BBC to receive dossier of evidence supporting complaints about Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice

The BBC will receive a dossier of evidence to support complaints about Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice, it is understood.

Some celebrities, who took part in the BBC competition, have made “serious complaints” about the dance instructions of their professional partner.

Legal representatives of the group are said to possess images of injuries suffered in training, according to reports.

Lawyers have said that the corporation is gathering evidence about the claims of training methods, and will receive counter-claims from Pernice.

‘Reject any suggestion’

The professional dancer, 33, has denied any wrongdoing, writing on social media: “I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour and I look forward to clearing my name.”

Pernice is represented by the law firm Schillings, which will present evidence in defence of the dancer to the BBC.

This is intended to counter evidence that will be presented by the law firm Carter-Ruck on behalf of a group of unnamed women who have made “serious complaints”.

The law firm said that the BBC is currently in the process of “evidence gathering”.

The Sun reports that the evidence being presented will contain images of injuries allegedly sustained during training.

A ‘perfectionist’

Italian dancer Pernice has previously stated that he is a “perfectionist” who wanted to get his partners ready for Strictly’s Saturday night shows, while also “caring” for them.

He made these comments in early 2024 following several public statements of discontent from his former celebrity partners.

Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, who left the 2023 series for “medical reasons”, subsequently claimed that she had been diagnosed with PTSD after taking part in the competition.

Pernice’s partner for the 2016 series, Laura Whitmore, has spoken of her time on Strictly, writing afterwards: “I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end, I felt broken, I cried every day.”

Writing on Instagram last week, Pernice denied any claims of wrongdoing, saying: “Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive.

“No one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me. I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be.

“This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win ­— for me and my dance partners.”