Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice has said he is “relieved” the BBC investigation into his behaviour when teaching former contestant Amanda Abbington is over, and that he “wouldn’t change” his teaching style going forward.

The 34-year-old appeared on ITV's Lorraine earlier this morning for his first TV interview since the findings were released.

Sherlock actress Abbington made allegations against the Italian dancer earlier this year, claiming she was subject to a “toxic environment” and “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”.

An investigation into the actress’s complaints about Pernice followed, with the BBC upholding “some, but not all” of the complaints made against the professional dancer.

There were no findings relating to physical aggression, but complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, as reported by the PA news agency.

Speaking to Christine Lampard - who was standing in for Lorraine - Pernice said: “From my certain point of view, I’m relieved the fact that the most serious allegations were thrown out.

“Yes, six has been upheld but 11 hasn’t been upheld, which is again, the most serious were not.”

He continued: “When it comes to that one upheld we got some allegation of verbal bullying, as we say, I adapt with the person that will go in front of me, and vice versa. I think this is life like this.

“If you’re in the room and we decide one sort of relationship within us two, I feel safe at that time, we were OK with it and was fine. Never been a difficulty of ‘please don’t say this to me’. And the other allegation, that was me being frustrated, which I recognise.”

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The dancer, who joined Strictly in 2015, said that every dancer and celebrity who has competed in any edition of the BBC dancing show has had frustration due to the “pressure” to “perform perfectly” on the show.

“So frustration, I think, is something that, when you want to be good, it happens. And I do care about my job,” he added.

“And when you have somebody in your hands like Amanda, which, in my opinion, she was brilliant, she was unbelievable at dancing, it’s normal that I try to get out the best I can.”

Asked if he would change his style of teaching following the investigation, he said: “I wouldn’t change my teaching style because, in my opinion, it’s a profession, dancing is a very difficult thing to do.

“I have achieved four finals, I won the show with Rose (Ayling-Ellis), now I’m breaking records in Italy with Bianca (Guaccero).

 

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“I’ve potentially got all the records on Strictly, but it’s not to blow my own trumpet, I think it’s a difficult discipline, and for me, teaching, the way I teach, is the successful way to approach this.

“Yes, you could change the approach, but not changing the teaching style.”

Pernice, who is not part of this year’s Strictly professional dancing line-up, has since joined the Italian equivalent, Ballando con le Stelle and previously rejected “any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour”.