The BBC has issued a statement amid reports that Giovanni Pernice will not be appearing as a professional dancer on this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing. Pernice has been at the centre of claims by actor Amanda Abbington around her time as a dancer on the show.
Abbington quit the show part way through the series last year and said she was “diagnosed with mild PTSD” following her stint on Strictly. The actress, best known for playing Mary Watson in BBC drama Sherlock, withdrew from the celebrity dance competition before week six citing “personal reasons”.
She had pulled out of the live show the previous week “due to medical reasons”.
Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, Abbington said: “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.
“I’m very sorry that people felt the need to send me death threats, threaten my children and bring up my past, healthy relationship with an ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health. I wish those people well.”
Abbington did not give a specific reason when she announced her decision to leave the show in October, saying in a post on Instagram: “I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.”
During her Strictly appearance, she performed alongside professional dance partner Pernice.
The BBC has now issued a statement amid reports Pernice will not be returning for the upcoming series. A leaked internal memo doesn't feature Giovanni's name among this year's professional dancers.
"Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much, and now is the time to make a fresh start," an insider said. "He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he's achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times."
An insider told The Sun: "He remains adamant he's done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn't to everyone's liking - especially in this day and age. He has a lot of other exciting projects in the pipeline right now, and he's just super-excited to get cracking on them. This, now, is his priority."
In a statement shared with the Mirror, a BBC spokesperson said: "The Professional Dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be announced in due course."
