The BBC has apologised to former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington, saying it had assessed and “upheld some, but not all” of her complaints about Giovanni Pernice's behaviour during her time on the show.
Sherlock actress Abbington, who pulled out of the BBC One show last year citing “personal reasons”, later claimed she was subject to a “toxic environment” and “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”.
Pernice, who was not part of this year’s Strictly professional dancing line-up and has since joined an Italian dance show, previously rejected “any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour”.
The BBC said on Monday: “We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.
“At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough. This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important.”
The show returned on September 14 for its 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities, and some changes including having chaperones present “at all times” during rehearsals.
Abbington was a “vindication of my complaint” and “the other people who have contacted me since... to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing”.
In a written statement Abbington said: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.
“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I've been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being "mad and unstable". I've also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.
“Despite this vile abuse, I've never regretted coming forward, and today's apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint. It's not just a vindication for me, it's a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.
“The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering.
“This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were “not enough”.
“What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.”
Abbington’s fiancé Jonathan Goodwin shared a message of support for her following the conclusion of the BBC’s investigation.
In a written statement, a spokesperson for Pernice said: “We are pleased that this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour by Giovanni.
“Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.”
Pernice later spoke on Instagram saying he is "happy" after the investigation cleared him of allegations of abuse.
The dancer said "sometimes I do get frustrated", in the video post on Monday, but said it was because "you care about what you do".
In the post he said: "It's over, it's finished, six months, seven months of all of this.
"Seven months of reading things every day in the newspaper and not being able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review, (it) was a difficult time.
"It was difficult because, you know, reading stuff that (was) untrue, wasn't the nicest time of my life lets be honest.
"But today I'm happy because, at the beginning there were very, very serious allegations thrown out at me but today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld.
"All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld.
"Today is a day when we can all reflect because, I appreciate that dancing is a very difficult thing to do.
"It's a sport, it's something that is difficult in every possible way and sometimes you get frustrated, as a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer. But the only reason why you get frustrated is because you care about what you do.
"You know as a professional, as a teacher, I want to get the best out of my partner, and sometimes I do get frustrated. I think everybody around the world does the same thing, it's called being professional and I love doing that.
"You know even now with Bianca (Guaccero, his partner on the Italian equivalent of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle), I get frustrated, I think it's a normal thing, but then you get out the best and the results come forward."
Pernice was not the only professional dancer to be caught up in the scandal.
Fellow Italian Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show after claims he hit and spat at his dancing partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals for last year’s series.
BBC bosses reportedly made the decision to remove the Di Prima from the show after viewing footage of the incident.
A source told The Sun that footage of the alleged altercation “reduced those who have seen it to tears.”
However, the video in question has not been made public or republished.
The 30-year-old has since issued a statement addressing the incident: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime."
