The verdict of the bombshell BBC probe into Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour during his time partnered with Sherlock star Amanda Abbington has been published – with the professional cleared of abusive behaviour.
After six months of investigating the Sherlock actress’s claims that he was ‘abusive, cruel and mean’ they have finally found he was not abusive, nor did he make threats and nor was he intimidating.
They also said there was no aggressive or physical conduct, but did issue an apology to Ms Abbington.
Out of 17 allegations, they upheld six, some of which are for Giovanni using swear words. The report says that his language could be ‘belittling.’ Sources say they found ‘instances of it.’
The BBC also agreed with Ms Abbington that at times he appeared to be giving her overly negative feedback.
It also concluded that there were two moments of ‘inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace’ which were found to be made and received as jokes, humour and compliments of Ms Abington dancing. The review has found this was a two-way, consensual way of talking and behaving.
However, her complaint that he sent her a video on WhatsApp which she deemed to be inappropriate was also not upheld. The BBC did not find anything sexually inappropriate either.
A source close to Italian star Mr Pernice said: ‘Gio is pleased that this has been thrown out after what has been a torrid nine months or so for him.
‘From the outset, Giovanni has rejected any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour. While it appreciates that the BBC has likely decided to uphold some allegations to avoid the accusations of a ‘whitewash’ – they’ve upheld the weakest allegations put to him.’
Sources have told Ms Abbington’s bullying claims amounted to Giovanni swearing at her and not giving her enough feedback during their rehearsal sessions which took place last autumn. She also claimed that her partner stepped on her toe.
One said: ‘Giovanni has never tried to say he isn’t a hard taskmaster but he isn’t a bully and no evidence of that was found.
‘It was an evidence based investigation and there was simply no evidence to back up what she was saying about Giovanni. He denied it all along and he has now been exonerated.
Sources close to the Sicilian heart-throb Giovanni say that he spent much time trying to counsel Amanda, who would admit herself that she was a ‘nightmare.’
‘Gio tried to find common ground with Amanda all of the time,’ said one. ‘She admitted herself she was difficult, Gio tried his best to navigate and when she quit for medical reasons he still helped her after that.
‘The last nine months have taken their toll on Giovanni, he has kept going though. As he says, his Strictly career in the UK might be over but his dancing one isn’t. He will keep going, he has done nothing wrong.
‘It all seems such a huge waste of time, it is hard to see what this has all achieved.’
Giovanni quit Strictly last April after the BBC said it was launching the inquiry. He had been offered a new contract to star in the 2024 series – the 20th anniversary – and was set to sign it.
He is currently appearing on the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle in which he is partnered with singer and actress Bianca Guaccero.
His appearance came after BBC bosses endorsed their former star to take part in the Italian version of Strictly despite Amanda’s claims he bullied her.
As the deadline for him to sign to appear on Ballando con le Stelle drew closer chiefs intervened and endorsed Mr Pernice to join as a professional dancer on the show.
There were fears that bosses of the Italian series, which his filmed in Rome, would not hire him amid the allegations.
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.
‘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 heard from a number of individuals in making its findings. We want to thank them for participating.
‘The BBC has already taken extensive steps to enhance our duty of care for everyone on the show and a full note of these steps is published alongside this statement’.
After the UK’s current series got underway earlier this month, the BBC has been keen to focus on its enhanced welfare measures introduced this year, including dedicated staff members to support contestants and chaperones placed in all training rooms.
But the long-running saga is not at an end and is thought to have impacted ratings, with the show’s first live episode receiving the fewest viewers in its 20-year history.
This year the corporation is clamping down on pairs practicing outside of their capped training hours, but has so far avoided mentioning the ongoing scandals plaguing it.
Ms Abbington left Strictly abruptly last year just five weeks in citing ‘personal issues’ before accusing Mr Pernice, 34, of bullying her during her time on the show.
The dancer has since left the series, but continues to deny all the claims against him. He is now starring on the Italian version, Ballando con le Stelle.
A probe into the actress’s misconduct claims has taken six months and was finally completed in the last few weeks, before being published today. Both Mr Pernice and Ms Abbington were made aware of its findings before its release.
It was previously reported Mr Pernice’s former dance partners were contacted as part of the investigation and asked to give their own accounts of their time on Strictly Come Dancing.
BBC executives had hoped this would ‘draw a line under the matter’ but insiders say the corporation is terrified that any party dissatisfied by the outcome could sue.
A source told the Sun: ‘Whatever the outcome, neither Giovanni nor Amanda are likely to be happy so the BBC are bracing themselves for potential appeals.
‘Amanda and Giovanni have very well-paid lawyers who will study every cough and spit of the report before advising them on what to do next.’
It comes after it was revealed reality star Ms McDermott, 27, who appeared on the same series as Ms Abbington, was subjected to ‘verbal and physical’ abuse by her own partner, Graziano Di Prima.
After allegations emerged that Mr Di Prima had kicked the former Love Island contestant in training, alongside other claims of abuse, the professional dancer admitted the incident and said he had ‘made a mistake’. He was removed from the show.
In a statement, Ms McDermott said she was involved in incidents she now finds ‘incredibly distressing’ to watch back, and told the BBC the kick was ‘not a singular incident’.
It recently emerged Zara performed on the show with a ‘fractured’ leg following an injury in training and needed painkillers to get through ten-hour rehearsals.
Mr Di Prima denied separate reports that he had spat on Ms McDermott during her time on the show.
Table tennis Paralympian Will Bayley also spoke out about suffering a ‘lifelong’ injury after being allegedly forced to redo a jump he was concerned about, despite warning bosses of the impact of his disability upon joining the show.
Mr Bayley, 36, who most recently represented Team GB in Paris, revealed he was left unable to walk for six months and demanded an apology from BBC bosses.
He claimed his dance partner Janette Manrara dismissed his first attempt at the jump as ‘rubbish’ and demanded he tried it again, at which point he heard his leg ‘crack’.
The athlete accused the BBC of putting him through the ‘traumatic’ incident and said he was then made to feel like he was ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’ when he complained.
But he said he did not blame Ms Manrara for his injury at all, instead calling for better support for people with disabilities who are asked to take part in the show. The pair have remained friends since their partnership and Mr Bayley has described her as his ‘rock’.
An unnamed female professional dancer has also been accused of screaming in their partner’s face off-camera.
Insiders and previous contestants have painted a picture of extreme pressure and an intense competitive nature on the show, with professionals keen to win the glitterball trophy.
The recent allegations are not the first to tarnish the show’s reputation.
Steve Backshall complained to the BBC about his professional partner on Strictly Come Dancing Ola Jordan back in 2014 claiming she ‘bullied’ him.
The hardened explorer and presenter, now 51, – who has dived with Great White sharks and wrestled poisonous snakes in his career – lodged a complaint with the channel after struggling in gruelling practice sessions.
The bullying claims have reemerged during a time of crisis for the show amid various abuse scandals and a misconduct probe – with insiders now saying that the series is ‘fatally tarnished’.
After he made the complaint the pair were assigned a chaperone to follow them around after he refused to be alone with the now 41-year-old Polish-born dancer.
The programme’s bosses were forced to step in after he alleged that she had dented his confidence with her ‘rude and impatient’ manner.
Ms Jordan’s husband James, who was also a professional on the show, was also the subject of controversy after unearthed footage emerged of him telling his partner Georgina Bouzova he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves.
The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina.
He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.
But he has since responded to the clip on his Instagram as he shared a raging statement saying that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.
Although no mention has been made of the controversies on this series so far, the return of Slovenian dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, 34, raised eyebrows among the cast and crew before the first episode even aired.
Two years after his exit, a source told the Sun Aljaž departed the show after an alleged ‘shocking’ incident with a fellow female professional dancer on the nationwide tour.
They claimed the crew and cast were ‘relieved’ to see his departure two years ago and are now ‘aghast’ to see him back.
They revealed he allegedly got ‘very drunk’ on a night out on tour two years ago which led him being involved in a ‘very serious, pretty shocking altercation’ with a female.
The incident was said to have made the female dancer feel ‘deeply uncomfortable’.
Aljaž’s scene has been reportedly discussed backstage at length since and the decision to bring him back has ‘baffled’ the crew.
‘Execs would have to be living in a cave not to have heard the rumours’, the source added.