Giovanni ‘wanted training with Amanda to be recorded because he feared she would be trouble’
GIOVANNI PERNICE asked BBC executives to film all of his training and rehearsals with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Amanda Abbington after he grew concerned about her ‘unstable behaviour’.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the under-fire professional dancer approached bosses in week two of the series after Ms Abbington’s behaviour left him ‘worried’.
All footage was reviewed daily by Strictly chiefs, who deemed no actions to be inappropriate.
The revelation comes days after Mr Pernice, 33, launched his fightback against claims made by Ms Abbington, 52, and two other Strictly partners over his treatment of them.
Last night, a source close to Mr Pernice told the MoS: ‘Gio found the situation very unsettling so he asked that all sessions were recorded. It was totally unprecedented, but Gio started to see things in Amanda’s behaviour and wanted to ensure he was protected. What a relief he did.’
Last November Ms Abbington, who quit the series early, asked the BBC for the footage after claiming she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following her stint on Strictly. It is understood she leaked this detail to the Press but no mention was made that it was Mr Pernice who had asked for their training to be recorded. A friend of the dancer added: ‘You couldn’t make it up.’
Ms Abbington is thought to have met with two of Mr Pernice’s former Strictly partners, Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, to discuss his behaviour.
It can also be revealed that Mr Pernice is being represented by Joelle Rich, 41, a partner in London-based law firm Schillings.
She is the same lawyer Johnny Depp had in his 2020 libel battle against The Sun.
A source said: ‘Joelle is one of the best litigators in the country and will staunchly defend Gio.’
Last week, Mr Pernice insisted he would clear his name after he
AND NOW HE’S HIRED JOHNNY DEPP’S LEGAL EAGLE JOELLE RICH
instructed Schillings, which has also represented the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They will go head-to-head with another London law firm, Carter Ruck, which is acting for Ms Abbington and two other women.
Carter Ruck said ‘numerous serious complaints [were] made to the BBC who are now evidence-gathering.’
But Ms Abbington later leaked to The Sun newspaper that Mr Pernice left her with a bruised foot in training. Friends of Pernice hit back, saying: ‘The only substantive allegation is that he stepped on someone’s toes – an occupational hazard whether you’re dancing professionally or at a wedding.’ A celebrity who has appeared on Strictly last night said: ‘Everyone who takes part comes home with bruises.’