Timeline of Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice scandal as ‘male celeb makes complaint’
Strictly Come Dancing has been hit with its biggest scandal in its 21-year history.
Since launching in 2000, the BBC dancing competition has defied the critics and fought off its ratings rivals to become one of Britain’s most-watched – and enduring – successes.
The only controversy the show faced was usually reserved to what has become known as “the Strictly curse”, in which celebrity contestants grow so close to the professional dancer they’re paired with that their real-life relationships are affected.
But that all changed in October 2023 when Sherlock star Amanda Abbington quit the series, just five weeks in.
It wasn’t until January that reports of behind-the-scenes issues manifested, with Abbington requesting footage of her “tense’ training sessions with Giovanni Pernice, one of Strictly’s best-loved pros. Since then, there has been a flurry of allegations about Pernice’s methods, something the Italian dancer has vehemently defended himself from.
The latest report claims that a male celebrity, who appeared on the show has now come forward with their own claim about Pernice, and is aiding an investigation exploring his behaviour.
Below is a timeline of the furore surrounding Pernice.
: contestant Amanda Abbington following rumours of a feud between her and professional partner Giovanni Pernice.
