BBC bosses are reportedly ‘furious’ with Amanda Abbington who they ‘believe to be encouraging’ other former contestants to complain about their time on the show.
The Sherlock actress, 50, quit Strictly after five weeks last year, claiming that her experience on the BBC series left her with PTSD after working with Giovanni Pernice, 33.
Last week she alleged she found the professional dancer’s approach ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’ and said she complained over concerns he ‘could to that to other people’.
The Italian dancer has vigorously denied the allegations and has ‘denied all accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour’.
However, a source has now claimed BBC executives are less than impressed with Amanda, who is said to be telling other former cast members to ‘engage with lawyers’ and speak to London-based law firm Carter-Ruck in a bid to find others with allegations of a toxic environment on the show.
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‘Amanda seems to be stopping at nothing to make sure that a dark cloud is left over Strictly,’ the source said.
‘She seems to have a real issue with the show.
‘It’s not looking like there is a smoking gun in her complaint about Giovanni, so now she is getting others to come forward and then later it appears in the press so the row keeps going and going,’ they added when speaking to the Daily Mail.
Over the past three months the BBC has been conducting an investigation into Giovanni’s teaching style after claims of inappropriate and controlling behaviour, which was prompted by Amanda’s complaints.
It comes after Amanda told The Sun on Sunday that she felt that there was a ‘duty of care’ that wasn’t met, adding that she complained after thinking about it ‘long and hard’ in order to protect future contestants.
‘Rehearsal rooms should be a safe space, there is a duty of care and kindness, and that courtesy wasn’t extended to me on this job,’ she said.
In response, a spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline: ‘The BBC has shared allegations from the inquiry with Giovanni, who has cooperated fully.
‘None of the allegations carried in the Sun on Sunday are included in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes these allegations and denies any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour.
‘He has provided substantive evidence to the investigation and he remains fully confident of clearing his name.’
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by the publication.
During the interview, Amanda claimed that she was ‘being as amenable as possible and it wasn’t being reciprocated’.
The actress claimed that the BBC was aware of the dancer’s alleged behaviour.
‘I know the BBC knew about Giovanni’s behaviour for years, people had complained about him and flagged his behaviour to producers in the past and nothing was done. It wasn’t an isolated experience with me. I should never ever have danced with him,’ she said.
Amanda revealed in January 2024 that she was suffering from PTSD following the competition.
The star then first broke her silence about her treatment on the show in June. At the time Amanda told the MailOnline that Pernice was ‘nasty’ and she asked for her dance rehearsals with him to be recorded.
‘I asked for them to be recorded, it was me. Giovanni is nasty. He was awful to a few of us, a group of us,’ she said.
In the interview with The Sun, Amanda added that she was ‘proud’ of the other celebrities who had also come forward to complain.
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and representatives for Amanda Abbington for comment.
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