BREAKING BBC apologises to Amanda Abbington and upholds 'some' Giovanni Pernice complaints

A review into Amanda Abbington's complaints about her Strictly professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice was launched earlier this year - with the results shared today

The BBC has apologised to former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington, saying it had assessed and "upheld some, but not all" of her complaints about Giovanni Pernice's behaviour during her time on the show.

Sherlock actress Abbington, who pulled out of the BBC One show last year citing "personal reasons", later claimed she was subject to a "toxic environment" and "inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying".

The review into Abbington's complaints about her Strictly professional dance partner Pernice was launched earlier this year. Pernice, who was not part of this year's Strictly professional dancing line-up and has since joined an Italian dance show, previously rejected "any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour".

There were no findings relating to physical aggression, but complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, the report today confirmed.

The BBC said on Monday: "We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."

"At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough. This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important."

The show returned on September 14 for its 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities, and some changes including having chaperones present "at all times" during rehearsals.

In a statement following today's news, Amanda said the apology 'meant a great deal.'

The actress said: "As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do. In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being “mad and unstable”. I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

"Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint. It’s not just a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.

"The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering.

"This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were “not enough”.

"What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did. "