Craig Revel Horwood, a longtime judge on *Strictly Come Dancing*, recently addressed the swirling controversies surrounding the show.
In an appearance on *This Morning*, Craig shared his shock and disbelief over the recent allegations made by Amanda Abbington against her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice.
The drama began when Amanda Abbington accused Giovanni Pernice of abusive behavior, labeling him as “cruel and mean.” Giovanni has firmly denied these claims.
The situation escalated further when Graziano Di Prima was dismissed last month following allegations of verbal and physical abuse towards Zara McDermott. Graziano has apologized for kicking Zara but disputes other claims.
On *This Morning*, Craig Revel Horwood, who has been part of the show since 2004, expressed his surprise at the unfolding drama. “I was as shocked as everyone else when the story broke.
We only meet the professionals and celebrities occasionally, and we’re kept separate from their personal interactions,” Craig explained.
“I’m eager for the investigation to conclude so we can learn the truth. It’s challenging to comment on such allegations when there’s so much hearsay involved.”
Craig admitted to being “blown away” by the situation and noted that watching the footage from Amanda’s allegations left him stunned. Amanda had previously claimed that Giovanni tried to block the release of up to 50 hours of footage she described as “toxic.”
Amanda’s Claims and the Investigation
Amanda Abbington, in a heartfelt interview, compared her experience on *Strictly* to “the trenches.
” She alleged that the BBC producers were horrified by the footage, which she claims showed humiliating behavior of a sexual nature.
Following her exit from the show, Amanda demanded access to footage from her rehearsals, which she argued was crucial for understanding the toxic environment she endured.
Giovanni has denied any abusive behavior and criticized the allegations as baseless.
He has called for patience until the review is complete. Despite his denials, Amanda asserts that Giovanni attempted to prevent her legal team from accessing the video evidence, further fueling the controversy.
Changes and Future of the Show
In response to recent complaints, the BBC has decided to include a chaperone in all future *Strictly* rehearsals.
Craig Revel Horwood supports this move, believing it will protect both dancers and celebrities.
He’s looking forward to moving past the current issues and enjoying a new season of the show.
The upcoming season of *Strictly Come Dancing* is already generating buzz with rumors about the cast.
A leaked list suggests that stars like Hannah Waddingham, Shobna Gulati, Janet Street-Porter, and others are set to compete.
Despite the controversy, the BBC has stated that the official list of celebrity contestants will be announced in due course.
Backstage Issues
The show has also been hit by allegations of a toxic work environment from former backstage staff. Claims include intrusive questions about personal lives and a general atmosphere of cruelty.
The BBC has responded by emphasizing their commitment to staff welfare and maintaining a rigorous process to address concerns.
As *Strictly* continues to navigate these challenges, the focus remains on resolving the ongoing issues and preparing for the next series.
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