The year was his true ‘annus horribilis’, said Giovanni Pernice. One moment he was Strictly Come Dancing’s most popular – not to mention longest serving – professional dancer.
Next time, he was locked in daily Zoom calls with his lawyers after his dance partner for the 2023 series, Amanda Abbington, accused him of bullying her. His career was in tatters and he became the subject of a six-month BBC investigation into his conduct.
But it could all have been very different, friends say – if only Giovanni had been less proud.
“He could have said a lot that could have nipped things in the bud, but Gio prides himself on not being the complaining type,” my source says.
Giovanni, 35, has always protested his innocence, including in his new autobiography Taking The Lead, which was published in The Mail on Sunday last weekend, just weeks before the launch of the new show.
He is adamant that he believed he had a good relationship with Amanda, sharing friendly – if almost offhand – jokes.
Amanda’s response to the book came as quickly as expected. ‘He gives a gross mischaracterization of what happened, to suit his own story, but I have no interest in getting involved with that. My focus is on progress,” she said.
The 52-year-old Sherlock and Mr Selfridge actress, who received an apology and small compensation from the BBC, remains determined. “He took part in the BBC investigation in which findings were made against him, after which the broadcaster paid me compensation,” she says.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice in Strictly. Giovanni has always denied the actress’s allegations of bullying
One of Amanda’s complaints was that Giovanni revealed in his book how she had given a very offensive Nazi salute during a rehearsal. He said that while he could have gone further and complained to Strictly bosses, he didn’t.
“If someone calls me rude names and makes rude gestures, including a Nazi salute (which Amanda did), it means our banter is at that level,” he said.
Giovanni had also provided investigators with a 28-minute audio tape of a conversation with Amanda in which she told him she knew she was a “nightmare” and that she would “throw me out the window” if she were him.
Now friends of the Sicilian dancer have revealed that they have repeatedly begged Giovanni to file a counter complaint against Amanda with the BBC.
They also claim that even the company’s staff urged him to complain. Pride held him back.
“Amanda was bleating about Gio doing this, that and the other to her, but in fact she started using foul language,” says an outraged friend.
“She started with the C-word. We’d say to Gio that if he had complained about her to the BBC, he would have gotten a payout and an apology too.
‘She often had a potty mouth and that was not very pleasant. We begged him to tell the BBC about the Nazi salute, but he wouldn’t stoop to her level.
Giovanni claimed Amanda gave a Nazi salute during rehearsals, which he decided was just a joke and did not raise it with BBC bosses
Amanda said she first raised her concerns about Giovanni’s behavior with Strictly producers on her third day of rehearsals and had many more conversations with program bosses.
‘There were even people within the BBC who told him not only to defend himself but also to complain about her scandalous behaviour, but he didn’t. She also informed the press against him, although she must have forgotten to tell the journalists that she used the Nazi salute.
“It could have turned out so differently and Amanda wouldn’t have been happy.”
The friend added that Giovanni simply wanted to maintain his innocence rather than make accusations. Does he regret it?
“Maybe a little,” the friend says. “What’s so hurtful is that Amanda didn’t want to hear the other side of the story. Every time Gio’s side was mentioned in the media, she had her lawyer fire off letters.
‘Gio now realizes that if he had done the same, it might not have escalated as it did. It’s a huge shame. All he’ll say is he’s not grass.’
Giovanni may have the last laugh at the company’s expense, which could explain the timing of his book.
“Gio feels strongly that the BBC has hung him out to dry,” the friend says. “This is old-fashioned revenge.”
There is no doubt that the book’s release last Thursday threatens to overshadow the revamped Strictly – something BBC insiders tell me is a nightmare for the broadcaster’s bosses. The cast and professionals are currently rehearsing for the launch show on September 19, when new presenters, TV presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe, take over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. “You have to laugh at the timing,” says Giovanni’s friend. ‘It’s great that Strictly is swinging to sell his book. But it couldn’t be more irritating for the BBC.
‘Just as they try to launch their transformed Strictly, Gio passes by like a dark cloud.
“Gio may be too fancy to say this, but the people around him think they deserve this.”
Giovanni’s ‘nightmare’ (his description of the saga) started just three weeks into the 2023 series. It took Giovanni by surprise as he was excited to be paired with Amanda after seeing her dance at Strictly’s ‘speed dance’ event, where professionals and celebrities have short dances together.
Giovanni believed she was a talented ballroom star who also seemed to want to win – a trait shared by the proudly ambitious Giovanni.
However, Amanda said she first raised her concerns about Giovanni’s behavior with Strictly producers on her third day of rehearsals and had many more conversations with program bosses.
She ultimately quit the show in week six due to a health issue, with Giovanni claiming he was “extremely supportive and helpful.”
After initially expressing her “deepest regret” at having to leave for “medical” and “personal reasons”, she later filed a formal complaint. Giovanni was forced to withdraw from the next series while a review took place.
Amanda accused Giovanni of verbal bullying, intimidation and inappropriate sexual behavior during rehearsals, which he denies to this day. She also says he stomped on her foot, causing bruises.
‘I found Giovanni’s behavior unnecessary, insulting, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people,” she said in 2024.
Following an investigation, some complaints were upheld, including some relating to verbal bullying and intimidation, but the ‘most serious allegations’, including physical aggression, were not.
The BBC has since added more welfare staff to the show and introduced chaperones in every rehearsal room.
In his book, Giovanni told how he found mother-of-two’s claims about his behavior ‘confusing’. He said she was positive towards him both in text messages and in person, but told her co-stars in a WhatsApp group that she couldn’t work with him.
He also revealed that his ouster from Strictly left him in a deep depression and even contemplated suicide.
For Giovanni, friends say the book has been therapeutic. “He went through so much horror and had no voice until the end of the investigation, so it helped him move on,” said one.
They added that Giovanni feels like the company let him down by pairing him with Amanda without fully vetting her.
Friends say Giovanni strongly believes he was a good ambassador for the show and is very proud of his popularity among fans.
As such, he was devastated when BBC executives told him he could not return to Strictly, both before and after the research. Although they are still at odds almost three years later, both Giovanni and Amanda’s lives have moved on both personally and professionally.
Giovanni joined the cast of Ballando con le Stelle – the Italian version of Strictly – in 2024. He won and is now in a relationship with his famous partner, actress Bianca Guaccero, 45.
Life for Amanda is also improving. In May, her fiancé, former stuntman and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, settled his legal action against the makers of America’s Got Talent.
The 46-year-old was left paralyzed and nearly died after a horrific accident in 2021 when he was crushed between two burning cars during rehearsals for America’s Got Talent: Extreme.
Meanwhile, Amanda has secured her best-known television role since the Strictly saga began, starring in the second series of Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road, alongside Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson.
But will this be the end of Giovanni and Amanda’s show? Unfortunately, not as it seems, this feud promises to keep running.
