Amanda Abbington is ‘deeply disappointed’ with BBC bosses over fears they are ‘protecting’ Giovanni Pernice amid a harassment investigation.
Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, has made a series of allegations about her friend Giovanni Pernice’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”. He strongly denies all the allegations.
The report has been completed and will be ready for publication in a few days.
A friend of Amanda told her The sunShe is deeply disappointed with the BBC. She believes it is a men’s club.
‘Apart from the investigation taking so long, it seems they are protecting Giovanni to save themselves and ignoring not only his experience, but that of other women who have bravely come forward.
Amanda Abbington is ‘deeply disappointed’ with BBC bosses over fears they will ‘protect’ Giovanni Pernice amid bullying investigation
Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, has made a series of allegations about her friend Giovanni Pernice’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”. He strongly denies all the allegations.
‘Amanda feels tired, upset and very angry about the way everything has been handled.
“He is concerned that a foreseeable cover-up will occur and that others will again suffer assault and abuse.”
MailOnline has contacted Amanda and the BBC for comment.
This comes after it was revealed that Amanda found BBC bosses’ line of questioning “highly offensive” amid the ongoing misconduct investigation into the show.
The actress has been questioned for a second time over an illicit video the dancer shared with her, as well as a “lewd comment” he made about another famous contestant when the video was sent.
Giovanni was also reported to have made a rude comment about a member of Amanda’s own family, only for BBC bosses to “effectively ask” him if the dancer had said it as a light-hearted joke.
A source told The Sun: “(Amanda) found this line of questioning highly offensive.”
Regarding the alleged video, they told the publication: “The BBC cannot ignore the fact that the video was sent. There appears to be a trail of evidence.”
‘Even if it is established that the material was shared with innocent intentions, the BBC is concerned that this may constitute a breach of conduct under the contract given to professional dancers.’
A BBC spokesman said: “As we have said before, we will not comment on individuals or engage in speculation.”
Amanda shares her daughter Grace and son Joe with her ex-partner Martin Freeman, 52, with whom she was married for 16 years, between 2000 and 2016.
The actress has been questioned for the second time about an illicit video the dancer shared with her, as well as a “lewd comment” he made about another celebrity (Amanda pictured in rehearsals).
In an interview, Amanda compared the dance show to “the trenches” and told Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left “horrified” by the clips which allegedly also showed “humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature”.
An investigation has been launched after several celebrities, including Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott (pictured), sparked abuse and harassment scandals on the family show.
This comes after Martin reached out to her for support following the scandal and was someone to lean on amid a turbulent time, as was her fiancé Jonathan Goodwin, The Sun reports.
The investigation into Giovanni is expected to be completed soon by the BBC after several weeks of investigations.
This comes after it was reported that Amanda recently handed over more texts with new revelations about Giovanni’s behaviour on Strictly.
It has been claimed that the dramatic intervention has thrown the BBC’s investigation into Giovanni’s professional behaviour into chaos and “changed the course of the investigation”.
The Sun reports that Amanda has come forward with explosive new messages just as the investigation was about to conclude, which apparently show Giovanni “crossed the line of what was acceptable”.
Amanda has reportedly been questioned by BBC bosses for a second time over “rude comments” she claims Giovanni made.
She is said to have been questioned via video call last week as she sat down with two former Met detectives to discuss her allegations about the professional dancer, 33.
They reportedly discussed allegations of sexual comments during rehearsals, as well as “new evidence.” Giovanni has denied all the accusations made against him.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Amanda, Giovanni and the BBC for comment.
Amanda has launched a series of accusations about Giovanni’s teaching methods, calling his behaviour “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”. He strongly denies all the allegations.
In an interview, Amanda compared the dance show to “the trenches” and told Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left “horrified” by the clips which allegedly also showed “humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature”.
In another, where he spoke to Christine Lampard about Lorraine, he said: ‘It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks.
Amanda shares her children with ex-partner Martin Freeman (pictured, 2015) and he has reportedly stepped up to support the actress amid the scandal.
‘It all started very early and when it started happening, I shut down because I recognized those warning signs.
“And then it would close and it would be hard to get in, and that would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Speaking about her schedule on the show, she said: ‘I went into the rehearsal room every day. I’ve been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years.
‘I know what rehearsal rooms must be like.
‘I don’t care what background you’re from, whether it’s dancing, acting or singing, you have a duty to bring compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness to that rehearsal room.
“And that hasn’t been extended to me (Strictly). So I just said I don’t think this is right.”
