AMANDA Abbington’s concerned parents have admitted they would ‘feel sorry’ for Giovanni Pernice, if it wasn’t their daughter at the centre of the scandal.

The Sherlock actress, 50, claims she was as subjected to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying” in a “toxic environment” while rehearsing for the BBC One show.

3

Amanda Abbington’s parents have opened up about the situationCredit: Channel 4

3

Giovanni Pernice is convinced his name will be cleared
Her former professional partner, Giovanni – who has left the celebrity dance programme, has strongly refuted her allegations.

Speaking about the ongoing situation, Amanda’s dad told the Mail: “I’d feel sorry for him if Amanda wasn’t the one involved in this. Like other dancers on Strictly he was put in a situation where he was expected to train people when he’d not been taught how to train.

“They were let out of dance school at a young age. Giovanni started at Strictly at 21 or 22. How on earth can you train people when you’ve not been trained to do that?”

He wife Patsy added: “We just want it dealt with.”

The pair went on to reveal the toll the situation has taken on them – leaving them racked with worry.

He said: “As soon as I wake up in the mornings and when I go to bed at night I am worrying about it. It’s the after effects I worry about too. Will she be able to carry on with her career?”

Amanda’s mum added that their daughter had apologised to them for putting them through it all too.

The star opened up about her ordeal this week on ITV news, recalling: She said the issues began early on, and despite raising them several times, they would re-occur.

“We’d have a meeting and there would be an apology (from Giovanni), I’d accept the apology, we would come to an understanding, then we’d go into the live show and that would be fine.. in the room with producers,” she said.

“And then on the Monday would be fine and then it would again just by the Thursday, it would be unworkable again.”

In an interview with her former Strictly co-star, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, for Channel 4 News on Wednesday, she claimed there are 50 hours of video footage – from cameras she alleges were installed after she raised concerns during her first week – which Pernice “doesn’t want anyone to see” but have been reviewed by the BBC.

The actress claimed producers were “shocked and horrified” after they viewed her training films, but said she is unable to provide more detail because of the ongoing BBC review of her complaint.

Last night The Sun told Giovanni has “bombshell” recorded audio in which Amanda apologises to him for being a “nightmare”.

3

Amanda quit Strictly after struggling with GiovanniCredit: PA
In a highly charged exchange, she acknowledges she can be hard to work with and essentially thanks Giovanni for “putting up with her”.

The exchange lasts for around six and a half minutes, and is thought to have been recorded as part of rehearsal footage by the BBC.

Pernice, 33, believes this, alongside other messages, will clear his name.