‘It’s sad and shocking’ says former Strictly pro Pasha Kovalev as he breaks silence on scandal allegations

PASHA Kovalev has opened up about the ongoing scandal surrounding Strictly Come Dancing.

The 44-year-old professional dancer appeared on Loose Women today and was asked about the allegations, including those made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice.

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BBC

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Pasha – who left Strictly in 2019 – insisted more needs to be done on the BBC One show to ensure people aren’t hesitant to come forward with bad experiences.

He said: “It’s sad and shocking that we’re in the situation we’re in now, we need to find a way to not let that happen again.

“I’m sure a lot of people don’t believe it, people are coming forward and not being heard. We need to make it so people are comfortable to come forward.”

Actress Amanda, 50, was paired with Giovanni, 33, last year and has branded him “abusive, cruel and mean”.

She quit the show early and later claimed she was diagnosed with PTSD after experiences in the rehearsal room with Gio.

In a bombshell interview last night, Amanda alleged some of the abuse from Gio was “of sexual nature”.

News anchor Krishnan-Guru Murthy said: “I heard, not from you, from somebody else, about an instance of, I suppose you’d call it humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature, is that right?”

An emotional Amanda replied: “Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things.

She also insisted up to six other people had similar experiences before her.

Last week Gio’s fellow professional dancer Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show.

The shock move came after allegations he “hit, spat at and kicked” Zara McDermott during rehearsals also in the last series.