A verdict on the Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice row is expected before the end of next week, Mail Online can reveal.
Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, made a series of accusations and an offical complaint about her pro Giovanni Pernice’s teaching methods.
And has described his behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. He strongly denies all of the claims.
Investigators at the corporation have brought in former MET cops to oversee an inquiry.
Now a source close to the probe has told how a decision is likely to be announced within days.
The source said: ‘Investigators have spent the past few weeks pouring back over evidence including text messages and messages shared on whatsapp.
‘They’ve spoken to witnesses and re-interviewed people who have given evidence as part of the investigation.
‘The investigators believe they’ve seen and reviewed everything that they need to and are in a position to make a final decision on what happened.
‘All of the allegations have now been put to Giovanni and his team of lawyers and Amanda has had an opportunity to share all the evidence she needs.
‘Both of them now just want to hear what the BBC have decided.
The source added that the BBC is unlikely to share a ‘warts and all’ account of what they’ve discovered – and that their final statement could end up being quite short.
The source added: ‘The investigation has taken a long time. It’s been many many months of work because there has been a lot of information to go through.
‘But it’s likely that the final statement which is released will be pretty short. A lot of detail and information may remain private – not least because there’s the potential for further legal action down the line that the BBC might need to be prepared for.’
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘As we have said before, we will not be commenting on individuals or engaging in speculation.’
It comes following reports that Amanda found BBC bosses line of questioning ‘highly offensive’ amid the probe.
The actress has recently said to have been quizzed for a second time about an illicit video shared with her by the dancer as well as a ‘lewd remark’ he made about another celebrity contestant when the video was sent
Giovanni is also reported to have made a crude comment about a member of Amanda’s own family, only for her to ‘effectively be asked’ by BBC bosses whether the dancer meant the remark as light-hearted banter.
A source told The Sun: ‘[Amanda] found this line of questioning highly offensive.’
In regards to the alleged video they told the publication: ‘The BBC can’t ignore the fact the video was sent. There seems to be a trail of evidence’.
‘Even if it is established the footage was shared with innocent intentions, the BBC are concerned this could constitute a breach of conduct according to the contract handed to the pro dancers.’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘As we have said before, we will not be commenting on individuals or engaging in speculation’.
MailOnline have Amanda and Giovanni’s reps for comment.
Amanda shares daughter Grace and son Joe with ex partner Martin Freeman, 52, who she was for 16 years from 2000–2016.
Amanda is said to have recently handed over more texts with fresh revelations over Giovanni’s behaviour on Strictly.
It has been claimed the dramatic intervention has thrown the BBC investigation into professional Giovanni’s behaviour into chaos and has ‘changed the course of the probe’.
The Sun reports that Amanda has come forward with new bombshell messages just as the probe was about to conclude which reportedly show that Giovanni did ‘step over the line of what is acceptable’.
It came after earlier this week Amanda was reportedly questioned by BBC bosses for a second time about ‘crude comments’ she claimed were made by Giovanni.
She is said to have been quizzed via video call last week as she sat down with two ex-Met detectives to discuss her allegations about the professional dancer, 33.
They reportedly discussed claims of sexual comments during rehearsals, as well as ‘new evidence’. Giovanni has denied all allegations made against him.
MailOnline contacted representatives for Amanda, Giovanni, and The BBC for comment.
Amanda has made a series of accusations about Giovanni’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. He strongly denies all of the claims.
In one interview, Amanda 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’.
In another, where she spoke to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, she said: ‘It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: New York Post
