Amanda Abbington has 'no interest' in seeing BBC Strictly axed amid complaints scandal: 'Nonsense!'
Amanda Abbington doesn't want to see Strictly cancelled, a pal has told GB News
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Celebs making complaints about Strictly Come Dancing have “no interest” in killing off the show, a source has exclusively told GB News.
Reports this week have claimed the future of the BBC’s flagship show is now in peril as more and more allegations coming to light.
Commentators and columnists have claimed Amanda Abbington is leading a group who are “hellbent on getting the show cancelled”, with one source even claiming the actor "will stop at nothing" to ensure a "dark cloud" lingers over the show.
However, a friend of the actress has hit back at the claims and insisted the decision to speak out was motivated by the fact it was "the right thing to do".
The pal told GB News: "It’s absolute nonsense to suggest Amanda or any of the celebrities want to see Strictly cancelled.
"What those who have come forward to make complaints do want, is to see action taken which makes Strictly a safer environment for those signing up to be a part of.
Amanda Abbington's Strictly journey ended abruptly in 2023
BBC"No one who made a complaint did it lightly. They did it because they felt it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
The claims come days after Abbington said she would not have been able to live with herself if she stayed silent about her Strictly Come Dancing experience.
The Sherlock actor said she thought "long and hard" before making a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of former dance partner Giovanni Pernice due to the "backlash" she would receive.
Pernice, who has rejected "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour", will not return to the show this year, and said in a statement on Instagram in June that he is "cooperating fully" with an ongoing "BBC investigation".
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice performed a handful of routines before the actress quit
BBCSpeaking to the Sun On Sunday, Abbington said: "I found Giovanni's behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn't sit back and let him do that to other people.
"I had to think long and hard about making a complaint because I knew the backlash I would get. But I would not have been able to live with myself for future people going on that show.
"I know what happened in that room, it's on video and I have no problem with anyone seeing that. It's a duty of care that is needed."
In an interview with the Times, she said the backlash since she reported Pernice has been "relentless".
A spokesman for Abbington declined to comment when approached by GB News.
Pernice isn't the only BBC Strictly professional to have lost his place in the cast due to claims by their celebrity partner.
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Graziano Di Prima was axed from the BBC dance competition ahead of its 20th-anniversary special after he was reported to have "kicked" Zara McDermott during rehearsals for the 2023 series.
A spokesman for Di Prima admitted the incident was "a mistake" he "deeply regrets" and that he "apologised at the time".
The video of the incident involving Di Prima and McDermott has not been made public and the circumstances surrounding it are not known.