Amanda Abbington has revealed that she felt relieved over her cancer scare as it allowed her to step away from participating in Strictly Come Dancing. The 50-year-old Sherlock star withdrew from the BBC One show last year due to medical reasons. Since then, she has come forward with allegations of verbal bullying and harassment against her professional dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, during her time on the programme. Pernice has denied any wrongdoing.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Abbington shared how she discovered two lumps in her breast during her final week on Strictly before deciding to leave the show. Despite receiving an all-clear from a mammogram a few months earlier, she found it challenging to focus during rehearsals. Abbington recalled informing Pernice about the lumps and his response, which ultimately provided her with a reason to exit the competition.
Abbington expressed that the cancer scare acted as a catalyst for her departure, stating, “It was the catalyst I’d been sort of waiting for, which is terrible.” The benign nature of the lumps she found brought her a sense of relief. The Independent has reached out to a representative for Pernice for comment on the matter.
The investigation conducted by the BBC into Pernice’s behaviour was recently concluded. While some of Abbington’s complaints were upheld, the more serious allegations against Pernice were dismissed. The BBC issued an apology to Abbington for the situation. The actor mentioned feeling validated by the report’s findings and appreciated the network’s apology.
Delving into potential next steps, Abbington hinted at possible legal actions during an appearance on Newsnight with Victoria Derbyshire. She voiced challenges faced after speaking out, disclosing, “I have had to deal with a myriad of horrible things that have continued to happen just for complaining.” Pernice’s spokesperson responded to the situation, emphasizing his focus on his work and support for his current dance partner.
As the story unfolds, with Abbington considering her legal options and Pernice maintaining his stance, the aftermath of the incident continues to be a topic of discussion within both the Strictly Come Dancing community and the public eye.