Giovanni Pernice found himself at the centre of a tense live television interview after appearing on This Morning to discuss his new memoir and the controversy surrounding his former Strictly Come Dancing partner Amanda Abbington.
The Italian professional dancer, 35, joined presenters Craig Doyle and Christine Lampard on the ITV daytime programme while promoting his book, Gio: Taking The Lead. However, the discussion quickly shifted towards the BBC investigation into complaints made following his 2023 Strictly partnership with Abbington.
Pernice repeatedly stressed that his memoir was intended to tell the broader story of his life rather than reopen the dispute, but Doyle continued to question him about the allegations that had been upheld.
Craig Doyle Presses Giovanni Over Upheld Complaints
Abbington, best known for appearing in Sherlock, left Strictly during the 2023 series and later raised complaints concerning her experience while training with Pernice.
A subsequent BBC investigation considered a number of allegations relating to his behaviour. Six complaints were upheld, while the most serious allegations, including claims involving physical aggression, were not upheld.
During the This Morning interview, Doyle acknowledged that several accusations had not been substantiated but questioned Pernice about those that were.
The presenter asked whether, after reflecting on the investigation, the dancer could recognise anything he might have handled differently.
Pernice responded by referring to one complaint involving language used during rehearsals. He argued that communication between dance partners depended heavily on the atmosphere established in the training room and suggested that he had responded to the tone used with him.
As Doyle continued to press the issue, Pernice made clear that he did not believe the interview should become an exercise in repeatedly defending himself.
He said that his life had since moved forward and pointed to his subsequent professional achievements in Italy.
Giovanni Says His Memoir Is About His Entire Life
Another uncomfortable moment came when Doyle suggested that including the controversy in the memoir inevitably brought renewed attention to the Strictly dispute.
Pernice pushed back against the suggestion that he had written the book primarily to revisit the scandal.
He explained that the memoir was designed to thank those who had supported him throughout his life and career, while also allowing him to present his own account once the BBC investigation had concluded.
According to Pernice, writing about the experience in one place was preferable to repeatedly discussing it in separate interviews.
Doyle, however, pointed out that the section dealing with the controversy was inevitably one of the most heavily discussed parts of the book.
Pernice appeared frustrated by the exchange and insisted that appearing on television to promote controversy had not been the purpose of writing his autobiography.
Pernice Discusses His Strictly Training Style
The former Strictly professional also spoke about the different approaches required when working with celebrity contestants.
He explained that throughout his years on the BBC dance competition, some partners had wanted to train for longer periods and push themselves harder, while others preferred a less intensive schedule.
Pernice said a professional dancer’s responsibility was to understand the person in front of them and encourage them as much as possible according to their individual circumstances.
When Lampard later asked whether the investigation had changed the way he now approaches dance training, Pernice indicated that his fundamental philosophy remained largely the same.
He said success required commitment, resilience and a determination to achieve results.
Pernice pointed to his career after Strictly as evidence that his approach could still produce success. Following his departure from the UK programme, he competed on the Italian version of the show and won Ballando con le Stelle with actress and television presenter Bianca Guaccero.
Mental Health Struggles Also Raised During Interview
The conversation also addressed the emotional impact the controversy had on Pernice.
In his memoir, the dancer discusses experiencing serious mental health difficulties during the period surrounding his departure from Strictly and the BBC investigation.
Doyle acknowledged that the experience had been difficult for Pernice, while also emphasising that Abbington had gone through a difficult period of her own.
The presenter suggested that she would not have pursued the complaints process unless she believed there were genuine issues that needed to be addressed.
Pernice agreed that the situation had been difficult for both parties but continued to focus on the findings of the formal investigation.
He maintained that he was discussing what he considered to be the established facts rather than attempting to dismiss Abbington’s experience.
Christine Lampard Reads Amanda Abbington’s Response
During the interview, Lampard told Pernice that Abbington’s side of the story also needed to be represented.
She then read a statement issued on behalf of the actress.
Abbington’s representatives disputed Pernice’s interpretation of events and accused him of attempting to reshape the way the investigation’s conclusions were being presented.
Her side also challenged the suggestion that Pernice had previously been unable to present his own version of events.
The intervention created another tense moment during the live interview before Lampard returned to questioning Pernice about whether his professional methods had changed.
Giovanni Says He Holds No Ill Will Towards Amanda
Despite the difficult history between the former dance partners, Pernice said he did not harbour negative feelings towards Abbington.
He suggested that problems can be difficult to address if one person believes a working relationship is progressing normally while the other is experiencing it differently.
The dancer also made clear that he considers the controversy to be part of his past and said he is now focused on his current life and career.
He referenced his success in Italy and said he was happy in his personal life, including his relationship with Bianca Guaccero.
A Controversy That Reshaped His Strictly Career
Pernice had been one of Strictly Come Dancing’s most recognisable professional dancers before leaving the programme.
His partnership with Abbington during the 2023 series ultimately became one of the show’s most widely discussed controversies after she withdrew from the competition and later raised formal concerns about their training experience.
The BBC investigation that followed examined multiple complaints and upheld six of them, while rejecting several others, including some of the most serious allegations.
The broadcaster subsequently apologised to Abbington over the upheld complaints.
Pernice has consistently denied the most serious accusations made against him and has maintained that he waited for the BBC process to conclude before giving a fuller account of his experience.
His appearance on This Morning demonstrated that, despite his attempts to move forward, questions surrounding the investigation remain closely linked to his public career.
What began as an interview intended to promote his memoir ultimately became a lengthy and occasionally confrontational discussion about responsibility, professional conduct and the lasting impact of one of Strictly Come Dancing’s biggest recent controversies.
