Krishnan Guru-Murthy has for the first time claimed he was told by BBC Strictly staff that they were "dealing" with Amanda Abbington's concerns before she dramatically quit the series last year.
Abbington quit the show after five weeks on "medical grounds" but since the series aired, the Sherlock actress has lodged an official complaint about pro partner Giovanni Pernice's conduct in the rehearsal room.
The actress has made a series of allegations about the 33-year-old dancer, including the "blocking" of training footage amid the BBC's internal investigation as well as an instance of "humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature" from Pernice.
Pernice has vehemently denied Abbington's claims and any suggestion of "threatening or abusive" behaviour while the results of the Beeb's investigation are still under wraps for now.
Abbington said she alerted producers about her struggles just three days into her stint but Pernice continued to dance and train with the actress until she ultimately quit.
The actress joined Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 to tearfully delve into her time on the show and the newsreader has now claimed he too alerted higher-ups about his concerns for Abbington.
BBC Strictly: Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Amanda Abbington discussed her allegations in an interview in July
CHANNEL 4
"We had a - I set up a group chat on WhatsApp I think on our first day when we all met and it was very lively and we shared all our experiences throughout Strictly and afterwards," he told BBC Radio 4.
"And it was full of, you know, 'This is difficult and a nightmare' and all the rest of it. And we would share our trials and tribulations and Amanda did as well.
"So, yes there were messages that she posted that made it very clear that she was struggling and having a very hard time."
He continued: "We were all having a hard time, you know, because it's tough, but it was different in terms of what she was saying."
Guru-Murthy then admitted that he voiced his concerns for Abbington to bosses, telling Radio 4's Katie Razzall: "And yes, I did speak to people at the time about the fact that I was worried about Amanda and that they should speak to her.
"And they reassured me that they were on it, they were dealing with it and were in close contact with her."
After being given that reassurance from producers, Guru-Murthy shifted focus onto his own training.
He explained: "And after that, you just kind of have to get on with it, with your own experience because for four days of the week, you're buried in the Strictly experience with your dance partner and just concentrating on that above anything else.
"So I raised it, I talked to them about it, they said, 'Yes we're on it, don't worry'."
Despite concerns being raised during her time on the show, Abbington felt she had no choice but to quit and has since demanded an "apology" from the BBC for how she was treated.
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WATCH HERE: Krishnan Guru-Murthy left in tears after BBC Strictly exit
Speaking to Christine Lampard on ITV's Lorraine last week, she said: "I'd like an apology [from the BBC].
"I'd like this not to happen to people working in that corporation again."
Pernice's team has responded to the allegations made by Abbington in her chat with Channel 4's Guru-Murthy last month, insisting the dancer "refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this".
They added: "We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them."