Strictly judge appears to defend Giovanni Pernice after Amanda Abbington ‘feud’

Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice’s ‘feud’ rumours have been swirling (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has defended the show’s pro dancers, amid ‘feud’ claims between Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice.

It’s been reported that Sherlock actress Amanda, 51, is seeking legal advice after her experience on the BBC One competition – which she quit after one month.

While she hasn’t said much over her exit, citing ‘personal reasons’ at the time, it’s since emerged that she’d requested video footage of her rehearsals and was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly.

Following her exit, Amanda ‘snubbed’ Giovanni, 33, while his former dance partners and co-stars have rallied around him in support.

Including, it seems, Craig, who has defended the show’s dancers, calling them the ‘backbone of the show’.

He continued to The Sun: ‘The pros not only have to be creative and be able to be good choreographers, they also have to be psychiatrists, doctors, they have to be nurses, they have to be welfare guidance people.

‘It’s not just teaching dance.’

Craig Revel Horwood has spoken out (Picture: BBC)

Amanda quit Strictly after one month, citing ‘personal reasons’ (Picture: PA)

This comes after Shirley Ballas appeared to make a pointed dig at Amanda during an appearance on Lorraine this week.

She spoke about her interactions with Giovanni, as well as how famous faces knew how difficult the programme was when signing up, saying: ‘I’ve known Giovanni for many, many years and he is an absolutely splendid teacher and my experiences with him have only ever is that he is an absolute gentleman.’

‘He serves the show well and he gives 100%.’

After host Lorraine Kelly said that ‘sometimes partnerships just don’t work’ Shirley added: ‘This is a tough show so when people sign up, they kind of know what they are getting into. It’s been on the screen for 20 odd years, so it is quite difficult to do the show.’

This comes after it was reported no investigations have been launched by the BBC into Giovanni’s conduct on Strictly.

A source had earlier alleged that Amanda was ‘really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni’ and ‘spent a lot of time crying’ and further claimed it has ‘taken her months to get over what she went through’.

It has been claimed that Amanda is seeking legal advice (Picture: PA)

However, another source, said to be close to Giovanni, revealed that he has found ‘some of these allegations deeply unfair and offensive.’

The BBC is said to have had a meeting with Giovanni last year about his conduct. However, no action was taken, and it has reportedly decided against launching an investigation, Metro.co.uk understands.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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He’s spoken out.