Just 24 hours before he learns the outcome of the BBC’s bullying investigation, Giovanni Pernice was all smiles yesterday – apparently confident his name will be cleared.
Pictured leaving his morning dance class, he gave a thumbs-up to photographers.
Today the Sicilian will discover the result of the corporation’s internal investigation into allegations that he bullied former dance partner Amanda Abbington, 52.
It comes after TV presenter Laura Whitmore confirmed over the weekend that she has spoken to the BBC about ‘inappropriate’ behaviour by an individual on the show.
Ms Whitmore, 39, who was partnered with Mr Pernice in the 2016 series of Strictly, said she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.
Sources have claimed that Ms Whitmore and Ms Abbington had an ’emotional summit’ earlier this year with fellow Strictly alumna Ranvir Singh, 46.
Where they ‘compared notes’ about their time working with Mr Pernice, 33.
The dancer has always denied all of the allegations, claiming to have provided a dossier of evidence to Beeb investigators, and is said to be ‘fully confident’ that they will find in his favour.
ITV is said to be ready to swoop in to sign the dancer if he is cleared of the allegations. He quit Strictly in April, after nine years, following the BBC’s decision to launch its inquiry.
It is said that ITV bosses know how popular Mr Pernice is with viewers and think he would be a huge ratings winner.
One programme he is expected to star in is I’m A Celeb later this year, which is on at the same time as Strictly, and could net him in the region of £100,000.
Bosses, who are thrilled at the possibility of snatching Mr Pernice away from their rivals, also want to give him other shows and documentaries which would mean he would be one of ‘their own’.
A source at ITV said: ‘As long as those at the top are satisfied that Giovanni isn’t a bully and didn’t behave inappropriately during Strictly, they will be signing him up. They are very aware of how much Strictly viewers will miss him, he’s a true fans’ favourite, so they hope he will draw in big audiences.
‘Just imagine him on I’m A Celeb, he would be a favourite to win and they know he would be very good value in the jungle.
‘He would bring a huge fan base with him. He appeals to people of all ages which is a godsend for any broadcaster.’
The Beeb, meanwhile, has axed his adventure show with Strictly judge Anton du Beke.
Mr Pernice has vowed to never go back to Strictly, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
He may even take legal action against the BBC.
A source close to Mr Pernice said: ‘Gio is looking forward to getting his career going again.
‘His Strictly one may have come to an end but that doesn’t mean it’s over for him.
‘There are some very exciting things in the pipeline.
‘He is really popular and there is a huge appetite for him elsewhere. He will never go back to Strictly, too much has happened.’
Giovanni is convinced he has presented evidence that proves he is far from the ‘cruel, abusive and mean’ man the Sherlock star Amanda claims he is.
Mr Pernice handed investigators a 28-minute long audio of Ms Abbington and him in conversation which his team proves he was instead hugely supportive.
During the clip, she told Mr Pernice that if she was him she ‘would have thrown me out of the window by now’ in an apparent acknowledgement that she could be difficult.
She also admitted she ‘self sabotages’ and repeatedly referred to how he supported her as she struggled with the show.
Ms Abbington even described herself as a ‘nightmare’ during the time they danced together from August until October last year.
The Mail On Sunday also reveals Mr Pernice handed the corporation lengthy screenshots of WhatsApp messages between himself and Ms Abbington where she would gush at how helpful he had been, how much she liked him and also makes apologies to him.
Sources close to the situation say that Mr Pernice now expects to be cleared of bullying her after the three-month investigation, with the BBC announcing its findings to both parties on Monday. The Corporation is also expected to release an ‘anodyne’ statement.
The investigation has been a frustrating one for the BBC, particularly as Ms Abbington has spoken out several times in the last week in advance of the end of the probe.
Last week she said that there was an incident of a ‘humiliating sexual nature’ in an interview with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who took part in the same series of Strictly.
She also said she received dozens of death and rape threats each day after she complained to the BBC that Mr Pernice had been bullying her.
This newspaper can reveal that Mr Pernice’s former dance partners were invited in by the BBC to explain their own experiences of working with him.
Meanwhile, members of the Strictly crew were also interviewed. It is understood none reported that they had either experienced or witnessed Mr Pernice, 33, behave badly.
The scandal unfolded at the turn of the year after Ms Abbington told The Sun that she had suffered from PTSD as a result of appearing on Strictly. She also reportedly asked to see rehearsal footage so she could pass it onto her lawyers.
The BBC refused her request. In April, it launched a formal investigation into her claims that Mr Pernice had bullied during their training sessions.
Mr Pernice’s spokesman said that he was not made aware of the sexual allegations until Channel 4 approached his lawyers at Schillings to offer a right to reply just hours before the interview was aired on Wednesday. He vehemently denies the claims.
Previously, Ms Abbington had claimed Mr Pernice stamped on her foot, leaving her with a bruised toe. She has given no other details.
Last Sunday she told The Sun: ‘I found Giovanni’s behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people.’ She offered no further details.
Meanwhile, the fallout at the BBC is said to be ‘serious.’ Bosses are already under scrutiny over why the investigation took three months, during which time significant damage was done to Strictly, often referred to as the jewel in the Corporation’s crown.
But insiders have hit back by saying that it was because the inquiry went on for so long that Strictly staff were able to raise professional dancer Graziano Di Prima hitting and kicking his former partner Zara McDermott. Investigators fired him within 48 hours, citing misconduct.
Despite the outcome of the inquiry into Mr Pernice being expected tomorrow, sources at the BBC say there could be more to come.
During her interview with Mr Guru-Murthy, Ms Abbington said she wanted to be remunerated for loss of earnings following her appearance on the show and the claims she was bullied.
But they also face potential action from Mr Pernice, who is unhappy that he was paired with Ms Abbington without them doing any psychological tests on her.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Ms Abbington said: ‘These details don’t alter anything: as Amanda has repeatedly made clear, she did her best to make things work.
‘This included being open with Giovanni about her own shortcomings as a dancer and her awareness that this must have been difficult for him.
‘For these comments to now be presented as some form of an excuse for the bullying that Amanda experienced is as unacceptable as the behaviour itself.’
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Kym Marsh Stuns the Audience with Excessively Intimate Public Displays with Her New Boyfriend, Who Is the Same Age as Her Son
Kym Marsh packed on the PDA with new toyboy boyfriend Samuel Thomas as they arrived at Manchester train station on Sunday.
The former Coronation Street star, 48, was seen out and about with the actor, 29, for the first time since announcing their romance.
They were spotted kissing as they arrived at the station ahead of their 101 Dalmatians shows at The Palace Theatre.
Kym cut a summery figure in a black floral minidress which boasted a plunging V-neckline and short sleeves.
She kept comfortable in a pair of white trainers and shielded from the sun behind a pair of sunglasses.
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Meanwhile Samuel donned a blue checked shirt with jeans and trainers as he pulled a large suitcase and carried a backpack.
The pair seemed in high spirits as they stepped out together for the first time as they explored the city.
Kym is currently playing Cruella de Vil in the UK & Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians The Musical, alongside her boyfriend Samuel, who stars as Tom Dearly.
It comes days after Kym was forced to defend herself for revealing she is dating Samuel who is the same age as her son.
At 29, Samuel – who she refers to as ‘the most amazing man ever’ – is the same age as her eldest child, David Cunliffe.
Kym’s friends are reportedly worried that her new romance with a younger man could all end in heartache if it ‘fizzles out’.
The soap star has the support of her pals who are apparently ‘happy’ she has found someone, but they are said to have concerns that she could end up hurt.
The actress is a parent to son David, 29, and daughter Emilie, 27, from a former relationship with builder David Cunliffe.
The couple, who met in a Lancashire pub, separated in 1999, shortly before Kym found fame as a contestant on TV talent show Popstars, where she would become a member of short-lived pop group Hear’Say.
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Two years later Kym was making an appearance on Top Of The Pops when she crossed paths with actor Jack Ryder, a household name at the time thanks to his role as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders.
They married at St. Albans parish church, Hertford, in August 2002 and subsequently sold the pictures to OK! magazine for a reported £300,000.
But seven years later it was all over, with Ryder filing for divorce on the grounds of adultery following her apparent fling with second-husband-in-waiting Jamie Lomas
Friends initially feared Kym had rushed into her relationship with Lomas, who she started dating just four months after separating from Ryder.
The pair met on a train as they made their way to the 2007 TV Quick Awards, but casual chat soon turned into romance with the pair going public in 2008 – a year before her divorce.
They had been together for less than two months when Kym fell pregnant with their first child, but tragedy struck when their son Archie Jay died moments after being born 18-weeks premature on February 11.
The couple had happier news when they welcomed daughter Polly in March 2011.
They exchanged vows in September 2012 but were divorced by 2014, with Kym reportedly stunned by Lomas’ decision to break it off.
She remarried for a third time to Scott Ratcliff back in 2021.
The pair split 13 months following their wedding when Kym filed for divorce citing unreasonable behaviour.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
Meghan Markle wears clothing from smaller design houses that’s ‘not possible to alter’ while being ‘too controversial’ for bigger fashion brands, experts claim
Meghan Markle wears clothing from smaller brands that is ‘not possible to alter’ and is ‘too controversial’ for bigger fashion houses, experts have claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, has often opted for floor-length garments over the past six years – most recently wearing a pair of £360 trousers to a business summit in the Hamptons over the weekend.
For the occasion, the mother-of-two – who is preparing to launch her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard – paired the beige linen trousers with a matching single-breasted waistcoat, which is also by the Australian brand St Agni.
At one point, Meghan posed for photos with makeup mogul Bobbi Brown and fashion designer Misha Nonoo – and fans noticed the Duchess’ feet were totally obscured by her trousers.
Speaking to FEMAIL, celebrity stylist Rochelle White claimed Meghan’s trousers were potentially a sample pair from St Agni and therefore not possible to alter to her 5ft 6in frame – either because they have to be returned or because they’ve been given to the stylist rather than directly to Meghan herself to keep.
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Pictured: The Duchess of Sussex (with Misha Nonoo and Bobbi Brown) opted for a £700 beige linen co-ord set by St Agni for the Hamptons business summit
The expert said: ‘I know that wide leg long trousers are in fashion and trend piece right now. They have been dominating instagram and runways, so I think she likes the style.
‘They are great at cinching the waist but adding leg and depth to an outfit. They can also be flattering and comfortable and not so restrictive.
‘But the Duchess could also be working with either a designer, fashion house, or stylist where it might not be possible to have alterations done so that they are more fitting to her leg length. So, as a result they are longer.’
What’s more, fashion expert Giorgina Ramazzotti has also claimed that while Meghan has worn Dior and Givenchy in the past, she could be seen as too ‘controversial’ a figure to get free samples from some major fashion houses.
Giorgina said: ‘As a celebrity and actress before joining the royals, Meghan would have been very used to a world in which everything is given on loan for photoshoots, an appearance or borrowed from wardrobe as part of her character in Suits.
‘Celebrities rarely have to part with cold hard cash in exchange for fashion items. Often items are given as gifts, given on loan for special events, or the star is given a heavy discount to shop the brand, and whilst Meghan wasn’t a well-known actress before meeting Prince Harry, she would still have been given freebies – albeit from smaller brands.
‘When she joined the royals, she quickly found out that loans and gifts from designers were forbidden, and the star was no doubt given an allowance to dress – something I’m sure she was glad to throw out of the window when she left the royal fold.
‘It can be noted that Meghan rarely wears big designer brands such as the French fashion houses Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Saint Laurent etc. These brands are very careful with their image and getting loans from them for lesser or controversial stars (as Meghan, in some circles, now is) is like getting blood from a stone.’
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Pictured: Meghan Markle wore another pair of floor-length trousers for the Invictus Games in Germany in September 2023
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Meghan Markle wore floor-length trousers to visit Edinburgh Castle during her first official joint visit to Scotland with Prince Harry in February 2018
In June 2023, French fashion house Dior denied that they had signed a ‘megabucks’ deal with the Duchess, who was rumoured to become the face of the brand.
It had been speculated any deal could be worth as much as £15million to the couple.
What’s more, the stylist argued that the Duchess favours floor-length trousers and skirts as she is trying to channel an ‘old money’ aesthetic.
Giorgina explained: ‘Meghan tends to favour minimalist, understated luxury; simple separates, neutral colours, and classic tailoring – think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy meets 21st century style – and her latest look from St. Agni encompasses all this to a tee.’
The expert says Meghan could be ‘carving out her own version of “quiet luxury”, which has proven to be a popular trend over the past few years and means favouring unbranded designer clothing in neutral colour palettes.
Giorgina continued: ‘Larger than life amounts of cloth has long been a design of wealth – the epitome of ‘old money style’ so prevalent with Gen Z and Millennials.
‘Where a maxi dress on the high street usually clings and rarely reaches below the calf, in luxury stores their summer dresses use much more fabric to create volume and length – often billowing and reaching to the floor. Where lower price points scrimp on fabric, luxury brands know that their clients want to look put together with no corners cut.’
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Celebrity stylist Rochelle thinks Meghan wears longer outfits that cover her feet to look taller than she is. Above: Meghan in September 2022, Germany
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The Duchess of Sussex is pictured in a long ballgown at the Variety Power of Women Los Angeles in November 2023
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Meghan Markle wears a long ruffled dress as she visits Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria, in May 2024
But while Meghan’s trouser and skirt lengths may be ‘scoffed at’ by some, Giorgina says her style is always ‘chic and on point’.
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Meghan Markle may wear garments that drag along the floor because she wants to appear taller and elongate her slim frame, says style expert
Following Meghan and Harry’s ‘tour’ of Nigeria in May, Rochelle argued that the Duchess frequently wears floor-length garments to give her the illusion of height.
She said: ‘Long dresses and trousers, depending on body type, can help to elongate the body and shape.
‘They can make you look taller and depending on the styles can help to define areas of the body you either want to highlight or cover up.’
When the royal couple spent a week in Frankfurt last summer to attend the Invictus Games, Meghan wore an all-brown ensemble on a day that saw them both watching events and attending a NATO meeting.
This was made up of a chocolate-coloured blouse and creased taupe trousers that trailed along the floor.
She stood next to Prince Harry – who is a whopping 6ft 2inches in height – and although she barely came up to his shoulder, Rochelle says she appears taller because of her outfit choice.
She said: ‘Looking at Meghan, I feel that these styles make her look taller and highlight her silhouette. I feel it makes her look taller.
‘I feel that she knows her body and the things or items that work for her best and is tapping into that with her looks.’
In 2018, during Meghan’s trip to Edinburgh with Harry, she proudly donned a pair of lengthy, flared black trousers which were too long for her despite wearing a pair of heels.
As the Duchess was busy greeting people who braved the unpredictable Scottish weather to see the former royals, the slacks were pulled along the wet concrete, gathering dirt on the bottom of them.
