Giovanni Pernice ‘tried to CALL Amanda Abbington in the middle of Strictly misconduct probe’

Giovanni Pernice is alleged to have attempted to call Amanda Abbington during the BBC’s investigation into allegations of off-screen misconduct against her on Strictly Come Dancing.

The 50-year-old actress was paired with Italian ballroom specialist Giovanni, 33, for the 21st season of the BBC series in 2023, but abruptly pulled out after just five weeks of the competition.

Giovanni has since been suspended while the BBC conducts an investigation into claims of behind-the-scenes misconduct by Abbington, 50, and two other former celebrity dance partners.

According to The sunGiovanni called Amanda just weeks after it was revealed that the investigation team was trying to find the footage of their rehearsals.

A source said: ‘Giovanni tried to call Amanda a few weeks ago. No one knows why.

‘They haven’t spoken since she left the show, so it’s very strange for him to just call, especially while there’s an investigation going on.

‘Amanda didn’t want to talk to him and blocked his number. She doesn’t want anything to do with Giovanni.’

The insider added that Amanda told her team that Giovanni had tried to contact her and that they had passed this on to BBC executives responsible for the investigation.

The source said Giovanni has not contacted her since and that Strictly producers simply want to move on from the scandal.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington for comment.

Amanda had previously said she would ‘cry and throw up’ when she got home from rehearsals with Giovanni.

Speaking with The TimesAbbington claims she has since received death threats from fans of the Italian dancer, whose long-term future on Strictly is uncertain.

She said: ‘I’ve had the worst experience. The show was tough and horrible but the aftermath I didn’t expect. It was really brutal and it just hasn’t stopped.

“It’s horrible, just relentless. Death threats and rape threats because I stood up for something I thought was wrong.”

The actress also admitted she felt sick after rehearsals with Pernice, a fan favourite who starred on Strictly for eight years before being axed.

Amanda’s husband Jonathan Goodwin, a former escape doctor who was left paralyzed in 2021 after a TV stunt went horribly wrong, also corroborated her claim that she was physically ill.

She added: ‘He said, ‘Yeah, you came home and you were throwing up, you were crying and you thought you weren’t good enough. You were a shadow, a shell.”

The investigation that began with the allegations against Giovanni has since expanded following more complaints surrounding the hit series.

It has caused further unrest for Strictly, seen as the broadcaster’s crown jewel and still watched by more than ten million people.

Sources have told the Mail that the allegations have prompted bosses to widen the investigation to look into other matters and people involved in the dance series as the organisation prepares to mark its 20th anniversary.

That means Giovanni, who has previously expressed his frustrations with the investigation, will have to wait even longer for the outcome, after three former dance partners, including Amanada, instructed their lawyers to file “serious complaints” about his behavior.

It also threatens to damage Strictly, the BBC’s biggest Saturday night success story since The Generation Game.

A television source told the Mail: “This investigation is no longer just about Giovanni, but about other, wider issues. The show has been on for 20 years and the whole façade of Strictly is so sparkly and lovely, of course there will always be people who feel aggrieved.

‘Amanda’s complaints have set something big in motion. It has opened the door for others to come forward with things they are not happy with.

‘It is a huge headache for the BBC, which will soon celebrate a major milestone with its 20th anniversary.

‘Giovanni’s complaint was already a big problem, but now it seems that more research and investigation is needed.’

Sources close to Giovanni say he is confident he will be acquitted.

Insiders also say the extensive investigation may now paint the Sicilian star as a ‘small fish’ in Strictly’s potential demise.

He quit the show after Sherlock and Mr Selfridge star Amanda claimed he had bullied her during training, claims he denies.

In May it was revealed that she had hired London law firm Carter Ruck to represent her against the BBC.

The BBC declined to comment on the matter but confirmed in a statement that more than one complaint had been made.

Fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima has since been fired from the show following similar allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards TV personality Zara McDermott, whom he dated in 2023.

Graziano confirmed his departure on Instagram, writing: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.

‘While I respect the BBC HR process, I recognise that it is only right for the good of the show that I step back. I regret that I was not able to offer a quote for the online news stories and I take the sensitivity of the situation to heart.

“There is more to this story that I cannot discuss at this time, but I am determined to be strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.”