Giovanni Pernice has responded to accusations that he did not offer Amanda Abbington a break during rehearsals for "Strictly Come Dancing," stating that she was "mature enough to ask" for one. Pernice, who is set to release his new book, "Taking The Lead," discussed the allegations and his subsequent departure from the BBC program.

The BBC conducted an investigation into Pernice, receiving 16 allegations in total. Six were upheld, while ten of the more serious accusations were dismissed. Pernice expressed frustration with the BBC's handling of the situation, which he detailed in his upcoming book. Following the non-renewal of his contract with the BBC, Pernice went on to win the Italian version of the show in 2024 with his current girlfriend, Bianca Guaccero. He described this victory as a form of "revenge."

During a promotional appearance for his book, Pernice addressed the specific allegation that he did not provide sufficient breaks, remarking, "I guess she's quite mature enough to ask for a break if she wanted to." He also suggested that the upheld allegations were not of significant importance, stating, "I guess they had to do it."

Pernice appeared on the television program "This Morning" to promote his memoir. Hosts Craig Doyle and Christine Lampard faced criticism from viewers who perceived the interview as overly aggressive and biased towards Abbington's perspective. During the exchange, Doyle highlighted the nature of professional relationships formed during dance training and questioned how competitive intensity translates to the entertainment world, particularly in relation to Abbington.

Pernice countered that his aim in writing the book was to thank his supporters and present his factual viewpoint, emphasizing that he waited until after the BBC investigation concluded. He stated, "The point of the book is to say thank you to all the people who supported me along the way." He further clarified that the book is "the story of my life" and not solely dedicated to the investigation.

Doyle pressed Pernice on whether he now recognized any wrongdoing regarding the upheld complaints. Pernice reiterated that his life had moved on, and he expressed happiness with his current situation in Italy, including winning the dance competition and finding a new girlfriend.

Following the interview, a statement was read from Abbington's spokesperson, which stated that Pernice's attempts to reframe the BBC investigation were "ludicrous." The statement asserted that the BBC's investigation was thorough, that Pernice was part of it, and that the findings against him were not limited to "use of swear words." It also noted that the BBC apologized to Abbington and paid her "substantial compensation."