Ranvir opened up about the Strictly investigation on Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)
Ranvir Singh has broken her silence after the BBC finally published the results of its investigation into ‘s Giovanni Pernice.
Professional dancer Giovani, 34, has been cleared of the most serious accusations made against him by actress Amanda Abbington, 50, who competed on the show last year. Nevertheless, six of Amanda’s claims were upheld, and the have since issued the actress an apology.
Ranvir, who competed on Strictly with Giovanni in 2020, weighed in on the ‘s verdict during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (2 October). She made her feelings about the investigation into the dancer’s behaviour clear as she spoke to host .
Ranvir competed with Giovanni on Strictly in 2020 (Image: BBC)
Ranvir told Susanna: “I was pleased to see that the investigation had concluded – it had been going on for some time – and that it ended with an apology to Amanda. I was pleased to see that.”
She continued: “I think that it can only be a good thing that these extra welfare measures have now been put in place on the back of this investigation because ultimately, Strictly is a show that everyone should be having a good time on. It’s entertaining, it’s joyful and everybody should be having a good time whether they work on the show, and the audience at home should feel comfortable that it’s what everyone is experiencing.”
The ‘s investigation went on for nine months in total. Amanda had accused Giovanni of bullying and inappropriate behaviour, following the time on the dance show last year. She quit Strictly weeks into the series, citing medical reasons.
Giovanni took to after the verdict was shared publicly. He told fans “all the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld” and he is “glad it’s over”.
Complains of verbal bullying and harassment were acknowledged in the investigation’s findings. The review said “he [Giovanni] was swearing and using what could be described as belittling language.” This amounted to bullying behaviour, it added. Another complaint upheld was that the dancer was using “too much negative feedback”.
One told how he grabbed his crotch and uttered a lewd remark, and also told his dance partner that he “wanted to f*** her”. But a source close to Giovanni claimed: “This was all done in jest and perceived in this way by Amanda. They were intended as jokes and compliments of her dancing style. Her language could be just as coarse back.”
Both Amanda and Giovanni have claimed victory after the ‘s investigation. After the broadcaster issued an apology to Amanda, she said: “As the has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.”
Meanwhile, Giovanni wrote on : “It’s over, it’s finished. Six months, seven months of all of this… reading everyday things in the newspaper and not be able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review, it was a difficult time.”
REVIEW: STRICTLY COME DANCING EPISODE ONE, Series 22.
Did the BBC do the impossible? Against a background of scandal, they appear to have pulled a rabbit from the hat and made us love Strictly more than ever. How? They’ve booked a cast of contestants, many of whom aren’t taking the contest very seriously at all. In short, they’re having a laugh.
This band of jokers include Chris McCausland, Wynne Evans, Nick Knowles, Pete Wicks and Sarah Hadland. So in the 20th anniversary year, BBC are returning us to a blueprint of the show made famous by Bruce Forsyth. The late Brucie, his name immortalised on the imaginary bus that drove the dancers to the studio, had a line for everything, and he would have loved this opening show, which I watched at a recording.
The unexpected star was undoubtedly blind comedian Chris McCausland who wisecracked like a Victorian vaudevillian. I’m sure someone told him to “soosh” at one point, such was his excitement. Claudia Winkleman was in such hysterics with his quips, she blurted: “Can he stay here all night!!”
His best? When Morning Live’s TV doctor Punam Krishan was being interviewed by Tess, he joked: “None of us can believe that we’re in the same room as a GP!”