Strictly Come Dancing producers will face investigation following the bullying claims from 2023 star Amanda Abbington after she was paired with professional Giovanni Pernice.

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly on edge over the possibility of facing backlash amidst an ongoing bullying investigation.

The inquiry initially centred on Amanda Abbington’s allegations against Giovanni Pernice, but has now expanded to scrutinise the response of the show’s staff and whether any red flags were ignored

A source revealed: “The probe will look at whether producers heeded the warnings that someone may have been struggling and what was done about it.

“It’s difficult to see how the BBC can emerge from this without any blame whatsoever but time will tell. There are always learnings from things like this.”

Amanda was called in for a second interview by investigators last week, who also requested further messages.

Her spokeswoman stated: “Amanda shared additional messages at the request of the BBC. She has fully cooperated with the review and will continue to do so.”

While it was initially believed the messages pertained to her exchanges with Giovanni, sources close to the dancer maintain all communication between them was appropriate, with no incriminating evidence found.

Giovanni has denied all accusations of bullying levelled against him.

The Mirror reports that the messages in question involve “third parties” and would not be known to Giovanni.

This development comes after Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s revelation last week that he had voiced concerns regarding Amanda’s experience on Strictly to the BBC.

Amanda received an invitation to speak publicly following a series of interviews, including one with Krishnan, who highlighted Amanda’s struggles disclosed in a group WhatsApp chat.

Guru-Murthy conveyed his own steps in raising the alarm to show producers about her well-being.

Highlighting his part, the broadcaster said: “I set up a chat on WhatsApp I think on our first day when we all met and it was very lively and we all shared our experiences of Strictly and afterwards. And it was full of ‘This is difficult’, ‘This is a nightmare’ and all the rest of it.

“We would share our trials and tribulations and Amanda did as well.”

He explained further: “So, yes there were messages that she posted that made it very clear that she was struggling and having a very hard time,” while admitting that the strain was collective amongst the contestants.

“We were all having a hard time, you know, because it’s tough, but it was different in terms of what she was saying.”

Guru-Murthy also mentioned his concerns and actions at the time, saying: “I did speak to people at the time about the fact that I was worried about Amanda and that they should speak to her. And they reassured me that they were in close contact with her.”
Following the investigation into the bullying claims on Strictly Come Dancing, there is growing concern among producers about potential backlash.

The initial focus on Amanda Abbington’s allegations against Giovanni Pernice has now expanded to include an examination of the show’s staff response and whether any warning signs were overlooked.

A source close to the investigation stated, “It is crucial to determine if the producers took the necessary steps upon receiving warnings of potential struggles and how they addressed the situation.

The BBC may face some criticism, but it remains to be seen how they handle the aftermath. There are always lessons to be learned from such incidents.”

Amanda recently participated in a second interview with investigators and provided additional messages as requested by the BBC. Her spokesperson confirmed her full cooperation with the review process.

While the messages were believed to be related to her interactions with Giovanni, sources close to the dancer have maintained the appropriateness of their communication, with no evidence of wrongdoing found.

Giovanni has consistently denied the bullying allegations against him, with reports suggesting that the messages under scrutiny involve third parties unknown to him.

This recent development follows Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s public disclosure of concerns he raised with the BBC regarding Amanda’s experience on the show.

In a recent interview, Guru-Murthy shared insights into a group chat where Amanda expressed her struggles during the competition.

He recalled, “Amanda shared her difficulties in the group chat, indicating that she was finding the experience challenging. While all contestants faced challenges, her situation seemed particularly tough.”

Guru-Murthy also mentioned his efforts to alert show producers about Amanda’s well-being, stating, “I raised my concerns with the relevant individuals at the time, emphasizing the need to check on Amanda. They assured me that they were keeping a close eye on her.”

As the investigation continues to unfold, viewers are eager to see how the show’s producers and the BBC address the allegations and ensure the well-being of all participants. Stay tuned for more updates as the situation progresses.