Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice suffered a tense exchange with Craig Doyle and Christine Lampard on This Morning on Tuesday, after questioning on Amanda Abbington investigation
He was on the show to promote his new book, Taking The Lead, in which he vents his fury at the BBC over its handling of the clash with actress Amanda Abbington in 2023 which led to his exit from Strictly.
The Italian dancer spent 10 years on Strictly until 2024, when a BBC investigation was launched into his behaviour following allegations of bullying, abuse and physical violence from Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.
Six of the 17 allegations (although none of the most serious claims, including of physical allegations) were upheld against Pernice, with his 2023 partner being paid a five-figure sum by the BBC as part of an out-of-court settlement last month
During the interview a frustrated Giovanni, 35, clashed with Craig as he insisted his aim wasn’t to dredge up the scandal by writing his memoir.
Craig was keen to highlight Amanda’s ‘side of the story’ throughout the live segment, telling the pro dancer ‘I get it you want to air your views’ only for Giovanni to interrupt and firmly tell him ‘it’s the story of my life it’s not a book dedicated to the investigation.’
‘It’s hard to move on when you put something like that in the book though,’ Craig replied.
‘The point of the book is to say thank you to all the people who supported me along the way,’ rebuffed Giovanni.
Second of all, instead of me going and giving every single possible interview, it was to write it down, what is actually factual and my point of view. I played by the rules, I waited until after the investigation finished. It’s a part of my memoir, it’s a part of my life.
‘But it’s the part of the memoir that gets it serialised and you on sofas’ insisted Craig.
A clearly frustrated Giovanni said ‘the aim of the book was not to be sitting on This Morning.’
The BBC investigated Giovanni over 16 allegations in total, upholding six and clearing him of 10 of the most serious accusations.
Giovanni reiterated that he was not sacked from the dance show, but rather his contract wasn’t renewed.
Craig began the tense interview by pointing out that in the dance world ‘you do develop a relationship when you are training, which is kind of harsh.’
‘When that world meets the showbiz world, like Strictly, how difficult is that when you are bringing that competitive nature, that harsh nature? Like with Amanda.’
Giovanni responded: ‘I always say it depends on what you want to achieve.’
