Amanda Abbington last night revealed her relief that a cancer scare meant she could quit Strictly Come Dancing – and training with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.
The 50-year-old actress left the BBC show during week six in October last year, citing personal reasons. Now, Ms Abbington has revealed that she had discovered two lumps in her breast on the morning of her Strictly exit.
‘By my final week, on the Thursday morning, I was in the shower and I found two lumps. I’d got the all-clear after a mammogram a couple of months before,’ she told the Sun.
Ms Abbington went in for rehearsals, where she said she ‘just couldn’t concentrate’ as she worked on a cha-cha-cha with Mr Pernice, who she claims told her she ‘couldn’t get it’ and was ‘useless’.
She said her dance partner ‘refused to even look at me’ before she told him she found two lumps and would leave rehearsals to go to the hospital before quitting the show.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice was cleared of the majority of allegations made against him by his former partner, actress Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington (pictured) left the BBC show during week six in October last year due to personal reasons. Ms Abbington has now revealed that she had discovered two lumps in her breast on the morning of her Strictly exit
Mr Pernice, 34, said he was ‘pleased’ following the end of the probe, which found in his favour on all but six of the 17 allegations made by Ms Abbington, 50
‘It was the catalyst I’d been sort of waiting for, which is terrible. But that’s what I was thinking, that it was a healthier option than being in that room,’ she told the Sun, adding that the lumps were later found to be benign.
Ms Abbington’s fresh barbs come days after Mr Pernice was cleared by a five-month BBC inquiry of the majority of allegations made against him.
Ms Abbington also told the newspaper that Mr Pernice called her a ‘vegetable’ during training after meeting her fiance, who is using a wheelchair.
Mr Pernice said the comment was made about his dance partner’s body posture and Ms Abbington’s bullying allegation in regard to the vegetable comment was not upheld by the BBC.
A six-month BBC probe into Mr Pernice came to an end on Monday, with the findings clearing the dancer of the majority of threatening and physically abusive behaviour claims.
Mr Pernice, 34, said he was ‘pleased’ following the end of the probe, which found in his favour on all but six of the 17 allegations made by Ms Abbington.
Last night, a spokeswoman for Giovanni told MailOnline: ‘The BBC concluded its review almost a week ago.
‘It is deeply concerning that Ms Abbington appears to be hellbent on continuously misrepresenting the review’s findings in TV and newspaper interviews.
‘Giovanni is focusing on his job on Ballando con le Stella and supporting his partner Bianca, and hopes that Ms Abbington can soon accept the review’s findings and look to the future.’
Meanwhile, after Ms Abbingtons abrupt show exit, she accused Mr Pernice of ‘mean’ and ‘cruel’ behaviour.
Despite BBC bosses finding that Mr Pernice was not threatening or physically abusive, it did uphold some of Ms Abbington’s complaints of verbal bullying and harassment.
The BBC also agreed with Ms Abbington that at times he appeared to be giving her overly negative feedback.
In a written statement, a spokesperson for Mr Pernice said on Monday: ‘We are pleased that this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour by Giovanni.
‘Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.’
The BBC has been conducting a probe after Ms Abbington, 50, quit the 2023 series after just five weeks before making the allegations
The Sherlock actress, pictured on September 26, complained about her treatment on the show in 2023
Mr Pernice’s spokesperson said the dancer is ‘pleased’ after the ‘overwhelming majority’ of claims against him were dismissed
And Ms Abbington said on Monday: ‘Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.
‘It’s not just a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.
‘I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.’
Ms Abbington added: ‘This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were ‘not enough’.
‘What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.’
Giovanni quit Strictly last April after the BBC said it was launching the inquiry. He had been offered a new contract to star in the 2024 series – the 20th anniversary – and was set to sign it.
He is currently appearing on the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, in which he is partnered with singer and actress Bianca Guaccero.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ms Abbington as well as the BBC for comment.
BBC statement on the investigation into Ms Abbington’s allegations
In its statement, the broadcaster said: ‘The BBC has now concluded its review into the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice.
‘We take any allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously and this review has taken time due to its complex nature and our desire to ensure a rigorous and robust process was undertaken.
‘Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we rightly expect very high standards. While competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience.
‘It is a great shame if this hasn’t been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show. We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made.
The report investigating what went on during training has not been made public, but a summary of its findings has been released on Monday
‘We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.
‘At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough.
‘This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important. The BBC heard from a number of individuals in making its findings. We want to thank them for participating.
‘The BBC has already taken extensive steps to enhance our duty of care for everyone on the show and a full note of these steps is published alongside this statement’.