International Research Editor
Strictly bullying scandal: Strictly Come Dancing has a 'dark heart' | Reverend Richard Coles
Strictly Come Dancing enjoys a unique status on British television. The much-loved BBC show has been woven into the fabric of the nation for 20 years, with an unrivalled record of gathering families to the sofa and delivering a sequin-embroidered burst of light and energy as the winter nights draw in. It consistently ranks among the UK’s top-rated shows, has created national treasures from its stars and spawned over 60 international imitations, not least ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. The other remarkable thing about Strictly is that it has a near-impeccable record when it comes to scandal. Put simply, it’s always been the BBC’s golden child. Until now.
The show has been the subject of simmering concerns about bullying and misconduct for months, and the allegations finally reached boiling point this week, prompting the BBC to fire a professional dancer and make adjustments to Strictly’s production regime. The unrest can be traced back to October 2023, when Amanda Abbington, an actress best known for her role as Mary Watson in the BBC drama Sherlock, abruptly quit after season 21 due to “personal reasons”. On a show known for featuring celebrities and their dance partners falling in love, Abbington apparently felt a dislike for her partner, Giovanni Pernice.
She has since hired Carter Ruck, the aggressive London law firm, to file a complaint with the BBC about Pernice. The exact nature of her allegations is unclear, but she has called the 33-year-old Italian “nasty” and accused him of inappropriate, bullying behaviour during her five weeks on Strictly. Pernice has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and says he is cooperating with a BBC investigation. He has been benched for season 22.
