BBC takes drastic action to tackle ‘abusive behaviour’ after Strictly probe

The BBC has committed to tackling ‘abusive behaviour’ head-on following controversy around Strictly Come Dancing after several complaints were filed against professional dancers.

Following 20 series on air, the hit dance show became engulfed in scandal earlier this year when Amanda Abbington, 50, made a series of damning allegations against her former pro partner, Giovanni Pernice, 34.

A probe was then launched, with Giovanni let go from the line-up as well as Graziano Di Prima after he was accused of kicking Love Island’s Zara McDermott during training.

Both Italian dancers denied the accusations made, with a lengthy internal investigation concluding last week and upholding several complaints against Giovanni, but clearing him of the most serious ‘physical aggression’ allegations.

In light of the publication of the findings, after which Giovanni thanked fans for their support, the BBC has today launched a probe into its ‘workplace culture’.

It also comes after the likes of Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh complained about Giovanni’s training methods, while the BBC was also thrown into crisis last year when former newsreader Huw Edwards admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Vowing to crack down on ‘abuse of power’, BBC Chair Samir Shah said: ‘I cannot emphasise enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or abusive behaviour.

‘For most of us, it is a joy to work for the BBC, and that should be the case for everyone.

‘Nobody working in the BBC should ever feel fear or worry while working here.

‘What is clear to me is that we must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure, and welcoming workplace for everyone.’

The BBC’s inquiry strives to ‘ensure the consequences of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power are understood by everyone’.

A report is expected to be published next spring.

After months of investigating and reviewing hundreds of hours of training footage, the BBC found earlier this month that six out of 17 complaints against Giovanni were to be upheld.

These included swearing at Amanda and using ‘belittling’ language during his feedback.

Additionally, the report found that there were two instances of ‘inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace’.

Despite the unprofessional NSFW remarks, Giovanni was cleared of reportedly sending Amanda an inappropriate WhatsApp video.

Furthermore, it was concluded that Giovanni was not threatening, intimidating, or abusive towards Sherlock star Amanda, who has been vocal about the lasting impact her stint on Strictly has had.

The TV star has said she now has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has received both death and rape threats directed at her and her family online.

After the findings were revealed, Amanda said she was ‘relieved’ when a cancer scare forced her to quit the competition mid-way through.

She said finding the two lumps in her breast, which turned out to be benign, was the ‘catalyst’ she had been waiting for to pull out of the toxic situation.

Meanwhile, Giovanni now stars as a professional on the Italian version of Strictly, where he has been topping the leaderboard and proven a hit with the judges.

Speaking out after he was cleared of the majority of career-threatening accusations against him, the TV star – who first joined Strictly in 2015 – admitted it had been a ‘difficult’ time for him.

After Amanda received a formal apology from the BBC, Giovanni – who lifted the glitterball with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021 – said he was happy to be carrying on ‘doing what [he] was born to do’, which is ‘entertaining’.

With the backing of many former co-stars and longtime Strictly pals, he then announced a 2025 tour alongside judge and close friend Anton Du Beke, who has publicly stood by Giovanni in recent months.