It’s the scandal that has threatened to put an end to Saturday night favourite Strictly Come Dancing.
And now, on the eve of the BBC’s verdict on whether pro-dancer Giovanni Pernice bullied partner Amanda Abbington from the show, the Sicilian star is convinced he has evidence that proves he is far from the ‘cruel, abusive and mean’ man the actress has painted him to be.
Today, The Mail on Sunday can reveal exactly what that evidence is – and surprisingly it comes from Ms Abbington’s mouth, not his.
The 33-year-old has handed investigators a 28-minute audio tape of Ms Abbington and him in conversation which his team believes proves that, far from bullying her, he was hugely supportive.
We can also reveal that Mr Pernice handed the inquiry a dossier of screenshots of WhatsApp messages between himself and Ms Abbington, 50, in which she gushes at how helpful he has been, how much she likes him and apologises to him. This newspaper can also reveal that:
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice perform on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing
Ms Abbington apparently struggling with the rehearsals during the dance contest
Mr Pernice’s former dance partners, including television presenter Laura Whitmore and Radio 2 host Richie Anderson, as well as members of the Strictly crew, were invited by the BBC to give statements of their experiences of working with him during the investigation;
Another ex-partner Debbie McGee, the wife of late magician Paul Daniels, backed Mr Pernice, saying he had been ‘extremely supportive’ during her time on the show;
A Strictly insider said Mr Pernice had found himself managing ‘vulnerable’ Ms Abbington’s ‘emotions on many occasions’;
The pro dancer is considering action against the BBC, with friends saying he believes ‘psychological tests’ should have been carried out on the actress before she was signed up.
During the audio clip, Ms Abbington tells Mr Pernice that, if she were him, she ‘would have thrown me out of the window by now’ in an apparent acknowledgement that she can be difficult.
The Sherlock actress also refers to how she ‘self-sabotages’, repeatedly mentions how he has been a support to her and describes herself as a ‘nightmare’.
The actress wipes away a tear during an interview on Channel 4 News earlier this week
The Strictly partners showing off their moves on the dancefloor during the series
Pernice kisses Miss Abbington on the forehead during rehearsals for the dance contest
The pair danced together from August until October last year, when she quit the series after six weeks, citing medical reasons.
Sources close to the situation say Mr Pernice expects to be cleared after the three-month investigation, with the BBC announcing its findings to both parties tomorrow. The corporation is also expected to release an ‘anodyne’ statement.
A Strictly insider told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The truth of the matter is Giovanni would spend a lot of time trying to calm Amanda down.
‘He found himself managing her emotions on many occasions. She was vulnerable but he wanted to do the very best he could for her, as well as teach her to dance.
‘She would describe herself as a nightmare, Giovanni would be nice and try to calm her down and make her feel better about herself.
‘She would say that he was her support, that he would talk her down from her difficulties.
‘While Gio wouldn’t say he found it easy to do this, he did it. He saw it as his duty. He was the professional dancer and his job was to look after her and teach her to dance.
‘This is the crux of why Giovanni is upset that all of this has happened. He tried to be a massive support to her.
‘And as far as he is concerned, he can prove this. He has evidence and he hopes that it will help clear his name.’
It can also be revealed that, on one occasion, Ms Abbington told Mr Pernice she had a medical issue and he was quick to help her.
One friend of the dancer said: ‘Gio was concerned and wanted to be of assistance to her. Again, he has that evidence.’
It is also understood Ms Abbington’s past insistence that she and Mr Pernice got on well has also been taken into consideration.
In particular, a video she posted on Instagram to deny reports the pair had fallen out is said to be ‘especially interesting’.
For her part, Ms Abbington is adamant that she experienced ‘unacceptable bullying’.
The investigation has been a frustrating one for the BBC, particularly as Ms Abbington has spoken out several times before the inquiry’s conclusion.
We can also reveal that Mr Pernice’s former dance partners were invited by the BBC to give evidence about their own experiences working with him. Among those asked were Ms Whitmore, Mr Anderson, Ms McGee, Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh and deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis. Many agreed to be interviewed.
One friend of Ms McGee – who took part in Strictly just six months after her husband died – said: ‘Debbie has been behind Gio from day one. She was invited in by the BBC to see if she wanted to participate and she jumped at the chance.
‘She wanted to be there when he needed her the most, just like he was for her.’
Others also spoke to investigators, according to BBC insiders. One said: ‘There were some who you might not have expected to give Gio a positive report, but they did.’
Meanwhile, members of the Strictly crew were also interviewed. It is understood none reported they had experienced or witnessed Mr Pernice behaving badly.
The scandal unfolded at the turn of the year after Ms Abbington told The Sun she had suffered PTSD as a result of appearing on Strictly. She also reportedly asked to see rehearsal footage so she could pass it to her lawyers.
The BBC refused her request. In April, it launched an investigation into her claims. Last week, in an interview on Channel 4 News, the actress claimed that an incident of a ‘humiliating sexual nature’ had taken place on the show and revealed she had received dozens of death and rape threats each day after she complained to the BBC that Mr Pernice had bullied her.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing
Mr Pernice’s spokesman said he was not made aware of the sexual allegations until his lawyers at Schillings were offered a right to reply just hours before the interview was aired on Wednesday. He vehemently denies the claims.
Previously, Ms Abbington had claimed Mr Pernice stamped on her foot, leaving her with a bruised toe. She has given no other details.
Last Sunday, she told The Sun: ‘I found Giovanni’s behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people.’ Again, she offered no details.
During her Channel 4 News interview, Ms Abbington said she wanted to be remunerated for loss of earnings following her Strictly appearance and bullying claims.
But the BBC also faces potential action from Mr Pernice, who is unhappy he was paired with Ms Abbington without TV chiefs doing psychological tests on her.
‘Gio feels like he has been failed in terms of their duty of care,’ says one friend of the star.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Ms Abbington said: ‘These details don’t alter anything: as Amanda has repeatedly made clear, she did her best to make things work.
‘This included being open with Giovanni about her shortcomings as a dancer and her awareness that this must have been difficult for him.
‘For these comments to now be presented as some form of an excuse for the bullying that Amanda experienced is as unacceptable as the behaviour itself.’
