Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood waded into the allegations Amanda Abbington made against Giovanni Pernice during an appearance on This Morning.
The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda accused him of abusive behaviour.
Saying he was ‘cruel and mean’. He denies the claims.
It was followed by Graziano Di Prima’s sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it’.
Appearing on the ITV show on Friday, Craig, 59, who has been on the hit series since 2004, was grilled about the recent drama by hosts Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson.
Craig said: ‘When the story erupted and came out in the press, I was shocked along with all the other judges and I couldn’t quite believe it because we meet the pros.
And we meet the celebrities on occasion throughout the show. But we’re very separate.
‘I just want the investigation to be over so I can find out myself the truth because I have nothing really to say. It’s really hard to pass judgement or comment on he said this, she said that.
‘Of course I’ve watched the Amanda tape [Channel 4 interview] and all that sort of stuff. I’m just blown away by the whole situation. Completely and utterly shocked by the whole situation.’
Amanda previously claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic’ footage’.
In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
Elsewhere in the interview, Craig spoke about the BBC putting a member of the Strictly production staff in all future rehearsals as a chaperone following recent complaints.
He explained: ‘I think putting chaperones in is a really great idea. I think it’s a good thing chaperones are going in because it not only protects the dancer or the pro, it protects the celebrity as well as the production team.’
Talking about the BBC shows future, Craig continued: ‘I just can’t wait for the investigation to be done so we can get on and start enjoying a new series.’
Earlier this month it was revealed TOWIE star Pete Wicks has signed up, despite the news his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year.
Meanwhile ex Arsenal player Paul Merson and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes.
And now according to a Reddit post seen by Metro, all 15 stars set to compete have been leaked in an ‘alleged list’.
The post reportedly included a screenshot from an Instagram Story shared to someone’s close friends, suggesting it wasn’t meant for public knowledge.
Famous names on the list included Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati, Loose Women presenter Janet Street-Porter, Blue singer Duncan James and Tracy Beaker Returns star Kia Pegg.
The caption reportedly read: ‘Got this off of a friend, this seems so exciting! Can’t wait for this, especially Hannah Waddingham!’
Chris McCausland was also on the list, after the comedian failed to deny the Strictly rumours last month during an interview with Gyles Brandreth , who also made the ‘leaked list’.
Elsewhere Olympic legend Dame Laura Kenny, Outnumbered star Tyger Drew-Honey, Sarah Millican and Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie also appeared on the list.
The final names were reportedly actor Sunil Patel, radio presenter Jordan North, former professional footballer Jermaine Jenas and EastEnders star Shona McGarty.
Meanwhile Death In Paradise actor Ralf Little has also been rumoured to be joining the lineup.
When contacted about the alleged list, Strictly representatives at the BBC told MailOnline that celebrity contestants for this series will be announced in due course.
It comes as Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Monday as backstage staff branded the scandal-plagued show ‘toxic and cruel ‘.
According to The Observer, production workers at the hit dance series have alleged they were grilled on their ‘sex lives’.
One complained that ‘talented co-workers were treated with cruelty,’ while another added that the workplace environment on the show eight years ago was ‘tense, toxic, uncomfortable’.
One then told the publication how they had been subjected to ‘sexualised comments’ including queries about their sex life.
A spokesperson for the BBC told the publication: ‘The welfare of our crews working on each series of Strictly is always of paramount importance to us.
‘We act speedily when any concerns are raised, and we have thorough, effective and longstanding processes to manage them. We do not recognise the claims relating to a negative workplace culture.’
Last week after Amanda claimed Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic footage’ following her bullying complaint to the BBC.
In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’.
She told Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
The Sherlock star sensationally quit the dance competition last year citing ‘personal reasons’ before reports surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, was later suspended, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities.
Yet, in a dramatic twist in the Strictly saga, the actress has claimed Giovanni tried to stop her legal team from accessing the video ‘evidence’ after producers were forced to put cameras in the dance studio after Amanda raised concerns.
‘There’s 50 hours of footage that’s being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,’ she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
‘It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn’t want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he’s got nothing to hide.’
A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline at the time: ‘We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.’
The actress said that cameras were installed into her and Giovanni’s rehearsal studio after she raised concerns after the first week of practice with producers wanting to review the footage each week to assess what was ‘going on’ between the pair.
Giovanni had claimed he had asked for the cameras, which Amanda says is untrue.
‘So in the first week, I raised my concerns to the producers,’ the actress explained, as she fought back tears.
‘Giovanni said that he asked for the cameras, he didn’t ask for the cameras, I know that he didn’t ask for the cameras, because the producers came to me and said: ‘We’re going to put in cameras so we can view the footage at the end of the week and make an assessment and see what’s going on.’
‘And then every Friday, after the next sort of five weeks, I would get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘we just watched the footage back, we are shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry’.
‘That was to my face on the Friday when we would go in and do the camera rehearsal.’
Throughout the interview, Guru-Murthy, who also starred on the 2023 series, asked whether it was correct that Amanda had experienced ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’, with the actress holding back tears as she nodded in agreement.
‘Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things,’ she said, clarifying it was not harassment.
Ever since the claims first emerged Giovanni has denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to the BBC investigators and ‘remains fully confident in clearing his name’.
Disputing Amanda’s claims once again following the interview, a spokesperson for the Italian dancer said: ‘The BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.
‘They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour.’
After the fallout, Amanda said she did not hear from anyone at the BBC again, claiming: ‘I haven’t spoken to anyone from the BBC since Strictly .
‘No one from the BBC has reached out to me since Strictly, either through me or my lawyer.’
The bombshell interview comes as the flagship BBC One show continues to be rocked by a string of allegations, which saw Giovanni as well as professional dancer Graziano Di Prima step down.
Giovanni was accused of bullying by Amanda as well as two other, unnamed contestants.
Graziano was axed from the show after allegations emerged that he kicked, hit and spat at reality TV star Zara during rehearsals last year .
Samantha Markle re-ignites legal battle against Meghan Markle, claiming Duchess has defamed her publicly and on a global scale, leaving her unable to work
Samantha Markle, Meghan Markle’s estranged half-sister, has reignited her legal battle against the Duchess of Sussex, claiming that Meghan has defamed her and left her reputation in tatters. This fresh legal action comes after a previous court ruling dismissed Samantha’s claims, describing her accusations as insufficiently supported.
The 59-year-old is appealing a decision made in March by Florida Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, who rejected Samantha’s defamation lawsuit against Meghan Markle. The judge stated that Samantha “failed to identify any statements that could support a claim for defamation.”
Samantha’s latest move involves challenging this ruling, asserting that Meghan has painted her as a “lying, racist, fame-seeker” on a global stage. According to the court documents obtained by The Sun, Samantha argues that this portrayal has irreparably harmed her reputation, making it impossible for her to work or even go about daily life without harassment. The documents claim that Meghan’s comments during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan contributed to this alleged defamation.
### Previous Legal Setback
In March, Judge Honeywell dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning Samantha could not refile it without an appeal. The judge stated that Meghan’s comments during the Oprah interview were “substantially true” and did not rise to the level of defamation. Meghan had described herself as growing up as an only child and suggested that Samantha only changed her last name to Markle after Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry became public. Samantha argued that these statements subjected her to “humiliation, shame, and hatred on a worldwide scale.”
Judge Honeywell concluded that Meghan’s comments were expressions of her personal opinion and did not qualify as defamatory. She also determined that Meghan’s claim about Samantha’s name change was “substantially true,” noting that Samantha had indeed reverted to using the Markle surname after Meghan’s engagement to Prince Harry was announced.
The judge criticized the inclusion of statements from Prince Harry in the Netflix documentary, calling them irrelevant to Samantha’s defamation claims. “That this statement was included in the complaint is perplexing and suggests haste, a misunderstanding of the law, or a lack of diligence on the part of plaintiff’s counsel,” Judge Honeywell wrote in her ruling.
### Seeking $75,000 in Damages
Samantha Markle is seeking at least $75,000 in damages, accusing Meghan of defamation and defamation by implication. Her legal team argues that Judge Honeywell failed to consider the implied defamation created by the omission of certain facts. Samantha insists that the case should go to trial, and her lawyers are requesting an oral hearing to clarify these issues. No date has been set for this potential hearing.
### Connection to the Royal Family
In a twist, Samantha had planned to ask Catherine, the Princess of Wales, for a witness statement before it was publicly revealed that Kate was battling cancer. Samantha stressed that Kate’s “cancer recovery is the priority” and stated that her attorney had made the request before anyone was aware of the princess’s health challenges.
Speaking on the topic, Samantha told former GB News host Dan Wootton, “I felt that Catherine might have some very important light to shed on what had occurred because obviously something is really, really wrong between these two.” Her lawyer, Peter Ticktin, echoed this sentiment during an episode of Wootton’s Outspoken online talk show, suggesting that Kate might have crucial insights into the tensions between Meghan and Samantha.
### Meghan’s Recent Public Appearances
Samantha’s legal battle comes shortly after Meghan Markle’s recent appearance on CBS News Sunday Morning, where the Duchess of Sussex opened up about her mental health struggles. In the interview with Jane Pauley, Meghan revisited the suicidal thoughts she experienced during her time as a working royal, hoping that her openness would encourage others to seek help. Meghan first spoke publicly about these issues in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she revealed the severe toll that online abuse had taken on her well-being.
As Meghan celebrated her 43rd birthday, Samantha’s lawyers filed the new appeal, signaling what could be the final chapter in this protracted legal saga. Meghan, who has not publicly responded to this latest development, continues to focus on her charitable endeavors and life in California with Prince Harry and their two children.
### A High-Stakes Legal Battle
This renewed legal push marks a critical moment for Samantha Markle as she continues to pursue her defamation claims against her half-sister. While the court previously found her allegations lacking in substance, Samantha’s legal team remains determined to bring Meghan to trial, hoping to overturn Judge Honeywell’s decision. The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for similar cases involving public figures and their family members.
In the meantime, Meghan remains shielded from the courtroom drama as she continues to navigate life post-royalty, a journey that has been anything but ordinary.
