Strictly’s Amanda Abbington raised the alarm over Giovanni Pernice to the entire cast, co-star reveals
STRICTLY Come Dancing 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy said the cast were all aware of Amanda Abbington’s struggles on the show.
The newsreader joined Amanda as part of last year’s celebrity line-up, competing alongside her in the BBC competition.
Amanda opened up to Krishnan on Channel 4 News about her experience last week, with a bombshell interview featuring claims about her time with pro partner Giovanni Pernice.
Now, Krishnan has opened up about what he heard before Amanda made her official complaint about the Sicilian dancer – revealing he and others were aware of issues throughout her time on the series.
Speaking on BBC Sounds podcast The Media Show, Krishnan said: “I set up a group chat on WhatsApp, actually, I think on our first day when we all met, and it was very lively and we shared all like all our experiences throughout Strictly and afterwards.”
Explaining the group was often a venting spot for the difficulties of training, Krishan continued: “We would share our trials and tribulations, and Amanda did as well. And yes, there were messages that she posted that made it very clear she was struggling and having a very hard time.”
“We were all having a hard time, because it’s tough, but it was different in terms of what she was saying,” he added, saying that he became so worried he did reach out to people to make sure she was OK.
“I did speak to people at the time about the fact that I was worried about Amanda and that they should speak to her, and they reassured me that they were on it and that they were dealing with it, and they were in close contact with her,” he said.
“After that, you just have to kind of get on with your own experience, because you know, for four days of the week, you are buried in the Strictly experience with your dance partner, and just, I’m concentrating on that, you don’t have time to think about anything else.
“So I raised it, I talked to them about it, they said, ‘yes, we’re on it. Don’t worry’.”
Amanda lasted five weeks on the show with Giovanni Pernice before she pulled out from the series on personal grounds.
She later made an official complaint against Giovanni for his behaviour towards her in the rehearsal room, with other former partners, including his 2016 partner Laura Whitmore, since coming out in support of her.
Giovanni has adamantly denied any wrongdoing, and has vowed to clear his name, and quit the show a day before news broke about the BBC’s investigation into the matter.
While the results of the investigation into Giovanni are yet to be revealed and completed, the resulting spotlight on the show led to Graziano Di Prima being fired from the series for gross misconduct.
Footage of Graziano allegedly kicking and spitting at 2023 partner Zara McDermott was brought to the show’s attention, prompting them to reach out to Zara who confirmed what went down.
Prior to the videos being handed over to the BBC, Zara had kept quiet about what her own experience was.
Strictly's Full Scandal So Far
Strictly Come Dancing's scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what's happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for “gross misconduct” after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he “deeply regrets it”, adding his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime.”
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were “amazing to work with”, she found the rehearsal room “completely different”, confirming there’s footage of “certain situations”.
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his “1970s attitude” and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a “p***” after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year’s series.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after ‘an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio’.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is ‘deeply sorry’, adding: “Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
“At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.”
24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the ‘humilation being of a sexual nature’.
27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong”.
She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others.
28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she “never felt pressured” by him and “personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day”.