STRICTLY Come Dancing’s 20th anniversary series is a matter of months away – but plans to celebrate the hit show have been thrown into chaos amid yet another twist in its alleged bullying scandal.
After facing allegations over his tough training methods from previous celebrity partners, professional dancer Giovanni Pernice quit earlier this year, with BBC bosses allegedly banning Strictly stars from speaking out about the row as they carry out an investigation.
But judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood this week have defied the reported gagging order to back Giovanni, 33, who has vehemently denied claims of “abusive or threatening behaviour” on the show.
We revealed the judging pair are due to appear with the Italian performer at a workshop for his school, Ballando, in September, pitting them in a public relations ‘cold war’ against show runners.
It comes after fellow judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke taught a class with the school, posing for pictures alongside fan-favourite Giovanni in branded tops with the company’s logo.
And today, the Mail reported that the probe has widened to examine “matters, and individuals, involved with the dance series”.
Speaking to The Sun, PR expert Nick Ede says: “Actions are louder than words, and it feels like [the judges] are being very united in their support for him, because he is a big star in the community. He’s very much loved.
“Even away from Strictly, they’re still there to support his dance school.”
He adds: “The judges are allowed to have their own opinions of the Strictly dancers and they must be caught in quite a bind due to everything going on inside the show.
“They also have strong allegiances to Gio as he has been a part of the Strictly family for many years
“He hasn’t been convicted of any crime and the allegations against him have been very damaging to him but he didn’t get fired, he quit the show.
“These may have been commitments they had already but it does show that they support him.
“Seeing that this is coming from all four judges… will, I’m sure, put people’s noses out of joint.”
PR guru Mark Borkowski tells The Sun: “The more celebs that show support, give the BBC a bigger and bigger problem to deal with every day.”
And speaking about the judges’ show of solidarity, he says: “This is a very neat PR play where Giovanni is not saying anything and letting the people who know him and who understand him speak for him, not in terms of direct words that would jeopardise their relationship with the BBC, but actually subliminally show him the support.”
He adds: “You can’t win a battle by putting your head in the ring to be punched by all those sorts of people who have a counter view to what has been posited by this media campaign against him.”
This latest turn of events is already causing a headache for BBC bosses behind the scenes as they prepare to celebrate 20 years of the show being on screen later this year.
This week it was revealed a Strictly anniversary special set to be filmed at Buckingham Palace has now been scrapped, despite King Charles and Queen Camilla being huge fans of the show.
The move has reportedly been blamed on “logistical problems” and “diary clashes” but the BBC’s investigation into Giovanni, set to run into next year, is also said to be a factor.
It is perhaps not surprising the royals might want to steer clear of any potential controversy, at a time when their staff are carefully managing the schedules of King Charles and the Princess of Wales as they recover from cancer treatment.
Nick says: “The most important thing for everybody is to make sure that King Charles and Princess Kate are ok so I don’t think they want anything else that might be a little bit negative towards them.
“So maybe in the long term this is actually a good thing. The Palace needs to think about themselves, and Strictly needs to think about themselves.”
The allegations about Giovanni’s behaviour first came to light after actress Amanda Abbington, 50, who partnered the dancer for last year’s series, abruptly withdrew from the show in October, citing medical reasons.
Rumours of a feud swirled after she failed to mention Gio in a farewell statement on Instagram.
In January, Amanda told The Sun on Sunday: “I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.”
The Sherlock star demanded CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The Palace needs to think about themselves, and Strictly needs to think about themselves
Nick Ede
Then, in March it was reported that Amanda had met up with two other celebs who had previously partnered the performer to compare notes.
Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh, 46, admitted she was “a bit scared” of Giovanni when she competed with him on Strictly in 2020 in resurfaced footage, with her ghosting him after the series ended.
Former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, 39, has said she “cried every day” and felt “uncomfortable” while training with him when they were paired up in 2016.
Two years after her stint on Strictly, she told the Huffington Post: “I’m still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.
“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.”
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “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 then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
Giovanni, who has hired legal firm Schillings to help clear his name, then left the show in May.
That same month, the BBC launched an internal investigation after three former contestants instructed lawyers.
Last month it was revealed two former Met detectives are part of the BBC’s probe to gather evidence.
Head judge Shirley, 63, has been vocal in her support of the Italian dancer, with her last month declaring him a “perfect gentleman” and vowing that “the truth will come out”.
She told The Sun at the TRIC Awards last month: “You know, I can only talk from my own perspective. I have known Giovanni for ten years. He has always been to me — and I will make that clear, to me — a perfect gentleman.
“I know he is a hard worker. He wants people to do the very best that they can do.
“Obviously, in my life, I was bullied a lot. I don’t condone bullying on any path, but I don’t believe gossip because things are blown way out of all proportion and it can turn into a great big snowball.
“So my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation and the truth will come out. So we don’t judge anybody until I know absolutely, 100 per cent.”
I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day
Laura Whitmore
And speaking to The Sun’s Fabulous magazine last week, she called him “a good friend of mine” and revealed she had invited him to her annual summer bash.
Shirley said: “He’s going to pop along to the party. I have no idea if he will come back to the show [if the investigation finds in his favour].
“I don’t get involved in the process. That’s outside my lane. Hopefully, things will get resolved and sorted. And then, you know… we’ll see.”
Strictly pro dancer turned judge Anton, 57, is a long-time friend of Giovanni’s and the pair have made a number of TV documentaries together, travelling across Europe, and are currently touring the UK together.
Anton and Giovanni: Together – The Live Tour’ kicked off on June 14.
After Giovanni’s exit from the show, former Strictly pro Kristina Rihanoff, 46, said she was “very saddened” to hear the news and called him “a very nice, easy going guy”.
His former celeb co-star Debbie McGee also appeared to show her support, sharing a snap of the duo, writing: “Happy memories. Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly.”
However, dancing pro Korina Travis, 29, who performed with him at private functions, said in May: “I’ve known him for years as a fellow competitor and he has done horrendous things to me. I will not speak about my experiences with him but I’m glad the world is seeing him for who he truly is. I’ll leave it at that.”
And former Strictly professional dancer James Jordan told This Morning: “There’s no smoke without fire. I’d be devastated if one of my previous celebrity partners came forward saying that I was abusive or not treating them nice in training. But he’s had four. If it was just one you’d say ok maybe just a massive clash of characters.”
With the investigation rumbling on, it seems Giovanni is facing an uncertain future. But PR expert Nick says: “The public absolutely adore him.
“He is naturally a very charismatic person. He’s got a huge fan base.”
And fellow expert Mark says his broad appeal and large fan base could see him snapped up by rival channels, such as ITV.
Mark says: “He’s an asset, a character and a personality, and if the BBC don’t see his value other broadcasters will.
“Nothing is damaging long term. Everybody gets a chance if there’s enough people who believe and understand the personality that has been thrust into the middle of this maelstrom.”
Nick adds: “I can imagine that the BBC will be keen to draw a line under this. I can imagine [Giovanni] is too.
“But I do think that if there is something that happened, then people have to be made accountable, and hopefully this will be resolved in the best way possible very soon.”
