Giovanni Pernice depression claims surface as Abbington takes BBC settlement

Giovanni Pernice has spoken publicly about the Giovanni Pernice depression claims at the centre of his new book, alleging that his partnership with Amanda Abbington on season 21 of Strictly Come Dancing left him in a mental state so dark that he contemplated ending his life.

The book, Gio: Taking the Lead, has been serialised in MailOnline and covers Pernice’s account of the pair’s time together on the BBC programme, Abbington’s departure from the competition, and the investigation that followed. Abbington has not responded publicly to the claims made in it.

What Pernice says about their rehearsals

In the book, Pernice writes that he was ‘instantly impressed’ with Abbington’s potential and that the two shared a dark sense of humour early on. He says, however, that a pattern of behaviour soon emerged that he found difficult to read. According to Pernice, Abbington would say positive things to him directly and on social media, while telling others something different behind the scenes.

He recounts being told by another celebrity on the Strictly WhatsApp group: ‘Amanda said in a group chat that she wants to quit because you are too much.’ Pernice writes that he was ‘stunned’, having received ‘nice, encouraging messages’ from Abbington directly.

‘Her behaviour was often confusing,’ he writes. ‘We would happily be in the middle of a routine and then, with no prompting, she would pull away and say how awful she was. She told me she had a habit of “self-sabotaging”. I tried to comfort and encourage her, but I am not a therapist and I found it difficult to handle.’

He adds that despite these moments, ‘when she danced that Saturday night, she was really good.’ Pernice also states that their numerous WhatsApp exchanges ‘felt consistently positive’, including dialogue about wanting to be pushed harder in training.

Pernice claims that after Abbington was taken to hospital due to concerns about lumps, she asked to change partners. When she was told that was not possible, she departed the competition. He writes that he believed matters had concluded there, but press stories began to appear after the season 21 finale.

The investigation and Giovanni Pernice depression claims

In 2024, an official investigation into bullying complaints made against Pernice meant he did not return for the following series. At the time, he released a statement via Instagram saying he ‘reject[s] any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour.’

In Gio: Taking the Lead, Pernice describes the period that followed as one of profound personal crisis, and these Giovanni Pernice depression claims form some of the book’s most sombre passages. ‘Hunched on the sofa of my London flat, I scrolled through my phone as story after story brought bad news, plunging me deeper into depression,’ he writes. ‘Is it worth it? I asked myself. What would happen if I wasn’t here any more? Who would care? Tomorrow, I pledged, I would end it all. My life was over and the emotional pain was becoming unbearable.’

Pernice credits his then-girlfriend Molly Brown with pulling him back from that point. ‘There were certainly times I would have killed myself if Molly hadn’t been there,’ he writes.

Abbington’s settlement with the BBC

Last week, Abbington was reported to have received a five-figure settlement and an apology from the BBC after ‘some but not all’ of her complaints were upheld, as reported by The Guardian. That settlement came despite Abbington having said in October 2024 that she had not ruled out taking legal action against the corporation.

According to RTÉ, the payment was made by BBC Studios, meaning the funds did not come from the licence fee. Abbington, who appeared in BBC drama Sherlock, has not commented publicly on the claims Pernice makes in his book.

Digital Spy has reached out to Abbington’s representatives for comment. The Giovanni Pernice depression claims, alongside his account of their partnership, are available in full in Gio: Taking the Lead.

If you are affected by any of the topics raised in this article, support is available via the NHS, Samaritans on 116 123, or Mind on 0300 123 3393.

Georgia Parkes started in women's magazine editorial and moved sideways into freelance lifestyle writing when the industry contracted. She spent seven years across two national titles, covering everything from celebrity interviews to consumer trends, and did a year on the branded content side before deciding she preferred having opinions to suppressing them. She writes about wellness, fitness, food, relationships, and the small absurdities of modern living that somehow require a 1,200-word feature. She is good at spotting a trend before it peaks and calling it out three months after everyone else has moved on. Georgia lives in South London. She has tested more wellness products than she has had hot dinners, and considers both claims equally dubious.

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