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Amanda Abbington shed light on her Come and dance in a pinch experience, calling the spectacle “harsh” and “horrible.”
THE Sherlock star, who leaving the show a few weeks after the start of the 2023 serieshas found herself at the centre of a firestorm after accusing the BBC dance competition of backstage misconduct.
Abbington asked for what was described by one source as “tense” footage of his rehearsals with Pernice, which led to an investigation that has since seen The dismissal of professional dancer Graziano Di Prima weeks after the announcement of his return in the next series.
While Abbington has spoke briefly about his experience on the show and after that, the actor addressed the furore in detail for the first time in a new interview.
“I had the worst experience,” she said. The Sunday Times“The show was hard and horrible, but I didn’t expect what happened next. It was really brutal and it never stopped.”
She continued: “It was horrible, relentless. I received death threats and rape threats just for standing up for something I thought was wrong.”
The actress explained why she felt the need to speak out, telling the outlet: “When I’m in a rehearsal room, I make sure it’s a place where everyone feels safe and feels like they’re having a good time. And that courtesy was not extended to me.”
Abbington also cleared up the misconception that she left the show because of Pernice; the outlet notes that the star, who played Mary Morton in Sherlockdid indeed have a “medical scare,” as noted in her discharge statement, but said “she was grateful to have had a reason to escape.”
In March it was claimed that Hello Britain Host Ranvir Singh and old The Island of Love presenter Laura Whitmorewho previously said she was “uncomfortable” with Pernicehad a “tearful summit” with Abbington about their respective “difficult experiences” working with the dancer, “who is well known for being intense during training.”
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Strictlywho apparently would have I just registered a candidate who might annoy many fans of the show.announced its 2024 professional dancers earlier this month, and the list revealed that Pernice had left the show.
After repeated requests for comment, the BBC urged people “not to engage in speculation” – but the investigation into Pernice has since led to Di Prima’s dismissal.
On Saturday (July 13), Di Prima revealed that he had been removed from the show for “events” that he said he “deeply” regretted.
It has been claimed that Di Prima’s departure followed unspecified allegations made by people working on the show who had observed Di Prima rehearsing with the TV star. Zara McDermottwith whom he was partnered in last year’s series.
McDermott has not made the allegation, but was recently invited by BBC producers to talk about her experience, a source told The sun The footage, which shows Di Prima’s alleged treatment of McDermott, “brought tears to those who saw it.”