BBC apologises to Amanda Abbington over some of her Strictly Come Dancing complaints

Amanda Abbington was paired with Giovanni Pernice on last year's series of Strictly

The BBC has apologised to Amanda Abbington over complaints she made about her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023.

After an investigation, the BBC upheld - meaning they agreed with - some of the complaints she made against her professional dancing parter, Giovanni Pernice, but they cleared him of other allegations.

In a statement, the BBC said that it takes allegations of bullying and harassment "very seriously", adding the review into Abbington's complaints had taken time "due to its complex nature" and in order to ensure "a rigorous and robust process".

"We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made," it said.

"We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."

Amanda Abbington withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing in October 2023

BBC News has been told that complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, but claims of physical aggression were not.

Amanda Abbington called the BBC's apology a "vindication" of her complaint and said she hoped others would now feel "more confident" that they would be believed.

A source close to Pernice said he was "pleased that this has been thrown out", adding that the past nine months had been "torrid" for him.

In its statement, the BBC said that the Strictly production team did take steps to address the issues at the time but acknowledged that "ultimately, these were not enough".

"This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important," it said.

Abbington had accused Pernice of being "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" during their rehearsals, which he had always strongly denied.

The dancing show has just returned for it's new series

Amanda Abbington was a celebrity contestant in the 2023 series of the show.

She has said she first raised concerns about Pernice's behaviour with Strictly producers on her third day, and had "many" more discussions with programme bosses.

She eventually dropped out in week six, expressing her "deepest regret" at having to leave the show for "medical" and "personal reasons". She later lodged a formal complaint about Pernice.

Responding to the BBC's statement, Abbington said that coming forward "was not an easy thing to do".

"This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were “not enough”.

"What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did."

A source close to Pernice said: "From the outset, Giovanni has rejected any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour."

The BBC announced new measures in July, including introducing chaperones in all rehearsal rooms, as well as including two new welfare producers on the show.

Earlier this year, the BBC confirmed that Pernice would not return to the Strictly professional line-up for the new series.