The BBC is due to publish the findings of its investigation into the conduct of the professional dancer Giovanni Pernice as more allegations emerge about his treatment of celebrity partners on Strictly Come Dancing.
The TV presenter Laura Whitmore released a statement on Saturday alleging she was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” during her time on the show in 2016, and said she had raised concerns eight years ago.
She was partnered with Pernice and battled an ankle injury during the early weeks of the competition that forced her to pull out of a live show.
In a statement posted on social media, in which she does not name Pernice, Whitmore said: “I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of, about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual. I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong. The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.”
Whitmore said she initially raised concerns back in 2016. Shortly after appearing in the series, she had said: “I was extremely uncomfortable with him. In the end, I felt broken. I cried every day.”
In her statement on Saturday, she said it was “a shame it takes this for someone to be heard”. “I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again,” Whitmore said.
She added that she had provided evidence of her experience to support the BBC’s investigation. “Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better. I’ve tried to speak up in the correct way,” Whitmore said.
On Monday the BBC is expected to publish the findings of its review into allegations made by the Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington, who accused Pernice of behaving in an “abusive, cruel and mean” manner when she was partnered with him on the show last year.
The Allegations and the BBC’s Response
Abbington withdrew from the competition partway through and later lodged a formal complaint against Pernice. In an interview with Channel 4 News, Abbington said producers told her they were “shocked and horrified” by video of her rehearsals with Pernice, adding that 50 hours’ worth of footage had been “blocked” by the BBC.
She also said she had been subjected to an instance of “humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature” while on the show and that she had received daily rape and death threats online since going public with her complaint.
Pernice has left the show, along with his fellow professional dancer Graziano Di Prima, who admitted kicking his partner, the media personality Zara McDermott, in rehearsals last year.
Pernice has reportedly provided a dossier of evidence to the BBC investigation that he believes will exonerate him. A spokesperson for Pernice has previously said: “Giovanni refutes these allegations and denies any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour. He has provided substantive evidence to the investigation, and he remains fully confident of clearing his name.”
The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, confirmed last week that the next series of the dancing show would go ahead this autumn, and that the broadcaster would ensure “fun and entertainment prevails” over competitiveness.
He said the corporation would “never tolerate unacceptable behaviour” and it had already announced plans to introduce chaperones for rehearsals.
The Whitmore Saga
Another weekend, another allegation about bad behaviour behind the scenes of the UK’s biggest entertainment TV show, with former contestant Laura Whitmore alleging she was the target of “inappropriate behaviour” when she took part in Strictly Come Dancing.
The TV presenter was partnered with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice in 2016, whom she has not named in her account. Saturday she penned an Instagram post saying:
“I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.”
Whitmore said she voiced her concerns during her time on the show, in which the pair became the seventh to be eliminated.
“I initially raised concerns back in 2016,” she wrote. “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong.
“The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.
“I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.”
“I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up,” she said.
The BBC reported that its own press office announced it would not comment on Whitmore’s claims.
Pernice denies all the allegations made against him, and the BBC investigation is expected to be concluded in the coming week. He has not been included in the lineup for the show this year, Strictly Come Dancing’s 20th anniversary.
'Strictly Come Dancing' - A Legacy of Allegations
The show remains one of the BBC’s most successful ever productions, running for two decades and being sold to more than 60 territories across the world, with many international broadcasters renaming it Dancing With the Stars.
Whitmore’s accusations come as a stain on the reputation of the show, which has been tarnished by numerous other allegations over the years. In 2018, the professional dancer Gorka Marquez was accused of bullying his partner, the singer Alexandra Burke. Marquez denied the accusations, and the BBC subsequently cleared him of any wrongdoing.
In 2020, the professional dancer Kevin Clifton was accused of “bullying” his partner, the actress Nicola Adams, but the accusations were dismissed by the BBC. The following year, the professional dancer Giovanni Pernice was accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by his partner, the actress Maisie Smith, but the BBC cleared him of any wrongdoing.
The BBC has stated that it is committed to ensuring the safety of all participants on Strictly Come Dancing and that it has taken steps to address concerns about the culture of the show.
However, the recent allegations against Pernice and the BBC’s subsequent investigation have raised questions about whether the BBC has done enough to address concerns about the culture of the show.
The investigation is expected to conclude in the coming week, and the findings will likely be made public. It remains to be seen what impact the investigation will have on the future of Strictly Come Dancing.
Whitmore, like other women who have spoken out about their experiences on the show, has been praised for her bravery in sharing her story. However, it is clear that the BBC has a lot of work to do to address concerns about the culture of the show and to ensure the safety of all participants.
