The BBC has issued an apology to actress Amanda Abbington and upheld some of her complaints regarding her 2023 Strictly Come Dancing partner, Giovanni Pernice. However, the broadcaster cleared Pernice of the most serious allegations against him.
In a legal complaint reported by BBC News, it was confirmed that while Abbington’s claims of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, allegations of physical aggression were not substantiated. Abbington characterized the BBC’s apology as a “vindication” of her concerns, expressing hope that it would encourage others to feel “more confident” in coming forward with their own experiences.
A source close to Pernice expressed relief that the more serious claims had been dismissed, noting that the past nine months had been “torrid” for him.
In a statement released on Monday, the BBC acknowledged that while the production team had attempted to address the issues at the time, their actions were ultimately insufficient. “This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important,” the statement read.
Abbington had previously accused Pernice of being “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean” during their rehearsals, a claim that Pernice has consistently denied. The BBC reiterated its commitment to addressing allegations of bullying and harassment, emphasizing that the review process had taken time due to its “complex nature.”
“We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made,” the BBC stated, thanking Abbington for her courage in coming forward.
In interviews, Abbington revealed that she initially raised concerns about Pernice’s behavior with producers on her third day of rehearsals and had multiple discussions with program executives before ultimately leaving the show in week six due to “medical” and “personal reasons.” Following her departure, she lodged a formal complaint against Pernice.
She has also alleged that the BBC was aware of Pernice’s behavior for years and mentioned that she and her family received death threats after speaking out. Charlotte Moore, chief content officer for the BBC, expressed her dismay over the online abuse directed at Abbington and personally apologized to her twice.
The review reportedly examined 17 complaints, of which six were upheld. The BBC’s statement did not elaborate on the nature of the complaints, but sources indicated that the upheld complaints related to verbal bullying and harassment.
When asked for further details, Moore emphasized the importance of confidentiality in the complaints process, stating, “I’m not able to go into further detail on that, and there are very good reasons for that.”
Abbington responded to the BBC’s findings, reflecting on the challenges she faced when coming forward. “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,'” she said, recounting the threats she and her family received.
She expressed gratitude for the BBC’s apology, stating, “This apology means a great deal to me… What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised.”
A source close to Pernice reiterated his denial of any threatening behavior, claiming that the BBC’s decision to uphold some allegations was likely made to avoid accusations of a “whitewash.”
In response to the situation, the BBC has implemented new measures, including the introduction of chaperones in all rehearsal rooms and the addition of welfare producers to the show.
As the new series of Strictly Come Dancing launched earlier this month, it was confirmed that Pernice would not return to the professional lineup. He has since joined Italy’s talent dance show, Ballando con le Stelle.
