The BBC’s internal investigation into Amanda Abbington’s claims that Strictly star dancer Giovanni Pernice harassed her during rehearsals is expected to deliver its verdict this week, perhaps tomorrow.
When a large organization launches such an investigation, whistleblowers are typically expected to offer evidence confidentially and then remain silent until a verdict is reached.
I know the procedure because I was once editor-in-chief of a large newspaper publishing group, where I oversaw such internal investigations.
BBC bosses are ‘furious’ Ms Abbington is encouraging other former contestants with historical grievances to speak out in support of her
And yet Abbington has given not just one, but two extensive interviews to the national press about an experience she says left her with a “bruised foot” and “PTSD” – the first to the Sunday Times two weekends ago and the second to the Sun on Sunday last weekend.
The Sunday Times headline read: “Strictly was tough, but the consequences are brutal.” Abbington recalled the bullying she suffered and said: “It just hasn’t stopped.”
Naturally, he also promoted his new stage show, ironically called When It Happens To You, which is playing at north London’s little-known Park Theatre rather than the West End.
Naturally, he also promoted his new stage show, ironically called When It Happens To You, which is playing at north London’s little-known Park Theatre rather than the West End.
The play is about “not letting one terrible event define the rest of your life,” he said. It’s not advice he’s taken too seriously.
The interviewer commented that a “tearful” Abbington seemed “mentally shattered”.
Next up, we had her “exclusive” interview with Sunday’s Sun printed across two inside pages and on the front page: “Gio ‘a shocker’, Strictly’s Amanda Abbington breaks silence on ‘cruel, abusive and mean’ Giovanni Pernice.”
Such pre-planned self-promotion before the BBC verdict is not only surprising but, to say the least, unprofessional and blatantly self-serving.
Abbington is also due to appear on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday, although she will be interviewed by Christine Lampard, who is standing in for Lorraine Kelly this week, an appearance which will allow her to tell her side of the story to the show’s 1.2 million viewers, most of whom are women.
It’s a shrewd move, as it could be the day after the BBC publishes its report and, if the verdict favors Gio rather than Amanda, it will allow her to limit some damage.
The actress has been promoting her new stage show, ironically called When It Happens To You.
Ms Abbington has not once, but twice given extensive interviews to national newspapers, perhaps driven by fear of losing her battle for Gio.
As the Mail’s Katie Hind revealed on Monday, BBC bosses are “furious” with the actress, who is encouraging other former contestants with historical grievances to speak out in her support.
“Amanda seems to stop at nothing to make sure there’s no dark cloud hanging over Strictly,” Katie was told.
Perhaps Abbington is motivated by fear of losing her battle with Gio. As a BBC source said: “There does not appear to be any smoking gun in her claim against Giovanni.”
Others are suggesting that he will be completely cleared of any wrongdoing.
‘Amanda clearly feels very hurt by all this and is jumping the gun in case the ruling doesn’t go her way.’
Perhaps she is simply trying to retaliate first by speaking out so publicly before the BBC investigation is concluded, presenting herself as the victim.
All of this leaves me perplexed. If Amanda is so convinced of her case, why does she violate all normal protocols to parade her victim status to any media outlet willing to spare a moment?
That is certainly the message you have conveyed in your interviews. Poor Amanda, brutal Gio. Hasn’t she already provided all this evidence to the investigation?
Ms Abbington claims Strictly star dancer Giovanni Pernice harassed her during rehearsals
What worries me most about the Strictly debacle is that Abbington has portrayed the show as a kind of bear pit where hapless women are subjected to male harassment. A battle of the sexes from which Abbington has emerged a hardened warrior.
That’s all well and good, but, like Amanda herself after 30 years in showbiz, Strictly celebrities tend to be seasoned veterans of stage and screen, not naifs unused to the pressures of the rehearsal room.
It is also telling that Pernice, after denying all the allegations against him, says he asked for his rehearsals with Abbington to be filmed because he was “concerned” about her ability to cope with the demands of what is undoubtedly a physically and emotionally challenging show.
Unlike shows such as Love Island and I’m A Celebrity, where contestants are thoroughly assessed for their physical and mental suitability to take part before being entered, Strictly had no such selection system.
BBC sources say such a system will be in place for the next series, a celebration of Strictly’s 20th anniversary, along with “chaperoners” at rehearsals and mental health support workers.
Ms Abbington was married to The Office star Martin Freeman until their split in 2016, and they have two children, Joe and Grace, 15.
Mrs Abbington is engaged to daredevil stuntman Jonathan Goodwin after a whirlwind romance. Pictured on Lorraine’s show in 2022
This all comes too late for Amanda Abbington. Did the BBC fail in its duty of care by not even bothering to listen to the candid interview she gave to the Full Disclosure podcast in March last year before joining Strictly the following September?
Abbington, 50, revealed she had “considered suicide” following her split from her husband of 16 years, Sherlock star Martin Freeman, 52. And although he formed a relationship with a French actress called Rachel Martin, 30 – 20 years Abbington’s junior – she ended up “hating herself”.
She also revealed on the podcast that after a fight with her then-15-year-old daughter Grace who was late for school, she had feelings of “anger, anxiety” and “as I sat there, driving, in my head – and I haven’t said this since I started therapy six years ago – ‘You can always kill yourself.'”
He added: “That was my mantra. If you disappoint people and upset someone, or if you’re not giving your best… you can always kill yourself.”
Before joining Strictly, Abbington also posted that her beloved father had been “very ill” and had been admitted to hospital. “So I’ve had a lot of anxiety and I’m quite an anxious person.”
If I could find Abbington’s ‘suicidal’ podcast interview via a simple Google search in a matter of minutes, surely the BBC’s Strictly team could have done the same.
And the worst was yet to come for Amanda. Two months after finding love again with daredevil stuntman Jonathan Goodwin, 43, he was left paralysed from the waist down after falling 30ft when one of his stunts went wrong, leaving him permanently confined to a wheelchair.
It’s a huge trauma for a woman, especially if she has to deal with the inevitable stress of competing on Strictly.
Which brings us to the question being asked by a BBC source as the verdict in the Amanda v Gio trial draws ever closer: “Why is Amanda Abbington hell-bent on killing Strictly?”
Maybe it’s because if you can’t love yourself, how can you be expected to love a show that coincided with so much trauma?