‘He’s a monster’ – what Amanda Abbington really thinks of ‘sad’ Giovanni after he said Strictly feud ‘left him suicidal’

ACTRESS Amanda Abbington thinks her ex-Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice is “a monster”. It comes after Giovanni, 35, claimed in his new book, published yesterday, that she did a Nazi salute in front of him. Amanda Abbington has revealed how she thinks her ex-Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice is ‘a monster’ Credit: PA Giovanni has criticised the BBC for casting Amanda Credit: Getty He also wrote in the memoir he was left feeling suicidal by the bullying row with Amanda on the 2023 series of the BBC1 show. One of her pals said: “Amanda will forever regard Giovanni as a monster. She stands by her allegations — she’s not the only one who was a victim of his behaviour.” Last night Sherlock star Amanda, 54, told The Sun On Sunday: “It’s sad, though not surprising, that Giovanni is continuing down this route. “He took part in the BBC investigation that made findings against him, following which the channel paid me compensation. “He is grossly mischaracterising what happened to suit his own narrative, but I have no interest in engaging with that. My focus is on moving forward.” The Sun On Sunday revealed last week the BBC paid her a five-figure out-of-court settlement after her legal complaint over alleged mistreatment by Giovanni. The BBC upheld some of her claims and apologised to her after a five-month inquiry. Writing in his new book — Gio: Taking the Lead — Italian pro dancer Giovanni criticised the BBC for casting Amanda. Giovanni claims in his new book that Amanda did a Nazi salute in front of him Credit: Getty Giovanni says he gained almost 2st and was diagnosed with a heart condition linked to stress amid the row Credit: Instagram He said: “On many reality TV shows, participants are given psychological assessments. But to my knowledge, none was carried out on the Strictly celebrity contestants. “This is a big mistake by the BBC and it puts the celebrities and the pro dancers at risk. I think the Corporation failed us. “Before joining Strictly, Amanda had openly spoken about having struggled with her mental health. “Why weren’t there processes in place to check whether she could still be fragile?” Amanda’s pal said: “It’s laughable Giovanni is trying to question Amanda’s mental health because she stood up against his bullying.” Cameras were put in the rehearsal room after Amanda raised concerns by day three of training. She was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The BBC report upheld that Giovanni’s language and tone were “belittling, dismissive and insulting”. Amanda claimed he made lewd comments when he was pleased with her dancing. She said: “He said, ‘You’re a 51-year-old menopausal woman but I’d still f*** you’.” She added Giovanni would grab his crotch when she danced well and say she’d given him an erection. The BBC upheld that Giovanni showed or gestured towards his groin but did not make any finding about his alleged comments. It is understood Giovanni denied any remark about an erection. Amanda claims the dancer made lewd comments Credit: Getty Giovanni says he was ‘slipping into paranoia’ Credit: Rex He also says in the book he felt betrayed by Strictly co-stars who he thought were his close pals. He said: “There was a deafening silence from many of my ‘friends’, especially my Strictly ‘family’. “In my darkest days, there was no ‘family’. With the exception of the judges, it felt they all turned their backs and looked the other way.” He said of being axed in 2024: “I think the Amanda situation was convenient and some people on the team were happy to see me go. “I believe I became too big for Strictly. They couldn’t fire me because I was too popular with viewers, so they rode the wave of the official complaint. “There are still people on Strictly whose behaviour is far worse. “One choreographer has been bullying, screaming at all the pro dancers, for years. Others drink before the live show.” Giovanni said he gained almost 2st and was diagnosed with a heart condition linked to stress amid the row, adding: “My state of mind was so bad I was slipping into paranoia.” AMANDA'S STATEMENT It’s sad, though not surprising, that Giovanni is continuing down this route He took part in the BBC investigation that made findings against him, following which the channel apologised and paid me compensation. He is now grossly mischaracterising what happened to suit his own narrative, but I have no interest in engaging with that. My focus is on moving forward.