BBC bosses are taking “urgent” steps to ensure the scandal engulfing Strictly can never happen again – with insiders admitting the future of the show is at stake.
The reputation of the Saturday night programme is in tatters following yesterday’s publication of a long-awaited report into bullying allegations made by Amanda Abbington in relation to Giovanni Pernice.
Corporation executives upheld six of Abbington’s complaints and issued an apology.
But reports today claim the matter is far from over and that the former Sherlock actress is now planning to sue the BBC.
With that black cloud hanging over them, frantic bosses are now looking at how they can try to ensure the situation is never repeated.
A source said: “The last 24 hours have been horrendous for Strictly and, coming in the wake of sliding viewing figures, there is now growing and genuine concern about the future of the show.
“Strictly is the jewel in the crown for the BBC but there’s no doubt it has been tarnished. They have to get the couples right. And that didn’t happen in this case with Amanda and Gio.
“Producers are reflecting on how they put together couples in the future because it’s obvious this pairing was never going to work well together.
“Being on Strictly and doing the training is incredibly intense so making sure the partnerships are properly thought through is absolutely vital.
“There’s a feeling within the BBC that this scandal just can’t be allowed to happen again. If it does, it could be curtains for Strictly.”
The source’s claims come after Pernice’s former Strictly Come Dancing partner Laura Whitmore broke her silence on the outcome of the investigation.
The former Love Island host, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer back in 2016, was one of the stars who spoke to the BBC as part of the investigations after what she described as his “inappropriate” behaviour on the show.
Whitmore claimed she first raised concerns back in 2016 and in August 2024, she accused the BBC of “gaslighting” her over her experience with the Italian dancer.
Taking to her Instagram stories after the probe verdict, Laura wrote: “‘I hope this helps people realise they should not be subjected to abusive behaviour in the workplace.
“Things can be twisted online and there’s so much more to this but in black and white there were complaints upheld and an apology made. And the perpetrator no longer works for the channel.”
When Abbington came out with her allegations against Pernice earlier this year, Whitmore was one of the first people to publicly support the Sherlock actress as she shared her “own experience”.
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At the time, she took to Instagram to recount her time on the show being partnered with Pernice.
Another of Pernice’s former partners, Ranvir Singh, also spoke out in light of the probe’s results, admitting she was “pleased” to see Abbington had received an apology.
She said on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain, Singh said: “I was pleased yesterday to see that the BBC investigation had concluded – it had been going on for some time – and that it ended with an apology to Amanda. I was pleased to see that.
“I think that it can only be a good thing that these extra welfare measures have now been put in place on the back of this investigation because ultimately, Strictly is a show that everyone should be having a good time on.
“It’s entertaining, it’s joyful and everybody should be having a good time whether they work on the show, and the audience at home should feel comfortable that it’s what everyone is experiencing.”
GB News has contacted the BBC for comment in response to the source’s claims.
