Giovanni Pernice set for BBC Strictly Come Dancing return despite Amanda Abbington's new claims

The BBC have issued an apology to Amanda Abbington, after upholding a series of her bullying claims. Amanda is now expected to sue over her treatment

Giovanni Pernice has told pals he hopes to return to Strictly Come Dancing next year in spite of the findings of this week’s BBC report, sources say.

The long-awaited BBC report cleared the former star of violence, but issued an apology to Amanda Abbington after upholding a series of her bullying claims. Amanda is now expected to sue over her treatment.

But sources close to the pro dancer said he has not given up hope of returning to the Strictly stage next year despite signing up for the Italian version of the BBC show. Giovanni, 34, told friends he has only signed for one series of Ballando Con Le Stelle, and has "unfinished business" on the UK version.

One source said: "Giovanni has not given up on appearing on the Strictly stage. As far as he is concerned, he has been cleared and there is no reason why he couldn’t return. He has told his pals he is hoping to be back next year and is keen to speak to the BBC about it. He still feels very much part of the fold, and has a massive fan base who would no doubt welcome him back. But of course the final decision will be made by BBC bosses." A spokesperson for Giovanni last night declined to comment.

Speaking in a bombshell interview on Newnight on Wednesday night, Amanda said she has "no regrets" about lodging complaints against Giovanni, despite receiving "hundreds" of death and rape threats. "It’s been one of the worst years of my life," she shared on the BBC show. "I’ve been through a lot, women go through a lot, but it has been a very unpleasant, turbulent, relentless time in my life. I’ve had to deal with a myriad of horrible things."

The 50-year-old said that, in the last eight months, the number of threats she has received had "gone into the hundreds". In August, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were investigating after they were called to the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park to an alleged death threat sent to Amanda, who was starring in When It Happens To You.

"I had a credible death threat sent to my place of work, a theatre that I was working at, which was credible and the police had to be called," the Sherlock actress told host Victoria Derbyshire. "I had a bomb threat sent to my place of work, threatening to blow the building up because I was pursuing this.I’ve had death threats sent to me, my family.

"I’ve had rape threats sent to my 15-year-old daughter, saying ‘I’m just laughing at the moment thinking about you having to watch your daughter get raped for what you’ve done to Giovanni Pernice’ They were every day I’d be getting those and I have screenshots that have been handed over to the Met Police."

A spokesman for Giovanni said: "It’s disappointing that Ms Abbington would knowingly mislead the outcome of the report in order to further attempt to damage Giovanni’s reputation. While Ms Abbington may not like the outcome of the six-month investigation, she should not seek to spread false and defamatory claims." Giovanni has denied the allegations against him.

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