What a bitter blow for the distinguished actress Amanda Abbington. After her often histrionic months-long campaign to have her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice cancelled, the BBC says he will star in their 20th anniversary December spectacular.
How desperate for Amanda that, despite her numerous tearful TV and newspaper interviews detailing his alleged abuse, Gio is back!
Strictly insiders reveal she was demanding he should never appear again on the show after his supposed treatment of her, which she claimed was ‘abusive, cruel and mean’, sometimes sexually inappropriate, and the cause of her PTSD.
What utter humiliation for Amanda, who – on October 1 – after results of the BBC inquiry into her allegations were published, appeared on the front page of The Sun triumphantly claiming that she had been ‘vindicated’ and had won her battle against Gio.
Sadly for Amanda, the findings of the inquiry also allowed Gio to conclude that he had won – since, of her 17 accusations against him, he was cleared of all the most serious.
Perhaps BBC bosses had taken into consideration the fact that on a secret audio tape she was unaware of, Amanda had been recorded telling him that she was emotionally fragile: ‘I know I’m a nightmare – you probably feel like throwing me out the window.’
In the end it seems as if it was she who was hell-bent on destroying Gio’s career come what may. And she almost succeeded.
Yet when she first made her allegations public in January, BBC sources insist that, far from being sacked, Gio was about to sign a new contract for Strictly 2025. It was he who decided enough was enough after being so publicly accused by Amanda. He felt Strictly had not defended him even though he had raised serious concerns for her mental health during their time together.
Amanda Abbington has recently been back at the Beeb, demanding justice on Newsnight
Giovanni Pernice with partner, the actress Bianca Guaccero, on the Italian version of Strictly
And then, far from falling from grace as Amanda seemed to expect, Giovanni has emerged as the star of the Italian version of Strictly Ballando con le Stelle. He’s odds-on to raise the Glitterball with his partner, the actress Bianca Guaccero, and will be appearing on the same night the Strictly anniversary show is broadcast. So Gio will be starring in two Strictlys on the same night. Now that’s what I call a ChaChaCha!
How significant it is that the BBC reassured the bosses at Ballando con le Stelle about Gio’s integrity before they signed him, giving them the green light, despite Amanda’s devastating claims against him.
And how telling that the BBC has welcomed Gio back into the fold, while informing us that footage of Amanda is unlikely to appear in the December special. Ouch, that must hurt.
Insiders say Beeb bosses were particularly insistent that Giovanni, who was in nine series of Strictly, be given a starring role in the special episode, adding: ‘He has made an immense impact on Strictly and will absolutely not be erased from Strictly Come Dancing’s history.’
Shorthand for the BBC saying that despite Amanda’s best efforts, Gio wasn’t ever a candidate for cancellation.
Which may have come as a shock to her, given that her sole contribution to Strictly has been to almost destroy it. Her accusations were so serious there were fears after the scandal that there would be no 20th anniversary show at all.
That seems like a long time ago now. Gio will be centre stage in their celebrations, while Amanda is still meeting with BBC executives airing her grievances, even contemplating suing the corporation for damages and loss of earnings.
In recent weeks she was back at the Beeb demanding justice for her and all abused women everywhere, a self-appointed #MeToo champion, one claims she was speaking out and giving a voice to other women like her.
Gio won alongside deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis on the British show in 2021
Amanda Platell asks of Amanda: If you are a champion of women, why is that so many female Strictly fans have not warmed to your crusade?
To which I would ask of Amanda, if you are a champion of women, why is that so many female Strictly fans have not warmed to your crusade, and instead pledged their allegiance to Giovanni? Why do so many women not believe you?
More importantly, why has the BBC, despite spending £500,000 on a lengthy internal investigation into your claims against Gio, decided he is a fit and proper person to star in their December spectacular, when footage will be shown of his Bafta-award winning dance with the deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021?
The performance, partly done in silence, was seen by more than ten million viewers with 2.1million more on YouTube.
As one insider said: ‘Far from being erased, Mr Pernice will be one of the Strictly stars celebrating in the forthcoming 20th anniversary programme… Amanda may have met with the BBC [recently], when she aired her grievances about Giovanni and the show, but Strictly still adores Gio and its viewers will be thrilled to see him back.’