Amanda Abbington in tears as she addresses Strictly scandal for first time on TV

Amanda Abbington broke down in tears as she spoke about the toll of receiving ‘brutal, relentless and unforgiving’ threats from fans of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Sherlock actress has previously made accusations about the teaching methods of her Strictly partner, Giovanni Pernice, who has since left the BBC show.

Pernice has strongly denied her claims of ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’ behaviour.

Abbington was interviewed by Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who was a competitor on the same series as her, in a video published on X.

Struggling to fight back the tears, the Doc Martin star said the aftermath of Strictly was ‘brutal, relentless and unforgiving.’

She then clarified she was referring to ‘rape threats towards not only myself, but my daughter and the threats of death to my son.’

Abbington shares teenage children, son Joe and daughter Grace, with her ex The Hobbit star Martin Freeman.

Asked if it was from Strictly fans, she agreed and also alleged the behaviour came from supporters of Pernice, 33.

She said she wants to encourage people who feel ‘bullied’ or are in a situation they feel is ‘toxic and unsafe’ to complain, despite the backlash she has allegedly received.

Abbington said: ‘I know it happened because it happened to me. I am not a sensational person… I’m not hysterical. I don’t make things out to be bigger than they are.

‘I know what happened to me in that room wasn’t acceptable. I complained about it and sort of have not been taken seriously.

‘We have to cultivate a society and an environment where women can come forward and say, ‘yeah’… or men because it happens to men as well, ‘I’m finding this uncomfortable. Can you do something about it?’ And then something be done about it? That’s all.

‘And I think, we need to be brave and I want to stand up for any woman, any woman who feels that they don’t have a voice or be there for her championing her and say, “Yeah, I’ve got you.”‘

There has been a storm of negative stories about the culture on the BBC’s flagship programme and the treatment of contestants.

Abbington said that she knows of ‘three other women’ who went through something similar during their Strictly Come Dancing experiences and there is ‘potentially’ more people coming forward.

Graziano Di Prima left the show over allegations he ‘kicked and hit’ Love Island star Zara McDermott and said he ‘deeply regrets’ the events that led to his departure.

More claims against dancers have since emerged, and the BBC have introduced drastic new measures to support celebrities’ welfare on the show, including having chaperones in rehearsal rooms.

On Tuesday, BBC director-general Tim Davie apologised to contestants who have had an experience that ‘hasn’t been wholly positive’, and maintained the show would return.

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Over the past three months the BBC has been conducting an investigation into Pernice’s teaching style after claims of inappropriate and controlling behaviour, which was prompted by Abbington’s complaints.

The outcome of the probe is expected to be revealed in the coming days.

On Sunday, Abbington told The Sun on Sunday that she felt that there was a ‘duty of care’ that wasn’t met, adding that she complained after thinking about it ‘long and hard’ in order to protect future contestants.

‘Rehearsal rooms should be a safe space, there is a duty of care and kindness, and that courtesy wasn’t extended to me on this job,’ she said.

In response, a spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline: ‘The BBC has shared allegations from the inquiry with Giovanni, who has cooperated fully.

‘None of the allegations carried in the Sun on Sunday are included in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes these allegations and denies any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour.

‘He has provided substantive evidence to the investigation and he remains fully confident of clearing his name.’

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by the publication.

In January, Abbington, who left the completion mid-way through citing ‘personal reasons’ at the time, said she was suffering from PTSD.

Abbington first broke her silence about her treatment on the show in June. At the time Amanda told the MailOnline that Pernice was ‘nasty’ and she asked for her dance rehearsals with him to be recorded.

‘I asked for them to be recorded, it was me. Giovanni is nasty. He was awful to a few of us, a group of us,’ she said.

In the interview with The Sun, Abbington added that she was ‘proud’ of the other celebrities who had also come forward to complain.

Metro.co.uk has previously contacted Abbington, Pernice and Di Prima’s reps for comment, as well as the BBC.

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