Strictly's Ranvir Singh 'pleased' Amanda Abbington got apology from BBC

Watch: GMB's Ranvir Singh breaks silence after Giovanni Pernice verdict

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Ranvir Singh has made her feelings on the Strictly Come Dancing investigation clear, saying she is "pleased" that Amanda Abbington received an apology from the BBC.

Good Morning Britain presenter Singh was also partnered with Giovanni Pernice when she took part in Strictly 2020 and although she hasn't offered details of what happened during their training sessions, she had referred in the past to some clashes.

Singh gave her verdict on the findings of the BBC report which concluded this week, as has Abbington herself and another of Pernice's former dance partners, Laura Whitmore.

What, how and why?

While Ranvir Singh has kept her Strictly experiences of dancing with Giovanni Pernice mainly to herself, the ITV presenter made her feelings on the show's controversy clear when she spoke out about the BBC's investigation findings.

Earlier this week, the BBC concluded its investigation into complaints by Amanda Abbington about Pernice's conduct towards her during training for last year's show, which she quit early. Although the report upheld some complaints about verbal bullying and harassment, and offered Abbington an apology, it did not uphold the more serious allegations of physical aggression. Pernice, who has now left the Strictly cast, had always denied the claims against him.

Singh gave her view on the controversy in Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, saying she was "pleased" for Abbington and glad that the show had introduced extra welfare measures, including chaperones in training rooms.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing investigation

• Can scandal-hit Strictly finally move on now? (Yahoo, 5 min read)

• Giovanni Pernice complaints 'included moments he swore or threw his hands in the air' during Strictly rehearsals (OK!, 3 min read)

• Dancer Giovanni Pernice ‘happy’ after Strictly probe cleared him of abuse claims (PA Media, 4 min read)

Talking about the BBC's statement which came on Monday, Singh said: "I was pleased yesterday to see that the BBC investigation had concluded – it had been going on for some time – and that it ended with an apology to Amanda. I was pleased to see that.

"I think that it can only be a good thing that these extra welfare measures have now been put in place on the back of this investigation because ultimately, Strictly is a show that everyone should be having a good time on.

"It’s entertaining, it’s joyful and everybody should be having a good time whether they work on the show, and the audience at home should feel comfortable that it’s what everyone is experiencing."

What did the BBC's Strictly investigation find?

Both Abbington and Pernice have said that they were pleased with some of the BBC investigation findings, after months of looking over training room footage and speaking to other people involved in the show.

A statement from the BBC after the investigation ended said: "The BBC has now concluded its review into the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice. We take any allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously and this review has taken time due to its complex nature and our desire to ensure a rigorous and robust process was undertaken.

"Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we rightly expect very high standards. While competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience. It is a great shame if this hasn’t been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show.

"We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."

Abbington reacted to the report by telling The Sun: "I want to take the time to consider the report in detail with my advisers before deciding what happens next." Hours earlier, Abbington said she recognised "lessons have been learned" and the apology meant a "great deal" to her in a statement following the verdict.

Pernice, who is no longer a part of the Strictly cast but is now competing in the Italian version of the show, said he was "relieved overwhelming majority of allegations put to the BBC have not been upheld" and he was "pleased" the review found no evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour.

What has Laura Whitmore said about the Strictly investigation?

Another of Pernice's former Strictly partners Laura Whitmore has also spoken out about her experiences of working with him in 2016.

She wrote a blog for Huffington Post in 2018 where she said: "I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end I felt broken. I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end."

Reacting to the BBC investigation findings, Whitmore wrote on Instagram: "I hope this helps people realise they should not be subjected to abusive behaviour in the workplace. Things can be twisted online and there's so much more to this but in black and white there were complaints upheld and an apology made. And the perpetrator no longer works for the channel."

Whitmore had given evidence of her alleged experience to support Abbington's claims and in July she wrote: "I thought my experience was specific to me but I've since learned I was wrong. The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop. My evidence is to support other people's experience. It's a shame it takes this for someone to be heard.

"I am not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won't happen to anyone else again."

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV1 at 6am on weekdays.