Giovanni Pernice grilled on This Morning over Amanda Abbington probe

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice clashed with This Morning hosts Craig Doyle and Christine Lampard on September 1, 2026, while promoting his memoir amid the BBC probe into Amanda Abbington's bullying complaints. He refused to justify upheld harassment findings, claimed winning Italy's Strictly was "small revenge," and her reps accused him of reframing the investigation.

Key Takeaways

• Pernice grew frustrated during a live ITV interview promoting Gio: Taking The Lead and told Doyle he was "not here to justify myself."
• A BBC investigation upheld six of 17 allegations against Pernice, including verbal bullying and harassment, but cleared him of physical aggression.
• Amanda Abbington received a five-figure settlement from BBC Studios; her representatives said Pernice was "trying to reframe" the probe.
• Pernice said he considered suicide while awaiting the findings and accused the BBC of failing to safeguard Strictly contestants.
• He won the 2024 Italian version of Strictly with girlfriend Bianca Guaccero, calling it his "small revenges in life."

What Happened During Giovanni Pernice's This Morning Interview?

Giovanni Pernice, 35, appeared on This Morning on Tuesday to discuss his memoir Gio: Taking The Lead. The Italian dancer spent a decade on Strictly Come Dancing before leaving in 2024 after Amanda Abbington, his 2023 celebrity partner, lodged complaints about his behaviour.

Presenter Craig Doyle challenged Pernice over the scandal, noting that while many allegations were dropped, cases of verbal bullying were upheld. Pernice said he could not repeat one word he used on morning television but insisted it was language "every day, all of us we use."

"Again, it is the tone set in the room. If you use that tone to me, I use the same tone to you," he told Doyle and co-host Christine Lampard, according to Metro.

What Did the BBC Investigation Find About Amanda Abbington's Complaints?

The BBC launched a probe into Pernice's teaching methods after Abbington, best known for Sherlock, alleged bullying, abuse and harassment during their seven weeks on the show. The review upheld some complaints but not all.

Six of 17 allegations were upheld, including verbal bullying and harassment, with investigators describing Giovanni's language as "belittling, dismissive, and insulting." He was cleared of the most serious claims, including physical aggression.

It has been reported that Abbington received a five-figure sum from BBC Studios, plus a contribution to her legal fees, as part of an out-of-court settlement. She told Newsnight she endured "a litany of verbal abuse" for "seven hours a day, for seven weeks" and was later diagnosed with PTSD.

How Did Amanda Abbington Respond to Pernice's Comments?

When Doyle referenced Abbington's payout and her view that Pernice was "underplaying things," the dancer replied: "Everybody sees it differently, isn't it? I'm just talking factual. The investigation – this is what was upheld, this was what was not upheld."

Lampard told Pernice they had "to go to Amanda for a right of reply" and read a statement from her representatives. They said Pernice was "trying to reframe" the investigation and that any suggestion he had not told his side was "ludicrous."

Abbington has said she never set out to "ruin anybody's career" or take down Strictly. As broadcast accountability and welfare standards draw wider scrutiny, coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section tracks how media platforms handle high-profile disputes.

What Else Did Giovanni Pernice Say About the BBC and Strictly?

Pernice told Doyle he had considered suicide while waiting for the investigation's findings and wrote in his book that he "would have killed myself" without support from his then-girlfriend Molly Brown. Doyle acknowledged it was also "a difficult time for Amanda," which Pernice agreed with.

In his memoir, serialised in the Daily Mail, Pernice accused the BBC of failing to protect stars by not conducting psychological assessments on celebrity contestants before signing them. He questioned why no processes were in place given Abbington had spoken publicly about mental health struggles.

Asked whether he would approach dancing differently, Pernice said: "If you want to succeed, there's only one way to succeed. Commitment, resilience, get the trophy, go home." Following the investigation, the BBC introduced welfare changes including requiring a chaperone at all times during rehearsals.