Actress Amanda Abbington has said she was subjected to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying” in a “toxic environment” while rehearsing for Strictly Come Dancing.
Her former professional partner, Giovanni Pernice, has strongly refuted her allegations.
The Sherlock star said she “couldn’t stay silent” on what she claims happened to her, adding: “I felt I had to speak up because I don’t want people to be frightened of speaking out if they’re being bullied or they feel they’re in a difficult situation, or if they feel that they’re not being heard.”
She told ITV’s Lorraine: “I do feel I have the right to say it was a toxic environment I was in when I was rehearsing, because it was.
“It’s important that women feel they are in a safe space where they can say ‘This is inappropriate behaviour and it needs to be recognised’.”
She added: “It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying, and I put up with it for five weeks.
“It started very early on, and when it started to happen I shut down because I recognised those red flags. So I would shut down and it would be difficult to get in and that would just be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
She said the issues began early on, saying: “It was week one, the third day.
“I’ve got texts to the producer on the third day saying ‘This is awful, he hates me, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m trying my best, I promise you’.”
Abbington, who is currently in rehearsals for a new play, added: “I’ve been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years. I’m in a rehearsal room at the moment, which is one of the most beautiful, safe spaces.
“I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like, and 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.
“That wasn’t extended to me, and so I just said ‘I don’t think this is right’.”
In an interview with her former Strictly co-star, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, for Channel 4 News on Wednesday, she claimed there are 50 hours of video footage – from cameras she alleges were installed after she raised concerns during her first week – which Pernice “doesn’t want anyone to see” but have been reviewed by the BBC.
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?”
The actress claimed producers were “shocked and horrified” after they viewed her training films, but said she is unable to provide more detail because of the ongoing BBC review of her complaint.
A spokesman for Pernice said: “We are co-operating fully with the BBC’s review process.
“All parties have been asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media before it concludes.
“We will continue to respect the integrity of the investigation and believe it is the right forum for all the evidence to be reviewed.
“As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.
“They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form.
“Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and, having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.
“We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.”
Speaking on Lorraine about the backlash she has faced since speaking out, Abbington said: “I didn’t expect the onslaught that I got, and the consistent, persistent amount of death threats and rape threats, not only to me, but to my children.”
She added: “I go outside worried because I had messages saying ‘Watch your back because you’re going after Giovanni’.
“I’m not. I just literally said ‘I’m not sure this is appropriate behaviour. Can we address it?’ That’s all I did. And the onslaught I’ve had for eight months is relentless.”
Asked what she she would like to happen next with Strictly Come Dancing, the actress said: “I love Strictly, I always wanted to do that show. I think it’s a beautiful British institution.”
She added: “Most people on that show are wonderful and I’ve made some good friends on that show, I don’t want it to end.
“I want it to have a beautiful extended life because its Saturday night entertainment.”
For herself, she said: “I would like an apology and I would like this to not happen to women working in that corporation again and for it to be taken seriously.”
There has been a storm of negative stories about the culture on the BBC’s flagship programme and the treatment of contestants.
On Tuesday, BBC director-general Tim Davie apologised to contestants who had an experience that “hasn’t been wholly positive”, and maintained that Strictly will return.
Professional dancer Graziano Di Prima left the show after allegations about his treatment of Love Island star Zara McDermott in 2023, while Paralympian Will Bayley said he suffered a serious injury while performing a jump during rehearsals in 2019, and claimed he was shown “no duty of care”.
A BBC statement to the PA news agency said: “Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.
“However, when issues are raised with us we always take them extremely seriously and have appropriate processes in place to manage this. As we have said before, we would urge people not to indulge in speculation.
“More generally, the BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriously. Our processes on Strictly Come Dancing are updated every year, they are kept under constant review, and last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.”
