Giovanni Pernice releases memoir addressing BBC investigation

Former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has released a memoir titled ‘Gio: Taking the Lead’, addressing his departure from the BBC following allegations of bullying and harassment. Pernice described the period as “dark times” and reflected on a BBC investigation into 16 allegations, of which six were upheld and 10 were not. He noted that while the probe was expected to be short, it lasted seven months.

Pernice addressed his professional relationship with actress Amanda Abbington, describing them as a “bad pairing from the start.” During a promotional appearance on ‘This Morning’, Pernice engaged in a tense exchange with host Craig Doyle. Doyle challenged Pernice for being one-sided in his account, suggesting it is difficult to move on when including such controversy in a book. Pernice defended his decision, stating the book is intended to share his factual point of view and thank his supporters, while clarifying that his contract was not renewed rather than being fired.