The Strictly scandal was plunged into additional disaster this night after Amanda Abbington claimed that sacked dancer Giovanni Pernice was making an attempt to dam the discharge of as much as 50 hours of ‘poisonous’ footage’.
In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, in contrast the dance present to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 Information that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that additionally allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
The Sherlock star sensationally stop the dance competitors final 12 months citing ‘private causes’ earlier than experiences surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the expertise with the present and her dance associate left her with PTSD.
Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, was later suspended, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda in addition to different celebrities.
But in a dramatic twist within the Strictly saga, the actress has claimed Giovanni has tried to cease her authorized workforce from accessing the video ‘proof’ after producers have been pressured to place cameras within the dance studio after Amanda raised considerations.
‘There’s 50 hours of footage that is being blocked. You recognize, 50 hours is lots of footage, and lots of time spent in a room that was poisonous,’ she instructed presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
‘It is on the market. There may be proof on the market of what occurred in that room and I am not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve mentioned anybody can watch it, however he (Giovanni) would not need anybody to see it, which is kind of telling if he is received nothing to cover.’
Amanda Abbington turns into emotional throughout an interview with Channel 4 concerning the on-line trolling she obtained after quitting Strictly Come Dancing final 12 months
Amanda cited ‘private causes’ for leaving the BBC present final October but it surely was later revealed she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the expertise with the present and her dance associate Giovanni Pernice left her with PTSD
Amanda seemingly hit again yesterday at her former Strictly associate Giovanni Pernice after he seemingly branded her a ‘mad girl’
The actress mentioned that cameras have been put in into her and Giovanni’s rehearsal studio after she raised considerations after the primary week of follow with producers eager to evaluation the footage every week to evaluate what was ‘occurring’ between the pair.
Giovanni had claimed he had requested for the cameras, which Amanda says is unfaithful.
‘So within the first week, I raised my considerations to the producers,’ the actress defined, as she fought again tears.
‘Giovanni mentioned that he requested for the cameras, he did not ask for the cameras, I do know that he did not ask for the cameras, as a result of the producers got here to me and mentioned, ‘we’ll put in cameras so we are able to view the footage on the finish of the week and make an evaluation and see what is going on on’.
‘After which each Friday, after the following type of 5 weeks, I’d get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘we simply watched the footage again, we’re shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry’.
‘That was to my face on the Friday after we would go in and do the digital camera rehearsal.’
All through the interview, Guru-Murthy, who additionally starred on the 2023 collection, requested whether or not it was appropriate that Amanda had skilled ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’, with the actress holding again tears as she nodded in settlement.
‘Yeah. I imply, you realize, one of many many issues,’ she mentioned.
Ever for the reason that claims first emerged Giovanni has denied the entire allegations, claiming to have offered a file of proof to the Beeb investigators and ‘stays absolutely assured in clearing his identify’.
Disputing Amanda’s claims as soon as once more following tonight’s interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer mentioned: ‘The BBC has shared the allegations they’ve been capable of substantiate with us.
Amanda and Giovanni on Strictly final 12 months
Within the Channel 4 Information interview, claimed that sacked dancer was making an attempt to dam the discharge of as much as 50 hours of ‘poisonous’ footage’
Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who interview Amanda at this time, additionally starred on the 2023 collection of Strictly Come Dancing
‘They don’t resemble Amanda’s newest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any form or type. Giovanni refutes any declare of threatening or abusive behaviour.’
After the fallout, Amanda mentioned she didn’t hear from anyone on the BBC once more, claiming: ‘I have not spoken to anybody from the BBC since Strictly.
‘Nobody from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, both by means of me or my lawyer.’
In a message to these accountable for the BBC present that has been working since 2004 she added: ‘Simply concentrate on what is going on on and when you realize it is occurring, nip it within the bud. Do not enable it to proceed.’
Amanda went on to say that she has confronted quite a lot of violent threats from each Strictly followers and ‘Giovanni followers’ who’ve requested her ‘how will you destroy one thing like Strictly’.
She revealed the extent of the alleged harassment she has obtained in current months from trolls, telling Channel 4 that ‘It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving’.
‘The aftermath has been one thing I used to be not anticipating. The demise threats and the rape threats not solely to myself however to my daughter. The threats of demise to my son,’ she added.
‘While you get one or two of the these you possibly can [shrug it off],’ she added. ‘However when it is dozens of individuals saying ‘simply go kill your self’, ‘go die of most cancers‘, ‘simply kill your self, your children might be higher off with out you as a mom’.
Amanda detailed different horrific messages she allegedly obtained. Others included ‘I hope your daughter will get raped, I hope your son is stabbed’, ‘you do not deserve any good issues you could have accomplished’, ‘you are a snowflake, you are silly, you are an fool’.
The bombshell interview comes because the flagship BBC One present continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which noticed Giovanni in addition to skilled dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.
Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda in addition to two different, unnamed contestants.
Graziano was axed from the present final week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at actuality TV star Zasra McDermott throughout rehearsals final 12 months.
And simply yesterday, Paralympian Will Bayley turned the most recent star to discuss his time on the present.
The 36-year-old, who was paired with Janette Manrara in 2019, mentioned he was left with life-changing accidents after being made to redo a soar in a routine as he criticised the present’s obligation of care.
Tonight, Amanda revealed the extent of the harassments she has obtained in current months. ‘It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving,’ the Sherlock star mentioned
Giovanni seen smoking in Brighton in July
Amanda and Giovanni pictured through the present final 12 months
‘If the BBC are good sufficient to get individuals with disabilities in, they’ve to essentially assist these individuals and make them protected,’ he instructed BBC Breakfast.
‘And it isn’t like I’ve introduced this up now… I’ve introduced this up many occasions. It is simply because the opposite tales have come out that mine has really received listened to.
‘If somebody will get an harm like mine, it’s going to have an effect on them for the remainder of their life. I will by no means recover from this knee harm, I’ve to cope with that.’
Amanda echoed Will’s calls within the interview with Channel 4 calling for a extra open atmosphere the place celeb contestants can voice considerations with out worry of retribution.
When speaking about what could possibly be improved on the present she mentioned: ‘Permitting individuals to go and complain that is the opposite factor. With the ability to voice your considerations in the event you really feel like you’re being bullied.
‘If the scenario you’re in feels poisonous or unsafe, having the braveness to go and say one thing is vital and we’re not cultivating that atmosphere.
‘We’re making out that ladies that voice their considerations a few conditions, are trolled by means of the press, despatched rape threats, demise threats and are usually not taken critically.’
Amanda has not publicly given any examples of Giovanni’s behaviour throughout rehearsals, nevertheless, branded him ‘abusive, merciless and imply’.
Giovanni pictured in June
Amanda stop the BBC collection final 12 months as a consequence of ‘private causes’ earlier than experiences surfaced saying she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the expertise left her with PTSD (pictured on the present with Giovanni)
Abbington was pictured emotionally scuffling with the rehearsals through the present
Giovanni has consistently refuted the allegations and denied any accusations of threatening or abusive behaviour.
A spokesperson for the dancer mentioned he had offered a file of proof to the investigators and ‘stays absolutely assured in clearing his identify’.
However hitting again at those that questioned Amanda’s alleged expertise, the actress mentioned in her newest interview: ‘What occurred in that room occurred as a result of it occurred to me.
‘I’m not a sensational particular person, I’m not hysterical, I don’t make issues out to be larger than they’re. I do know what occurred in that room was not acceptable.
‘I complained about it and haven’t been taken critically.;
She defined that ‘three different girls’ had additionally made complaints with ‘extra probably coming ahead’.
‘We have now to domesticate an atmosphere when girls or males – as a result of it occurs to males as effectively – can come ahead and say I am discovering this uncomfortable and one thing must be accomplished about it. After which one thing be accomplished about it – that is all.
‘We must be courageous and I wish to get up for any girl who doesn’t have a voice. I might be there for her championing her.’
The Channel 4 interview comes as BBC chiefs are mentioned to be livid concerning the Strictly investigation Amanda’s preliminary grievance triggered.
Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured collectively throughout final 12 months’s competitors)
Addressing his exit from the present, a ‘devastated’ Di Prima wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply remorse the occasions that led to my departure from Strictly’
One BBC insider instructed MailOnline: ‘Amanda appears to be stopping at nothing to be sure that a darkish cloud is left over Strictly.
‘She appears to have an actual subject with the present. She has been open about not having fun with her time, however why spoil it for everybody else?
‘It is not wanting like there’s a smoking gun in her grievance about Giovanni, so now she is getting others to come back ahead after which later it seems within the Press so the row retains going and going.’
On Tuesday, the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie warned that the ‘line ought to by no means be crossed’ mentioned: ‘I am very sorry that anybody has had an expertise on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly optimistic.
‘I feel that’s one thing we do mirror on, and I am sorry about that. If somebody feels there was one thing fallacious or they needed to speak about their expertise, then, after all, we wish them to boost that with us and be in little question, we are going to take it critically.’
Mr Davie added: ‘After all, alongside the enjoyable and leisure, there might be a level of competitiveness, exhausting work, and a will to do effectively. That is a part of what makes this present.
‘However there are limits and the road ought to by no means be crossed. We are going to by no means tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any variety.’
Amanda mentioned she was ‘glad’ that Mr Davie had apologised to celebrities however added that no producers had been in contact since she made a grievance.
She instructed Channel 4: ‘I received a number of messages afterwards from among the producers, simply checking in to see how I used to be.
‘However then when all of the fallout occurred, after which all people began piling on and the demise threats got here in, they usually have been reported within the press – and all of the misinformation went on the market – I did not actually hear from anyone once more.’
Requested if there was any aftercare offered, she replied: ‘No, it might have been good I suppose.’
Rehearsals for the brand new collection started on Monday, and at this time professionals together with Johannes Radebe, Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell have been all smiles as they arrived to practise at a London dance studio.
In response to Amanda’s newest interview, a spokesperson for the BBC mentioned: ‘Anybody concerned in a grievance has a proper to confidentiality and honest course of and due to this fact it might be inappropriate to remark additional on people.’
The BBC continued: ‘Nevertheless, when points are raised with us we at all times take them extraordinarily critically. The BBC and BBC Studios takes obligation of care extraordinarily critically…final week we introduced extra steps to additional strengthen welfare and assist on the present.’
The complete interview with Channel 4 Information could be seen at 7pm tonight.
