Amanda Abbington receives 'substantial pay-out from BBC' over Giovanni Pernice complaint - three years after PTSD-inducing 'bullying and mistreatment' on Strictly

By CIARA FARMER, ASSISTANT SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR Published: 09:49, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 17:03, 16 August 2026 Amanda Abbington has received a 'substantial' payout from the BBC after she made a legal complaint about her ill-fated stint on Strictly Come Dancing. The actress, 53, made a shock exit from the show just weeks into the competition in 2023 and later accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of subjecting her to 'vile abuse' during rehearsals, prompting an enquiry from the broadcaster. She has now reportedly been given a five-figure out-of-court settlement and a contribution to her legal fees from BBC Studios.  The settlement has reportedly been made in a bid to prevent a lengthy court battle and allowing Amanda – who was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – to put her ordeal behind her. A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: 'Amanda's friends and family are all relieved for her that this ordeal is finally over. It's been a long, hard journey, but now she can close this chapter and move on with her life. Amanda Abbington has received a 'substantial' payout from the BBC after she made a legal complaint about her ill-fated stint on Strictly Come Dancing 'The fact the BBC have compensated Amanda as well as previously publicly apologising really proves that they are taking responsibility for the bullying she suffered on set. 'She hopes that this case will give others strength and encourage people to speak up.' The Daily Mail has contacted representatives Amanda for comment. BBC representatives declined to comment when approached.  Following an investigation by the BBC, Giovanni was cleared of the most serious accusations made against him and the broadcaster issued a formal apology to Amanda. The report found that some of the language used by Giovanni towards Amanda could be 'belittling' and agreed with the Mr Selfridge actress that his feedback was, at times, 'overly negative' and that he had used profanity during rehearsals. The report noted after reviewing several hours of rehearsal footage as part of an official investigation that there were two moments of 'inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace', which were found to simply have been 'made and received as jokes' between the pair. The actress, 53, made a shock exit from the show and later accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of subjecting her to 'vile abuse', prompting an enquiry from the broadcaster The Sherlock actress previously admitted she was 'relieved' when a cancer scare led to her quitting the competition. She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: 'By my final week, on the Thursday morning, I was in the shower and I found two lumps. I'd got the all-clear after a mammogram a couple of months before. 'I went in for rehearsals to do the cha-cha-cha and just couldn't concentrate. Giovanni said, 'There's no point teaching you this because it's not going in. You can't get it. We'll be lucky if we get through because you're useless'. 'He refused to even look at me so I went to the toilet, came back and said, 'I'm going to go to the hospital now because I found two lumps in my breast this morning'. 'Then he was great. He said, 'Well, let me know how it goes. It was the catalyst I'd been sort of waiting for, which is terrible. But that's what I was thinking, that it was a healthier option than being in that room. 'I've championed breast cancer charities but there was a part of me that was like, 'OK, I have to deal with this now instead. Phew.''