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Amanda Abbington has suggested she is considering further action against the BBC following the conclusion of an investigation into the Strictly Come Dancing bullying scandal.

In her first interview since the findings of a BBC investigation into Giovanni Pernice’s conduct on the programme was released, the Sherlock star shed new light on the Italian dancer’s alleged behaviour, including claims he made a shocking sexual gesture to her in the rehearsal room.

She told Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire: “It was an ongoing litany of being verbally abused, sexual innuendo, sexual gestures. There was a 35 minute rant at me with him throwing his hands in the air and calling me names and how he couldn’t cope with it anymore.

Lawyers for Pernice denied such allegations on Thursday.

Abbington also hinted at “unresolved” issues after revealing she invited former contestants who were partnered with Giovanni Pernice to her home, where they all “cried” over their alleged experiences.

The result of the BBC’s six-month investigation into the Italian dancer’s behind-the-scenes behaviour was announced on Monday (30 September), with six of Abbington’s complaints upheld by the corporation. The actor received an official apology.

Her complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, while the BBC’s findings concluded that Pernice was not physically aggressive to his celebrity partner – something the dancer declared as a victory.

A spokesperson said that Pernice, who has since explained why he got “frustrated” with Abbington on the show, was pleased the report “has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour”, adding: “Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld.”

While Abbington said the BBC’s apology “meant a lot” to her in a statement after the result, she has now suggested this might not be the end of her involvement in the Strictly drama during an appearance on Newsnight.

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On Wednesday (2 October), Abbington told host Victoria Derbyshire that she is “taking guidance from my lawyer on a day to day basis” when asked how she will proceed now the report’s findings have been released.

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“There’s a 30-page report that me and my lawyers are still digesting. There are still things in there that are unresolved.”

The actor also said she hosted a tearful summit with other former Strictly contestants who had previously been coupled with Pernice. While the BBC was conducting its investigation, it was reported that former Love Island host Laura Whitmore and Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh had come forward with their own allegations against Pernice.

Abbington, who said she first raised concerns about Pernice “after three or four days”, did not name Whitmore and Singh, but said she invited the unnamed contestants to her house where, upon arrival, “we all cried, we all burst into tears”.

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She said: “We just wanted to make sure that we weren’t on our own and thinking this had just happened to us.

“Everyone I spoke to all said the same thing – it wasn’t pleasant and it wasn’t what everyone else was going through in the other [rehearsal] rooms.”

Abbington said she “lost all sense of reality” while rehearsing with Pernice on last year’s Strictly.

“It has been one of the worst years of my life”, she said, adding: “I have been through a lot. Women go through a lot. I have had to deal with a myriad of horrible things that have continued to happen just for complaining.”

The actor also defended her decision to speak out against Pernice, stating: “I’m open to criticism. I don’t make problems or trouble where there is none.’

“I have worked 32 years as an actress, in a job that started the MeToo movement and I have never had to leave a job or experience anything like I did in that rehearsal room. I don’t ever make accusations lightly.”

IT’S getting tense for Kat Slater in EastEnders as teenage son Tommy’s mood and behaviour gets worse, with her as the target.

The child-to-parent abuse storyline steps up in the latest episodes of the BBC soap as EastEnders view watch Kat’s terrified reaction to her son.

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With Tommy exerting control and manipulation it appears he’s getting worse, and with his violent outburst in the past it’s leaving Kat scared for what he will do next.

In July shocked viewers watched as he punched her in the stomach, and now it looks like his angry actions could continue.

After Kat previously confided in Alfie Moon, he assured her he would get the teenager under control.

Yet with Alfie losing his job at the bookies, it feels like things are set to unravel.

Whilst at first things look on the up with Kat telling the boys that Alfie has got the job of manager at the Minute Mart.

Whilst the family finances are still struggling, Tommy decided he wants to help and looks to pocket some cash from the cafe but he’s caught by Kathy.

Kathy pays Kat a visit to tell her what Tommy did, and she suggests that Kat should speak to her son about his behaviour.

Yet when Kat tries to talk to him, he turns aggressive and physically intimidates her.

It’s not just Kat that Tommy affects this week either, as his actions and sour mood ruin Jay’s 30th birthday too.

Jay is overjoyed to receive another video message from dead wife Lola, yet when he shows the video to Kat and Phil it’s Tommy who ruins the happy moment.

When Kat tells him to stop making such a racket, he is vicious towards his mum – leaving Phil stunned.

Later Kat tries to talk to her son again, but the conversation goes wrong once more.

As Tommy tries to storm out, Kat grabs him making him angry and the situation worse.

The child-to-parent abuse storyline is a huge focus for EastEnders, with the BBC soap turning to Family Based Solutions and Parent Educational Growth Support (PEGS) on Tommy and Kat’s story.

Both are organisations offer advice and support on child-to-parent abuse.

EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. 

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Giovanni Pernice has explained why he got “frustrated” with Amanda Abbington in the Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal room.

The result of the BBC’s six-month investigation into the Italian dancer’s behind-the-scene behaviour was announced on Monday (30 September), with six of Abbington’s complaints upheld by the corporation. The actor, who was coupled with Pernice on last year’s series, received an official apology.

Sherlock star Abbington’s complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, while the BBC’s findings concluded that Pernice was not physically aggressive to his celebrity partner, which the dancer declared a victory.

A spokesperson said that Pernice was pleased” the report “has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour”, adding: “Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld.”

Shortly after, Pernice spoke candidly about the result on Instagram, telling his fans: “It’s over. It’s finished. Seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not be able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review was a difficult time. It was difficult because, you know, reading stuff that was untrue, wasn’t the nicest time of my life, let’s be honest.”

He then shed light on what went down in the rehearsal room, explaining why he often gets frustrated with the celebrities he’s partnered with

“Today is a day when we can all reflect because I appreciate that dancing is a very difficult thing to do. It’s a sport, it’s something that is difficult in every possible way and sometimes you get frustrated as a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer.

“But the only reason why you get frustrated is because you care about what you do.”

He continued: “You know, as a professional, as a teacher, I want to get the best out of my partner and sometimes I do get frustrated. I think everybody around the world does the same thing – it’s called being professional and I love, I love doing that.

He said that “even now” he “gets frustrated” with Bianca Guaccero, the actor and singer he’s coupled with on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars, which he joined after stepping away from Strictly.

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“I think it’s a normal thing but then you get out the best and the results come forward,” he said.

Announcing the result of the investigation on Monday (30 September), the BBC said: “We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we rightly expect very high standards. While competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience. It is a great shame if this hasn’t been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show.

“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.”

The corporation said the findings had taken a long time to be announced due to the “complex nature” of Abbington’s complaints, adding that “a rigorous and robust process” had been carried out.

Abbington said the BBC’s apology “meant a lot” to her in a statement reading: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.

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“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’. I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

She continued: “Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint. It’s not just a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.”

Abbington suddenly quit Strictly five episodes into the 2023 series, citing medical reasons. Her allegations against Pernice, whom she has branded “nasty”, first surfaced in January 2024, and she has repeatedly accused him of misconduct in the rehearsal room.

In August 2024, it was reported that Abbington was “questioned a second time” about her claims against Pernice after she alleged the dancer made sexual comments in the rehearsal room.

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Also last month, in an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy for Channel 4 News, Abbington claimed that the show’s producers installed cameras in her rehearsal room after she raised concerns about Pernice.

“Every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘We just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry.’ That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal,” she said.

“It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he [Giovanni] doesn’t want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he’s got nothing to hide.”

Asked by Guru-Murthy if she was talking about bullying, she replied: “Yes, it’s bullying and it’s aggressive behaviour, there were other things that were very upsetting, that you manage in the room at the time, because you’re a woman, and you have to manage those things because otherwise, what do you do?”

ACTRESS Anna Maxwell Martin says she has a bizarre sandwich phobia and has to ask other actors to keep them off set.

The Line of Duty star says her fear may be linked to her hatred of mayonnaise, and she also cannot bear to be near an open fridge.

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Anna, 47, said: “I think I’ve got phobic food issues.

“Not in the room, not in the house. If I’m on a set and sandwiches are brought on — it’s hard for me to even say that word — I’d have to say ‘get that out’.

“Sorry other actors, you’re not eating. Or if you want to eat, step outside. But not in here.”

Anna thinks her problems stem from her pregnancies with her two daughters.

She said: “I think there is a trauma. It’s not about sandwiches, but I was sick all through my pregnancies. Sick, sick, sick as a dog. So now I also have a problem with fridges as well.

“Oh my God, I can open a fridge and be like ‘not for me, not staying here, not eating here’.

“Someone was saying to me the other day that she doesn’t like the sound of chewing gum or the sound of things and she said maybe you have a similar thing about foods.

“I was on a train yesterday with sandwiches and it was a nightmare.”