BBC bosses give their blessing for embattled star Giovanni Pernice to take part in the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing...
despite former dance partner Amanda Abbington's claims he bullied her By Katie Hind Published: 23:46, 21 September 2024 | Updated: 00:03, 22 September 2024 e-mail 22 shares View comments BBC bosses gave their blessing for former star Giovanni Pernice to take part in the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing – despite his former dance partner Amanda Abbington 's claims that he bullied her. The Corporation's intervention to endorse the Sicilian suggests its long-running investigation into the Sherlock actress's complaints is set to conclude in his favour. Executives of the Italian series, Ballando con le Stelle, feared they would have been unable to go ahead and hire him without the BBC's say so – and as the deadline drew close, the BBC stepped in.
There were concerns within the Corporation that had Mr Pernice, 34, lost out on the Italian show because of how long the investigation has gone on for, it could have faced a big legal claim from him for loss of earnings. As it is, insiders suggest the BBC is facing a bill of £500,000 just for the inquiry – with licence-fee payers ultimately footing the bill. BBC bosses gave their blessing for former star Giovanni Pernice to take part in the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.
(Giovanni Pernice pictured with Bianca Guaccero) Sherlock star Amanda Abbington pictured on the Lorraine TV show. S.