Strictly scandal deepens in new Amanda Abbington interview

The Strictly Come Dancing scandal was plunged into further crisis this evening after Amanda Abbington revealed she had received rape and death threats from the show’s fans after speaking out about Giovanni Pernice.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, fought back tears as she told Channel 4 News of the ‘brutal, relentless and unforgiving’ campaign she had received from trolls after she sensationally quit the BBC series last year.

At the time Amanda cited ‘personal reasons’ for leaving before reports surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner left her with PTSD.

Giovanni was later suspended and now more than nine months on, the BBC has been forced to launch a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities who starred on the programme.

Tonight, Amanda revealed the extent of the alleged harassment she has received in recent months. ‘It has been brutal and relentless and unforgiving,’ the Sherlock star told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

‘The aftermath has been something I was not expecting. The death threats and the rape threats not only to myself but to my daughter. The threats of death to my son.’

Amanda said in the last year, she has faced a number of threats from both Strictly fans and ‘Giovanni fans’ who have asked her ‘how can you destroy something like Strictly’ while others have made more violent threats. 

‘When you get one or two of the those you can [shrug it off],’ she added. ‘But when it’s dozens of people saying ‘just go kill yourself’, ‘go die of cancer‘, ‘just kill yourself, your kids will be better off without you as a mother’.

Amanda detailed other horrific messages she allegedly received. Others included ‘I hope your daughter gets raped, I hope your son is stabbed’, ‘you don’t deserve any good things you have done’, ‘you’re a snowflake, you’re stupid, you’re an idiot’.

The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.  

Graziano was axed from the show last week after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zasra McDermott during rehearsals last year. 

And just yesterday, Paralympian Will Bayley became the latest star to speak about his time on the show.

The 36-year-old, who was paired with Janette Manrara in 2019, said he was left with life-changing injuries after being made to redo a jump in a routine as he criticised the show’s duty of care.

‘If the BBC are brilliant enough to get people with disabilities in, they have to really support those people and make them safe,’ he told BBC Breakfast.  

‘And it’s not like I’ve brought this up now… I’ve brought this up many times. It’s just because the other stories have come out that mine has actually got listened to.

‘If someone gets an injury like mine, it will affect them for the rest of their life. I’ll never get over this knee injury, I have to deal with that.’

Amanda echoed Will’s calls in the interview with Channel 4 calling for a more open environment where celebrity contestants can voice concerns without fear of retribution. 

When talking about what could be improved on the show she said: ‘Allowing people to go and complain that’s the other thing. Being able to voice your concerns if you feel like you are being bullied.

‘If the situation you are in feels toxic or unsafe, having the courage to go and say something is important and we are not cultivating that environment. 

‘We are making out that women that voice their concerns about a situations, are trolled through the press, sent rape threats, death threats and are not taken seriously.’

Amanda has not publicly given any examples of Giovanni’s behaviour during rehearsals, however, branded him ‘abusive, cruel and mean’. 

Giovanni has constantly refuted the allegations and denied any accusations of threatening or abusive behaviour. 

A spokesperson for the dancer said he had provided a dossier of evidence to the investigators and ‘remains fully confident in clearing his name’.

But hitting back at those who questioned Amanda’s alleged experience, the actress said in her latest interview: ‘What happened in that room happened because it happened to me. 

‘I am not a sensational person, I am not hysterical, I do not make things out to be bigger than they are. I know what happened in that room was not acceptable. 

‘I complained about it and have not been taken seriously.;

She explained that ‘three other women’ had also made complaints with ‘more potentially coming forward’.

‘We have to cultivate an environment when women or men – because it happens to men as well – can come forward and say I’m finding this uncomfortable and something needs to be done about it. And then something be done about it – that’s all.

‘We need to be brave and I want to stand up for any woman who does not have a voice. I will be there for her championing her.’ 

The Channel 4 interview comes as BBC chiefs are said to be furious about the Strictly investigation Amanda’s initial complaint triggered.

One BBC insider told MailOnline: ‘Amanda seems to be stopping at nothing to make sure that a dark cloud is left over Strictly.

‘She seems to have a real issue with the show. She has been open about not enjoying her time, but why spoil it for everyone else?

‘It’s not looking like there is a smoking gun in her complaint about Giovanni, so now she is getting others to come forward and then later it appears in the Press so the row keeps going and going.’ 

On Tuesday, the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie warned that the ‘line should never be crossed’ said: ‘I’m very sorry that anyone has had an experience on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly positive.

‘I think that is something we do reflect on, and I’m sorry about that. If someone feels there was something wrong or they wanted to talk about their experience, then, of course, we want them to raise that with us and be in no doubt, we will take it seriously.’

Mr Davie added: ‘Of course, alongside the fun and entertainment, there will be a degree of competitiveness, hard work, and a will to do well. That’s part of what makes this show.

‘But there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’

Amanda said she was ‘glad’ that Mr Davie had apologised to celebrities but added that no producers had been in touch since she made a complaint. 

She told Channel 4: ‘I got several messages afterwards from some of the producers, just checking in to see how I was.

‘But then when all the fallout happened, and then everybody started piling on and the death threats came in, and they were reported in the press – and all the misinformation went out there – I didn’t really hear from anybody again.’

Asked if there was any aftercare provided, she replied: ‘No, it would have been nice I suppose.’

Rehearsals for the new series began on Monday, and today professionals including Johannes Radebe, Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell were all smiles as they arrived to practise at a London dance studio. 

In response to Amanda’s latest interview, a spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.’

The BBC continued: ‘However, when issues are raised with us we always take them extremely seriously. The BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriously…last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.’

The full interview with Channel 4 News can be seen at 7pm tonight.