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Strictly’s Amanda Abbington receives BBC apology after bullying complaints

The BBC has aplogised to Amanda Abbington after upholding “some, but not all, of the complaints made” by the Sherlock actress about her treatment by Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing, after an internal inquiry.

Abbington made several accusations against her dance partner Pernice, claiming his teaching methods were “unnecessary, abusive, cruel, and mean.” Pernice previously strongly denied all allegations.

There were no findings relating to physical aggression, but complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, the PA news agency understands.

The corporation enlisted former Metropolitan Police officers to oversee the inquiry, ensuring a thorough investigation that includes reviewing evidence like text messages and WhatsApp conversations.

The BBC said: “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.

“At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough. This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important.”

The BBC added: “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.”

Abbington and Pernice’s statements in full

In a written statement responding to the BBC’s Strictly report, Amanda Abbington said: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.

“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’.

“I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

“Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint. It’s not just a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.

“I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.

“The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering.

“This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were “not enough”.

“What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.”

In a written statement, a spokesperson for Giovanni Pernice said: “We are pleased that this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour by Giovanni.

“Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.”

Pernice, who quit in May, has since landed a new job on the Italian version of the show.

Separately, Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the show after it was alleged that footage existed of him physically and verbally abusing Zara McDermott in training during last year’s series.

Di Prima’s spokesperson confirmed that the dancer kicked McDermott once during rehearsals, which led to his removal from the show. He apologised to McDermott for what he said was an accidental kick.

BBC director general Tim Davie made a statement apologising for the alleged mistreatment of contestants on the show, saying that the corporation “will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour”.

The BBC have now put new duty of care protocols in place, including having chaperones in the rehearsal rooms for the celebrities to monitor what goes on.

The corporation said: “In July we introduced new measures for training and rehearsals, which are in place for this year’s show. These included a production team member present during training room rehearsals at all times; two new roles on the show dedicated to welfare support – a Celebrity Welfare Producer and a Professional Dancer Welfare Producer (both started work in August); and additional training for the professional dancers, production team and crew.

“In addition we introduced 15 training room observers in place for rehearsals. They complete daily training logs – including covering breaks, warm-ups and rest periods.”

Abbington quit Strictly last October, claiming she had been diagnosed with PTSD following her stint on the show.

Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh is understood to have also complained about her treatment by partner Pernice in the 2020 series.

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