concerns if you feel like you are being bullied.
‘If the situation you are in feels toxic or unsafe, having the courage to go and say something is important and we are not cultivating that environment.
‘We are making out that women that voice their concerns about a situations, are trolled through the press, sent rape threats, death threats and are not taken seriously.’
Amanda has not publicly given any examples of Giovanni’s behaviour during rehearsals, however, branded him ‘abusive, cruel and mean’.
Throughout the interview she also claimed that former partners of Giovanni’s contacted her once it was revealed they would be paired together on the phone.
The actress said she received messages that said ‘I am so sorry, it’s going to be quite tough’.
Giovanni pictured in June
Amanda quit the BBC series last year due to ‘personal reasons’ before reports surfaced saying she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience left her with PTSD (pictured on the show with Giovanni)
Abbington was pictured emotionally struggling with the rehearsals during the show
Giovanni has constantly refuted the allegations and denied any accusations of threatening or abusive behaviour.
A spokesperson for the dancer said he had provided a dossier of evidence to the investigators and ‘remains fully confident in clearing his name’.
But hitting back at those who questioned Amanda’s alleged experience, the actress said in her latest interview: ‘What happened in that room happened because it happened to me.
‘I am not a sensational person, I am not hysterical, I do not make things out to be bigger than they are. I know what happened in that room was not acceptable.
‘I complained about it and have not been taken seriously.;
She explained that ‘three other women’ had also made complaints with ‘more potentially coming forward’.
‘We have to cultivate an environment when women or men – because it happens to men as well – can come forward and say I’m finding this uncomfortable and something needs to be done about it. And then something be done about it – that’s all.
‘We need to be brave and I want to stand up for any woman who does not have a voice. I will be there for her championing her.’
Amanda insisted throughout the interview that she did not want to ‘bring down’ the show and ‘envies’ those who spoke highly of their experiences.
‘I love Strictly, I would love to have had a beautiful experience on it. I really would,’ she said. I’m envious of the people who had a wonderful experience on that show, I’m so glad they did, and I feel really sad that I didn’t get to fulfil my journey.’
The Channel 4 interview comes as BBC chiefs are said to be furious about the Strictly investigation Amanda’s initial complaint triggered.
Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured together during last year’s competition)
Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly’
One BBC insider told MailOnline: ‘Amanda seems to be stopping at nothing to make sure that a dark cloud is left over Strictly.
‘She seems to have a real issue with the show. She has been open about not enjoying her time, but why spoil it for everyone else?
‘It’s not looking like there is a smoking gun in her complaint about Giovanni, so now she is getting others to come forward and then later it appears in the Press so the row keeps going and going.’
On Tuesday, the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie warned that the ‘line should never be crossed’ said: ‘I’m very sorry that anyone has had an experience on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly positive.
‘I think that is something we do reflect on, and I’m sorry about that. If someone feels there was something wrong or they wanted to talk about their experience, then, of course, we want them to raise that with us and be in no doubt, we will take it seriously.’
Mr Davie added: ‘Of course, alongside the fun and entertainment, there will be a degree of competitiveness, hard work, and a will to do well. That’s part of what makes this show.
‘But there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’
Amanda said she was ‘glad’ that Mr Davie had apologised to celebrities but added that no producers had been in touch since she made a complaint.
She told Channel 4: ‘I got several messages afterwards from some of the producers, just checking in to see how I was.
‘But then when all the fallout happened, and then everybody started piling on and the death threats came in, and they were reported in the press – and all the misinformation went out there – I didn’t really hear from anybody again.’
Asked if there was any aftercare provided, she replied: ‘No, it would have been nice I suppose.’
Rehearsals for the new series began on Monday, and today professionals including Johannes Radebe, Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell were all smiles as they arrived to practise at a London dance studio.
In response to Amanda’s latest interview, a spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.’
The BBC continued: ‘However, when issues are raised with us we always take them extremely seriously. The BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriously…last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.’
The full interview with Channel 4 News can be seen at 7pm tonight.
