Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has reportedly demanded bosses hand over footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni Pernice after they clashed while working together.

Actress Amanda, 51, was paired with professional dancer Giovanni, 33, for last year’s series but made a sudden departure from the show in October, citing ‘personal reasons’.

It has now been said she wants to review the recordings as she seeks legal advice over his alleged behaviour towards her as she believes the footage could back up her claims.

After her departure, it was claimed Amanda struggled with Giovanni’s ‘militant approach to training’, with her time on the show said to have been ‘plagued by difficulties’.

A source has now revealed Amanda has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has reportedly demanded bosses hand over footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni Pernice after they clashed while working together

The actress, 51, was paired with professional dancer Giovanni Pernici, 33, for this year’s series but made a sudden departure from the show in October, citing ‘personal reasons’

An on-set source told The Sun: ‘The BBC have received a request for the footage they hold of Amanda and Giovanni. It is known as a data subject access request.

‘There is a feeling that the recordings will lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly. Things in rehearsals can become very tense.

‘Giovanni is a perfectionist and he can be incredibly full-on.’

A friend of Amanda told the publication it has taken her months to recover from her Strictly experience.

‘Amanda has been left broken and saddened by the whole experience. She has needed therapy and was left in shock by the behaviour she was exposed to,’ they said.

They added: ‘Everyone else was having a fabulous time, but she was really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She spent a lot of time crying and couldn’t sleep or eat properly.’

The pal said Amanda found the negative response she got on social media for not mentioning Giovanni in her exit statement difficult.

But they insisted her family and friends had been there to support her.

It has now been said she wants to review the recordings as she seeks legal advice over his alleged behaviour towards her as she believes the footage could back up her claims

The BBC and a representative for Amanda declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Giovanni for comment.

Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances on the show but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes.

An inside source told The Telegraph: ‘It could be that she didn’t know what she let herself in for.

‘He [Giovanni] was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn’t very well, that wouldn’t have helped.

‘She was with a partner that had a certain training style that she couldn’t cope with. Whether that came to a head or whether there’s something else going on I don’t know.’

Giovanni’s parents said the dancer ‘was just doing his job’ following Amanda’s shock departure from Strictly.

Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni’s father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son ‘trained for long hours but was just doing his job’.

Giovanni’s parents said the dancer ‘was just doing his job’ following Amanda’s shock departure from Strictly Come Dancing (pictured with his parents)

Speaking to The Sun, from his home in Italy, Piero said: ‘We are surprised by the fact she left the show, because everything was going ok – we thought they could have won.’

He added: ‘My son is a really nice, polite and respectful boy. He always had good results with different partners and he has never had problems with them.’

Giovanni’s mother Rosalda explained: ‘They have to train tough hours to get some results. Giovanni has just done what he had to do. He was just doing his job.’

Twinkle-toed star Giovanni was reportedly only given the news of Amanda’s exit a few hours before the official statement was released.

A source told the Daily Star: ‘Amanda didn’t tell Giovanni she had decided to quit the show. The first he heard was a call from a producer.

‘This has really annoyed him. He’s barely heard from her for 10 days. She hasn’t been replying to messages or telling him what’s happening.

‘He’s been complaining about it to friends. He’s frustrated. He is worried the drama will be damaging for his career and make him look bad.’

Giovanni has reportedly fallen out with a number of his former partners on the show.

Giovanni has reportedly fallen out with a number of his former partners. In 2016, ex Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while training with him (Laura and Giovanni seen on the show)

In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while training with him.

She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: ‘I’m still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.

‘I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.’

Giovanni was also said to have fallen out with Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh in 2020 and ‘feuded’ with Richie Anderson in 2022. 

Amanda was reportedly not invited to perform during the Strictly Come Dancing final by show bosses.

While all the 2023 contestants who were eliminated from the show returned for one final performance together during the last episode last month, Amanda was notably absent.

A show source told The Sun: ‘There was a lot of talk on set about Amanda’s notable absence from the finale.

‘It seemed unfair that Nigel [Harman] was invited back and she wasn’t.

‘I imagine she was upset by the snub as it would have been nice to have seen her return for one last dance, especially as she was so popular on the show and well-liked by viewers.’

It comes after Amanda revealed that she was ‘truly distraught’ by her sudden Strictly exit

It comes after Amanda revealed she was ‘truly distraught’ by her sudden Strictly exit.

The star quit the show back in October,  citing ‘personal issues’ as a catalyst for her early exit.

Taking to Instagram, Amanda opened up about her premature departure, just weeks after failing to return for the group dance in the final.

Amanda reposted a fan’s comment on her Instagram Stories. The Strictly viewer wrote: ‘I was truly distraught with her sudden departure from the show.’

The Sherlock star added her own caption: ‘Thank you angel. So was I.’

Amanda did not return for the final which sees the past contestants of the series gather together for one last number.

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Amanda reposted a fan’s comment: ‘I was truly distraught with her sudden departure from the show’. The Sherlock star added her own caption: ‘Thank you angel. So was I’

But she did send a message of support to the three finalists on Instagram.  Amanda shared a snap of the three couples standing with the glitterball trophy and wrote: ‘Good luck tonight to these six beautiful humans.’

BBC bosses were said to be keen for Amanda to reunite with Giovanni to show there was ‘no bad blood’.

However a source told The Mirror that: ‘They [the BBC] wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda’s response to the invitation was she’d not be back.

‘It’s a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.’

BBC declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The publication added it has been ‘difficult’ and upsetting for Giovanni as he doesn’t want people to see it ‘as a reflection on him.’

While the pair sometimes ‘clashed’ Giovanni wishes her all the best.

The Sherlock star left the show in week five, initially citing medical reasons before later revealing personal issues on Instagram.

Amanda decided not to return for the final which sees all the past contestants of the series gather together for one last number

Amanda withdrew from her performance, before it was revealed she would not be returning.

On an episode of It Takes Two, the show confirmed Amanda’s exit and released a statement that read: ‘Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition.

‘The show wishes her all the best for the future.’

A montage of Amanda’s best moments on the series was shown, before host Fleur East added: ‘Amanda we are sending you all of our love’.

A Strictly insider told MailOnline at the time: ‘This has been something that Amanda has been unfortunately having to consider making since late last week.

‘It has been a devastating time for Amanda. Her Strictly journey has been plagued by difficulties but she just didn’t think there was any other option.

‘As hard as it has been, there was a chance they could have won.’

Giovanni and Amanda were said to have been at loggerheads for weeks, with screen star Amanda ‘left shaken’ by the pro’s ‘militant and aggressive’ training style.

The actress noticeably snubbed the pro dancer from her exit statement which she posted on Instagram.

Strictly’s class of 2023 perform together

While the pair sometimes ‘clashed’ Giovanni, 33, wished Amanda all the best after her sudden exit

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The actress noticeably snubbed the pro dancer from her exit statement which she posted on Instagram

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She wrote: ‘It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue’

Amanda Abbington misses performance on Strictly due to health scare

She wrote: ‘It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.

‘It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside.

‘I want to thank the incredible Production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It’s a wonderful bunch of people and I’ll miss all of them.

‘I’m so sad that I am unable to go any further. Thank you to everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support. You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you. xxx’.