Inside Giovanni Pernice's gruelling Strictly regime as he said blunt two words to Amanda Abbington

Giovanni Pernice was cleared of threatening, abusive and physical behaviour during his time on Strictly Come Dancing - but a lewd remark has left fans stunned.

Out of the 16 allegations made by Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington against Giovanni, who has always denied the accusations against him, the BBC upheld six - some of which relate to him using 'belittling' swear words. One upheld complaint told of how he grabbed his crotch and uttered a lewd remark, and also told his dance partner that he "wanted to f*** her".

A source close to Giovanni told the Mirror: "This was all done in jest and perceived in this way by Amanda. They were intended as jokes and compliments of her dancing style. Her language could be just as course back."

However, sources close to the actress tell a different story. Amanda, who was initially thrilled to be paired with Gio, ended up quitting the 2023 early and went on to make serious accusations against him over 'inappropriate behaviour'.

READ MORE: Amanda Abbington 'considering legal action against BBC' as 6 Strictly Giovanni complaints upheld

A source close to Amanda said: "Any ­findings of workplace misconduct by an internal ­investigation is pretty extraordinary. It really says ­something and was deemed serious enough to ­apologise. It also shows up his teaching methods which he has so publicly said was beyond criticism. Giovanni certainly hasn’t been cleared as he would like to portray."

Emphasising that Amanda’s version of events was backed by other people, they added: "This is ­corroborated by a number of different people, ex-contestants, dancers, choreographers. It is not an insignificant number of people who have supported her.

"She is relieved as many thought it would be a massive fudge. A lot of people thought it shouldn’t be an internal investigation at all but given to an external body to consider." When Giovanni joined the Strictly line-up back in 2015, he quickly put his mark on the competition as he transitioned into a career on TV.

Former amateur partner Debbie McGee, who danced with him in the 2017 series, said all her memories of the completion were 'happy ones' and that she adored 'every single person' she worked with. And after finally lifting the Glitterball trophy with EastEnders actress Rose back in 2021, they have continued their blossoming friendship.

However, the 34-year-old has also been hit with a slew of criticism from some of his other students, who have claimed he has a 'militant' training style, pushing them until they're at breaking point. However, the dancer has defended his firm technique to 'get the best from his partners'. Here, The Mirror takes a look at what has been said about his training...

Laura Whitmore - 2016

When Giovanni was put with Irish model and presenter Laura, they were instantly billed as bookies' favourites to lift the Glitterball trophy. But their partnership didn't work out as rumours swirled of a strained atmosphere between the two, sparked by Giovanni's alleged 'rudeness' during rehearsals.

By the time they were voted out in Week 7, the two were barely speaking, according to backstage sources. "The atmosphere between Laura and Gio was never that great, but it's now turned toxic," one told the Sun after the pair left the show. "They clashed during rehearsals as Laura got increasingly agitated with Gio's tone.

"They pulled it together for the live shows but behind the scenes, it was a different story. There's certainly no love lost between them and it's doubtful they'll remain in contact when the series is wrapped up later this month."

The pair went their separate ways and in 2018 Laura broke her silence over their strained relationship, writing in a first-person piece for the Huffington Post that she felt 'extremely uncomfortable' being partnered with her friend Georgia May Foote's ex, and saying she 'cried every day' she was in the competition.

"I love dancing – I topped the leaderboard twice – but I was thrown into the middle of a break-up that had nothing to do with me. Once again, I was a 'rumoured love interest'," she wrote.

"I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end."

In 2020. she went into further detail about her time on the show, lashing out at BBC bosses for forcing her to spend so much time with Giovanni when all she wanted to do was dance. Speaking on the Private Parts podcast, Laura said she and her professional partner were together 12 hours a day and also had to appear on red carpet events together.

"What I didn't like was being removed from everybody and having to spend 12 hours a day with this one person," she said. "It did not become about the dancing. I just wanted to dance. I did not want to play the game of doing red carpets with your dance partner and stuff like that, which a lot of people thought you should be doing. I did not want to do that."

Faye Tozer - 2018

In 2018, Giovanni was placed with Steps singer Faye, having made it to the final with Debbie McGee the previous year. He and Faye's working relationship stayed the course throughout the 16th series, although by the end there was speculation the pair were "ranting behind each other's back".

"Faye and Giovanni have been struggling with the pressure and have both been ranting behind each other's back," one insider told the Sun - although it was rubbished by a BBC rep. The source claims Faye was "feeling quite emotional" after "relentless training", and Faye did tweet in the December asking for fans' tips on combating fatigue.

"Wow... this week is super, proper, crazy, hard," she wrote. "I am exhausted! Any top tips for fatigue and focus??? I am all ears!!! xxx @bbcstrictly #semifinalsweek." But the pair managed to pull through and made it to the final, narrowly missing out on the trophy to Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.

After the series wrapped, it emerged Gio had been secretly dating another Strictly celeb: Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, which at least put to bed rumours he and married Faye were becoming more than friends. When his and Ashley's romance went public, Faye laughed: "Ashley is a hot chick, she is a sexy mama and Giovanni is a young, single, fabulous guy, so yeah. They would make a great couple."

Michelle Visage - 2019

Giovanni was partnered up with Drag Race UK judge Michelle in 2019, and speculation was rife that their gruelling rehearsals were strained as the pair were "locking horns" from day one. "Michelle has become quite unhappy at times. She has a fiery relationship with Giovanni," a source told the Sun by the November.

"Both are very strong characters and they've both had a lot to say. He's probably not used to a partner being quite so in control and calling the shots." Michelle herself addressed the rumour mill, admitting they were "at each other's throats" because of their shared ethnicity and star sign.

"We're both Italian. We're both intense. We're both Virgos. So there's a perfectionist level that's really ridiculous between us," she said. "He wants it quicker than I'm able to provide it. So Mondays and Tuesdays is a lot of us at each other's throats. By the end of the week, we're totally in love with each other again and it's fine.

"I've never walked out. We just like to fight. We like to fight it out, but it's just that's all in love. Our relationship is very fiery. It is weird, but it's perfect."

But the speculation continued to ramp up, prompting Michelle to set the record straight. "The articles about my partner and I have been upsetting," she said in an Instagram statement ahead of their Blackpool performance, after which they were voted off. "If anyone knows us, you would know how close Giovanni and I are. Gio is my best friend in this competition, he is my rock and I trust him with everything. We have the most fun and laughs together and to suggest otherwise is just sad."

Amanda Abbington - 2023

Giovanni's most recent partnership came to a dramatic end, when it was announced live on Strictly: It Takes Two that actress Amanda Abbingdon wasn't returning to the contest after pulling out of the weekend's show. He and the Sherlock star had been partnered together for the 2023 series, but it wasn't long before their professional relationship was hit with rumours of tension and strife.

One source claimed Amanda, 52, had been left shaken by Gio's 'militant and aggressive' training style and had wanted to pull out of the competition even before the first live show. "Giovanni is a hard taskmaster and takes the competition very, very seriously," they said.

"Amanda was really looking forward to dancing with him, but has found his aggressive training style and attitude pretty difficult to handle. He is quite militant in his approach to training. She's been left very shaken, and has liaised with her team about quitting."

The pair got through the first four weeks but Amanda pulled out of the week five show due to 'medical issues'. Less than 48 hours later, Fleur East revealed she had dramatically quit the series, and Amanda later broke her silence to reveal it was due to'"personal reasons' - and later said she had been diagnosed with PTSD.

"It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue," she wrote on Instagram. "It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside.

"I want to thank the incredible Production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It's a wonderful bunch of people and I'll miss all of them," she added. "I'm so sad that I am unable to go any further. Thank you to everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support. You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you. xxx."

Notably, there was no mention of Giovanni in her statement, although he paid tribute to her on his own Instagram. Sharing a backstage snap of them cuddling up together, the Italian dancer wrote: "Amanda .. I am so sad we can't continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love @amanda_abbington74 @bbcstrictly."

Earlier this year, both Giovanni and Anton discussed Amanda's exit for the first time in The Mirror. Speaking on our Invite Only podcast Giovanni admitted: "I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring. I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place. In every single part of the world, if you're a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night.

"And if we have good scores at the end, I do look back and say, 'I've done a great job'. But we all care about our partners and we want that for them every single week – to look great on a Saturday. There's no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that's constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night."

Amanda later came forward with serious allegations against Gio, describing his conduct towards her as 'inappropriate'. She claimed: "It was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying. And I put up with it for five or six weeks. It started very early on. When it started to happen, I would shut down, because I recognised those red flags."

Opening up about what she viewed as the 'toxic environment' of the Strictly training room, Amanda continued: "I don't care what background you're from - whether it's dancing, acting, singing - you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness, and that wasn't extended to me. And so I just said, I don't think this is right."

In a tearful interview with Channel 4 back in July, Amanda alleged she'd raised concerns about Gio's supposedly 'nasty' conduct after a mere three days of training. Amanda shared: "I've got texts to the producer on day three going, 'This is awful, he hates me, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm trying my best, I promise you."

After six months of investigating Amanda's claims, which saw officers review rehearsal footage as well as text message exchanges, BBC bosses have ruled that Gio was not physically abusive towards her, however, her complaints about verbal bullying and harassment have been upheld.

The BBC said: “We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.

"At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough. This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important.”

Giovanni, who now has a new job on Dancing With The Stars in Italy with partner Bianca Guaccero, last night spoke of how dealing with bullying accusations 'wasn’t the nicest time of my life', adding that he was 'relieved' at the outcome of the review.

He said: “Today I’m happy because, you know, at the ­beginning there were very, very serious allegations thrown out at. But none of those allegations have been upheld. The threatening, abusive, ­harassment ­behaviour ­allegations have not been upheld.”

Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,andThreads.

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