BBC Apologises to Amanda Abbington Over Strictly Come Dancing Bullying Allegations

The BBC has issued an apology to former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington following an investigation into her complaints about the behavior of professional dancer Giovanni Pernice during her time on the show.

Investigation Findings

The investigation, which took six months to complete, upheld some but not all of Abbington's complaints regarding Pernice's behavior. Specifically, the BBC found evidence of verbal bullying and harassment, but cleared Pernice of allegations of physical aggression.

Amanda Abbington, known for her role in the TV series Sherlock , had withdrawn from the 2023 season of Strictly Come Dancing citing 'medical' and 'personal reasons.' She later revealed that she had experienced a 'toxic environment' and 'inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying' during her time on the show.

BBC's Response and New Measures

The BBC acknowledged that the measures in place to support and protect contestants during Abbington's time on the show were 'not enough.' In response, the BBC has introduced several new initiatives to enhance the welfare and safety of contestants. These include the presence of chaperones in all rehearsal spaces, the addition of two new welfare producers, and the implementation of weekly welfare meetings and a pre-series psychological review.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC's chief content officer, expressed her appreciation for Abbington's courage in coming forward and apologized for the hardships she faced. Moore also condemned the online abuse Abbington received following her complaint, which included rape and murder threats, and a bomb threat sent to her workplace.

Reactions from Abbington and Pernice

Amanda Abbington described the BBC's apology as a 'vindication' of her complaint and expressed hope that others who have faced similar experiences would now feel more confident in speaking out. She also mentioned considering a meeting with senior BBC management to discuss further changes.

Giovanni Pernice, through his spokesperson, expressed relief that the majority of the allegations against him were not upheld. Pernice has since joined the Italian version of Dancing With The Stars and is not part of the current Strictly Come Dancing professional lineup.