Amanda Abbington 'deeply disappointed' with Strictly bosses - as bomb threat probed by police following bullying allegations

8 September 2024, 14:08

Amanda Abbington 'deeply disappointed' with Strictly bosses - as bomb threat probed by police following allegations
Amanda Abbington 'deeply disappointed' with Strictly bosses - as bomb threat probed by police following allegations. Picture: alamy

By Danielle de Wolfe

Actor Ambanda Abbington has said she is 'deeply disappointed' at the handling of Strictly bullying claims - as police launched a probe into a bomb threat following Strictly allegations.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Police have now launched an investigation after the West End theatre where Amanda Abbington was performing after a credible bomb threat was revealed.

Abbington, 50, was performing in When It Happens To You at London's Park Theatre when the threat was made.

A source close to the star has now said the force is taking the threats "very seriously".

The claims are but the latest chapter in the Strictly Come Dancing saga, after a series of high profile celebrities and dancers came forward accusing strictly pros of bullying behaviour.

Abbington, who starred in the 2023 season of the show, says her experience on the show with Pernice left her with “PTSD”.

She had previously claimed there are around "50 hours of toxic footage", which reportedly "horrified" producers.

Read More: 'The line should never be crossed': BBC boss apologises for Strictly Come Dancing abuse controversy

London, UK. 22 June, 2023. Amanda Abbington attends the Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One UK Premiere Arrivals at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.  Credit: S.A.M./Alamy Live News
London, UK. 22 June, 2023. Amanda Abbington attends the Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One UK Premiere Arrivals at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. Credit: S.A.M./Alamy Live News. Picture: Alamy

According to insiders, Abbinton feels bosses are "protecting Giovanni to save themselves", claiming they are "ignoring" the experiences of contestants.

Pernice has always strongly denied the allegations against him,

A source told The Sun: 'It’s feared the person behind this could be a twisted fan who is targeting Amanda because she made a complaint to the BBC against Giovanni.

A friend of Amanda told The Sun: "She's deeply disappointed with the BBC. She thinks it feels like such a boys' club.

"As well as the probe taking so long, it feels like they are protecting Giovanni to save themselves and ignoring not only her experience but that of other women who've bravely come forward."

Read more: Prince Harry 'isn’t bright enough to survive' royal life, claims Sir Ian McKellen

Read more: Liam Gallagher jokes he 'won't have a bad word said' about Noel after pair diffused feud to reunite for tour

Hitting back at Abbington in recent weeks, Pernice’s lawyers told ITV: “We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.

London, UK. 26th Aug, 2019. Giovanni Pernice at the Strictly Come Dancing Launch at BBC Broadcasting House in London. Credit: SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News
London, UK. 26th Aug, 2019. Giovanni Pernice at the Strictly Come Dancing Launch at BBC Broadcasting House in London. Credit: SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News. Picture: Alamy

“Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.”

It comes as Amanda Abbington is said to have handed a series of "bombshell texts" to the team investigating the fallout from her Strictly Come Dancing stint.

The texts in question are alleged to contain 'bombshell' revelations about the behaviour of her former dance partner, Giovanni Pernice.

Graziano Di Prima had his contract terminated after BBC bosses were shown the footage.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Trump confirms he will meet Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks'

Trump to meet with Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks' - as JD Vance slams Europe in fiery speech

Both Meghan and Kate shared Valentine's pictures

Harry and Meghan share sweet Valentine's photo after William and Kate also post romantic picture

Jaden Sheriff.

Man found guilty of killing ex-girlfriend's neighbour over 'blue balls', sentenced to life imprisonment

The woman was attacked by a shark

Horror as woman loses both hands after being mauled by shark as husband desperately fights it off

United States Vice-President JD Vance, second right, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich

'Putin is a liar': Zelenskyy's warning to Trump as Ukraine's leader voices concern over 'risky' phone calls with Russia

Addenbrookes hospital, Cambridge

Children's surgeon suspended after nine operations fall 'below standards' in Cambridge

Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis.

'I won't talk about her at the moment': Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis

Ada Bikakci

Girl, 9, killed after being hit by London bus, as driver charged with driving while drunk or on drugs

Exclusive
A small group of secondary school pupils working on practical experiments in a chemistry lab.

Ministers should consider shortening school holidays and letting teachers work from home, union chief says

JD Vance

Free speech is 'in retreat' across Europe, claims JD Vance - as US brands it a 'bigger threat than Russia'

oxford street with shoppers

Two arrested in Oxford St 'celebrity romance scam' after victims coerced into sending £200k to 'well-known boyfriends'

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

Most expensive pint revealed.

Most expensive pint in UK pubs revealed

One of the UK's 'most wanted' men sentenced to 12 years in prison after drug dealer evaded police for four years

One of the UK's 'most wanted' fugitives jailed for 12 years after drug dealer hunted down by police in Portugal

Anne Hodgson, 87, and Olwyn Smith, 82, with Dreamboy Max Hunter

Care home residents 'delighted' at male stripper visit

Police at the scene on the Broadway in Stratford

Three men stabbed in east London after 'large brawl' breaks out - with one arrested