Amanda Abbington delivers honest verdict on Giovanni Pernice’s new romance after BBC Strictly ‘bullying’ saga
Amanda Abbington has given her verdict on Giovanni Pernice’s new romance with Italian actress Bianca Guaccero, suggesting it might improve his teaching style.
The 51-year-old actress, who was embroiled in a highly-publicised row with the dancer over his conduct in the Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal room, has suggested that Guaccero being older could help “keep him in line”.
The Sherlock star said: “Hopefully that will mellow him a little bit. Maybe love is what saves the day I think, and if he can settle down and find love then maybe he will be a better teacher.”
Pernice, 34, won the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con la Stelle, with Guaccero, 44, in December and the pair have since become romantically involved.
Abbington welcomed the 10-year age gap between the couple, adding: “I hope she keeps him in line. Behind every great man, there is a great woman.”
In a surprising turn of events, Abbington has claimed her complaints against Pernice were “never personal” despite previously accusing him of being “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean” during their time on Strictly Come Dancing.
Abbington even told Channel 4 that there was a “humiliating” incident of a “sexual nature”.
The actress made the statement just months after a BBC investigation into her allegations against the professional dancer.
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“It was something that I never really wanted to do in terms of pursuing a complaint, but it was never personal,” she told during the interview with The Sun.
“It was all about a healthy working environment, that’s what it was.”
The comments mark a stark contrast to her previous descriptions of a “toxic environment” on the show.
Despite the bitter fallout between the pair, Abbington surprisingly praised Pernice’s dancing abilities in her recent interview.
Abbington quit Strictly in 2023 after five weeks, later claiming she had been subjected to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying” in a “toxic environment”.
Pernice has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct during their partnership.
The Italian dancer left Strictly following the controversy but has since rebuilt his career in Italy.
The BBC investigation into Abbington’s complaints concluded in September, ruling out her accusations of physical aggression and threatening behaviour.
However, the broadcaster did uphold claims of verbal bullying and harassment against Pernice.
The BBC subsequently issued an apology to Abbington and implemented changes behind the scenes, including placing chaperones in all training areas.
In the aftermath, Abbington revealed she had received death threats and “been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable'”.
Despite this, she considers the investigation’s findings a victory not just for herself, but for everyone working on the series.
Pernice has maintained his innocence throughout the process.