Giovanni Pernice ‘asked BBC bosses to film his training and rehearsals’ with Amanda Abbington after he grew ‘concerned’ about her behaviour.
Earlier this month it was reported that the BBC was launching an investigation into the Strictly Come Dancing pro following accusations made about his behaviour by former contestants.
It comes after rumours started swirling the Italian dancer, 33, had left the series and would not be returning later this year.
After reports months ago that his former partners Amanda, Laura Whitmore, and Ranvir Singh met to ‘compare notes’ about their experiences with him on the show, Giovanni recently defended himself on social media, saying he ‘rejects any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour’ and that he ‘looks forward’ to clearing his name.
It’s now been reported that Giovanni asked for his training and rehearsals with Amanda, 52, to be recorded when they were paired up for the dancing series last year.
In their second week of working together, the dancer is said to have approached bosses after her ‘unstable behaviour’ left him ‘worried’.
‘Gio found the situation very unsettling, so he asked that all sessions were recorded,’ a source told the Mail on Sunday.
‘It was totally unprecedented, but Gio started to see things in Amanda’s behaviour and wanted to ensure he was protected. What a relief he did.’
All of the footage was reportedly reviewed daily by Strictly bosses, who deemed no actions to be inappropriate.
Last November Amanda, who quit the series early, asked the BBC for the footage after claiming she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following her stint on the long-running series.
This all comes as a BBC investigation into Giovanni’s conduct in the workplace was presented with a claim that he had sent an ‘offensive’ video clip to a former celebrity partner.
He did not make, commission or appear in the video, however The Sun was told the recipient ‘found the content completely inappropriate, grossly offensive’.
The BBC was told the celebrity was ‘shocked and upset to receive it on a WhatsApp message, hours before the couple were meant to be dancing together on live television’.
‘They were told they felt intimidated by it. The women are being incredibly brave in speaking out, especially as a lot of them are going up against vicious messages from his loyal fans,’ the source added.
Giovanni is being represented by London-based legal company Schillings, while three of his ex-dance partners are reported to have also instructed lawyers.
Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and representatives for Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington for comment.
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Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC later this year.
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