Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington has shared a strong-worded message about misogynists as professional dancer Giovanni Pernice is supported by the BBC

Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has shared a cryptic message as Giovanni Pernice’s future on the show was put in doubt.

The Sherlock actress, 52, was partnered with the Italian professional dancer during the latest series of the BBC dance competition. Their time on the show was cut short when Amanda quit the series citing ‘medical reasons’. She later claimed she suffered from PTSD following her stint on the show and reportedly demanded backstage footage of their time together.

Recently, it has been said Amanda met with Giovanni’s former dance partners Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore to discuss their experiences of working with the dancer. New reports suggested Steps star Faye Tozer also struggled to work with him. Giovanni’s future on Strictly was put in doubt following the reports he is “too intense” to train and dance with.

However, the BBC have appeared to back the dancer as he has received the support of the show’s judges. He even had a travel show with Anton Du Beke on the BBC, which finished last week. Amanda has issued a strong-worded message on her social media. She shared a quote that read: “Make people feel embarrassed of being associated with misogynists.

“Make misogyny unprofitable for anyone to pursue. Deprive misogyny of the oxygen it needs to survive.” A source told The Sun last week: “Giovanni has a meeting with Strictly on Thursday about his return later this year. They have not received any official complaints and are backing him. He is an accomplished pro dancer and it’s expected he will be taking his place in the formal line-up when it’s announced later this month.” While a show spokesperson later told the publication: “The pro dancers for 2024 will be announced in due course.”

Amanda and Giovanni were partnered on the latest series of Strictly (
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)

The actress issued a strong message on social media (
Image:
amanda_abbington74/Instagram)
Last month, both Giovanni and Anton discussed Amanda’s exit for the first time to The Mirror. Speaking on our Invite Only podcast Giovanni admitted: “I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring. I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place. In every single part of the world, if you’re a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night.

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“And if we have good scores at the end, I do look back and say, ‘I’ve done a great job’. But we all care about our partners and we want that for them every single week – to look great on a Saturday. There’s no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that’s constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night.”

Speaking about the aftermath of her time on Strictly, Amanda said: “I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life . . . both professionally and personally. I’m very sorry that people felt the need to send me death threats, threaten my children and bring up my past, healthy relationship with an ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health. I wish those people well.”

The Mirror has contacted Amanda’s representative for comment.