Giovanni Pernice’s former Strictly Come Dancing partner Debbie McGee has seemingly defended him after Amanda Abbington allegedly sought legal advice about her experience.
Back in 2017, Giovanni, 33, and Debbie, 65, made it all the way to the final of the BBC primetime show but following recent reports, the performer and BBC Radio Berkshire host decided to make it clear that she had a joyful experience with Giovanni.
Sharing a photo of them together simultaneously on both Instagram and Twitter, she wrote: ‘Happy memories. Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly 🥰.’
Giovanni clearly appreciated the social media post and sent a message back to Debbie on Instagram.
‘Love you … thank you ❤️❤️❤️,’ he typed.
Things worked out well for Giovanni in 2017, and he even won Strictly with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.
However, in the most recent series, Giovanni’s partner Amanda, 51, quit after four performances due to ‘personal reasons’.
According to new claims, actress Amanda has now requested footage that was filmed at the rehearsals that she had with Giovanni when they were still training together and has reportedly sought out legal advice.
A source told The Sun: ‘The BBC have received a request for the footage they hold of Amanda and Giovanni. It is known as a data subject access request.
‘There is a feeling that the recordings will lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly. Things in rehearsals can become very tense.’
A source alleged that Amanda ‘has been left broken and saddened by the whole experience’ of being on Strictly, and it’s ‘taken her months to get over what she went through’.
They claimed that the actress was ‘really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni’, and ‘spent a lot of time crying’.
Frankie Bridge also opened up about her 2014 Strictly stint with partner Kevin Clifton in a recent episode of Loose Women.
The 34-year-old said: ‘There were times when he was angry, not at me, but there were times when he was angry at things like if something didn’t go right or whatever in a rehearsal.
‘But actually, I found it quite entertaining almost as he’s not like that normally. It was almost a bit of a shock when he was like that. That goes to show the stress they are under, and how much they want it to go well.’
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Metro.co.uk previously contacted the BBC, Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice for comment. The BBC declined to comment.
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