‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Whistleblower Amanda Abbington Says She Still Struggles to Talk About Her Experience on the Hit BBC Show: ‘I Do Cry, I Do Get Emotional, I Do Shake’
variety.comK.J. Yossman “Sherlock” actor Amanda Abbington says she is suffering from PTSD and still struggles to talk about her experience after taking part in BBC primetime dance competition “Strictly Come Dancing.” Recounting her experience with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on last year’s series, whom she accuses of bullying and abuse, Abbington told Channel 4 News: “When I talk about certain aspects of what happened in the room, I do cry, I do get emotional, I do shake.
Because it was awful.” Abbington appeared on the 21st season of the show (which is known as “Dancing With the Stars” in the U.S.), before withdrawing after five episodes.
At the time she cited unspecified medical reasons. The actor has since admitted that while a medical incident was the final straw, her experience with Pernice was “abusive” and “cruel,” leading to her pulling out. “I went into thinking this is going to be hard work,” she said in an interview with Channel 4 anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who happened to be a fellow contestant on last year’s show. “I mean, I’m looking forward to the challenge.
I want to learn new dances. It’s going to be fun. It’s a Saturday night television show on BBC One, so there will be an element of hard work.
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