FORMER STRICTLY trio Amanda Abbington, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore could unite to air complaints about pro Giovanni Pernice to the BBC after holding an “emotional” summit.
The celebrities – each paired with an Italian on the dance show – first connected on social media before meeting in person on Thursday to “compare notes”.
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Laura Whitmore said she ‘cried’ every day while training with Giovanni Pernice on Strictly
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Amanda Abbingdon is in a legal bid to get video surveillance for training Credits: PA
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Ranvir Singh complained to producers about Giovanni during her stint on Strictly 2020 Credit: PA
Sources said they were “in tears” as they supported each other over their experiences with “intense perfectionist” Gia.
Sherlock star Amanda, 52, left the show in October citing medical reasons and has since revealed she has been diagnosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, speaking on The Mirror’s Invite Only podcast, Giovanni called Amanda’s decision to quit “a disgrace”, adding: “Amanda could have gone all the way.”
The presenter of Good Morning Britain Ranvir (46), who was the partner of 33-year-old Giovanni in 2020, complained about him to the producers during her involvement in the series.
Former Love Island host Laura, 38, however, said she “cried every day” and felt “uncomfortable” while training with him when they were paired in 2016.
A source said: “All three have had difficult experiences with Giovanni, who is well known for being intense during training. They met in person to share their experiences.
“Their meeting was emotional, but touching. Now they know they are there to support each other after the difficult times with Giovanni. Tears flowed.
“There is every possibility that all three could go further and make a formal complaint to the BBC, but for now they are consoling each other.”
The source added: “Only a few people will understand what it’s like to train with Giovanni and he is considered a ‘perfectionist’ in the industry.
“He has been known to row with many of his partners.”
Giovanni defended his actions, saying: “If you’re a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to make people look their best on a Saturday night.
“If we end up with good results, I look back and say, ‘I did a great job.'”
Star Mr. Selfridge, Amanda enlists the help of top barrister Persephone Bridgman Baker to prepare a legal letter to the BBC to help her find footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni.
Amanda, who has two children with former actor Martin Freeman, 52, told how she received death threats when she revealed her PTSD diagnosis after leaving Strictly.
She said: “I told several people about it, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were going on in my life . . . both professionally and personally.
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“I am very sorry that people felt the need to send me death threats, threaten my children, and refer to my past, healthy relationship with my ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health. I wish those people well.”
Ranvir also flagged the issue during training with Giovanni, who has been on the show since 2015, and said she was unhappy.
And TV presenter Laura wrote: “I’m still not ready to talk in detail about my experience on the show. They placed me with a dance partner with whom I was extremely uncomfortable. I cried every day. And I was really broken, both mentally and physically, until the end.”
In another interview, she said: “What I didn’t like was being away from everyone and having to spend 12 hours a day with that one person.
I’m still not ready to go into detail about my experience on the show. They placed me with a dance partner with whom I was extremely uncomfortable
Laura Whitmore
“It wasn’t about dancing. I just wanted to dance. I didn’t want to play the red carpet game with your dance partner and stuff like that.”
The BBC said in January that it would not be investigating Giovanni’s behavior with Amanda.
A spokesperson said: “There is an ongoing dialogue between the senior production team and the contestants to ensure any concerns are resolved quickly.”
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “There is some shock that the BBC doesn’t seem to be doing anything. Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged the issue while training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy.
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Giovanni gives the thumbs up on his Friday night showCredit: nb press ltd
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Amanda suffered from mild PTSD Credit: Getty
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Ranvir brought up the issues to the bosses Credit: Rex
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Laura. . . ‘just wanted to dance’Credit: Splash
“While Laura has been vocal about how upsetting her time on the show was.
“Amanda is looking for a famous lawyer to help her get access to the rehearsal tapes of her and Giovanni in order to review them.”
Tomorrow, BBC1 will broadcast the first episode of Giovanni’s new travel series with tough judge Anton Du Beke — called Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain.
Giovanni is currently on tour with his theater act and last month revealed on local BBC radio that he would be returning to Strictly for one final series.
A spokesman for Strictly said it would make an announcement “in due course”.
Sicilian-born Giovanni, who won Strictly in 2021 with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, 29, has had a string of problems with some of his previous dance partners.
Former Steps singer Faye Tozer, 48, is believed to have fallen out with him in 2018, while TV personality Richie Anderson, 36, unfollowed him on Instagram.
A source close to the professional dancer said: “Gio finds some of these allegations deeply unfair and offensive. He believes he has done nothing wrong and simply wants to get the best out of his partners.”
The BBC declined to comment.
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Amanda enlists top barrister Persephone Bridgman Baker to help prepare legal letter to BBC Credit: Carter-Ruck
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Giovanni is currently on tour with his play Merits: PA
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