Actress Amanda Abbington has spoken about how she found her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour “abusive, cruel and mean”. Abbington withdrew from the TV show Strictly Come Dancing last year and has claimed that she believed the BBC had known about Pernice’s behaviour for years. However, Pernice’s spokesperson stated that he refutes the allegations, whilst a spokesperson for the BBC declined to comment specifically on Abbington’s claims.
Strictly Come Dancing has been embroiled in a number of controversies recently. Abbington also alleged that concerns about Pernice had been raised in the past but “nothing was done”. Last month, it was reported that both Pernice and fellow dancer Graziano di Prima would not be returning to this year’s series of the programme.
Separately, the Sunday Mirror published an article detailing allegations made by an unnamed male contestant regarding an unnamed female professional dancer on the show. He complained that she would scream in his face daily. The BBC responded by stating that whilst it would not comment on individuals, it would be willing to listen if anyone wanted to raise concerns with them directly.
Earlier this week, TV presenter Zara McDermott made allegations about former Strictly dancer Graziano di Prima. She stated that she had been involved in incidents in the show’s training room that she now finds “incredibly distressing” to watch back. Di Prima then confirmed that he had kicked McDermott once during last year’s rehearsals, leading to his removal from the show. Following the news, the BBC announced that it would introduce a number of new measures including chaperones in all future rehearsals and additional welfare producers
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