Sherlock star Amanda Abbington has sent a defiant message to her former Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice after it was reported that he branded her a ‘mad woman’ on tour

The Italian dancer, 33, appeared to make a cruel dig at the Sherlock star, 50, during his nationwide tour over the weekend. The Sicilian dancer performed at The Lowry, in Salford, on the same day that the actress lashed out at him in an interview.

Meanwhile, sources close to Giovanni are reportedly baffled by the backlash. The Italian pro dancer, known for his fiery personality, is said to have been joking during the podcast and didn’t expect his comment to spark such outrage. “Giovanni’s humor can be blunt,” one insider explained. “He didn’t mean it maliciously. But he also knows how people will twist his words, and this has definitely blown up more than he expected.”

Still, Giovanni’s Strictly reputation has taken a noticeable hit in recent months. Though he remains one of the show’s most popular professionals, whispers of tension with past partners — including Ranvir Singh and Richie Anderson — have resurfaced online. Many fans are now questioning whether his tough-love approach has crossed a line. “There’s a fine balance between being a passionate teacher and being too harsh,” one former Strictly crew member noted. “Giovanni has had a string of partners who’ve found his methods difficult. It’s starting to look like a pattern.”

The BBC has declined to comment on the situation, but producers are said to be keeping a close eye on the fallout, wary of any further public drama involving current or former contestants. With the new season of Strictly Come Dancing underway, the last thing the show needs is a scandal overshadowing its sparkle. Yet the Abbington-Pernice saga continues to dominate headlines — and fan forums — with every cryptic post and stray remark.

On Sunday (July 21), she told The Sun that she found the ballroom star’s training methods “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean.” The ballroom dancer later told his audience on Sunday night: “Oh, I will be back, don’t you worry.

“Let’s see what this mad woman has got to say next,” he added, seemingly a dig at Amanda, although he didn’t name anyone specifically. Now, Amanda has been photographed wearing a jumper which had a cryptic phrase on the front.

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Amanda Abbington has hit out at Giovanni Pernice with a subtle swipe(Image: / SplashNews.com)

It says: “You’re only as cool as you treat people.” This is the first time she has been seen since she gave the explosive interview about Giovanni over the weekend.

She was seen arriving at theatre rehearsals in the heart of London and has reportedly been encouraging other stars to speak to lawyers about issues they faced on the BBC show. Giovanni vehemently denies her claims.

The tension between the two has been simmering ever since Amanda’s shocking exit from Strictly last year. At the time, her departure was described as due to “personal reasons,” but rumors quickly surfaced suggesting behind-the-scenes clashes with Giovanni. Now, months later, the feud appears to be reignited after Giovanni reportedly joked during a recent interview that he’d had to deal with “a few mad women” in past seasons — a line that didn’t go unnoticed by Amanda or the show’s devoted fanbase.

Shortly after the comment began trending, Amanda took to Instagram with a post that fans immediately connected to the controversy. Without naming names, she wrote: “Some people really need to check themselves. Accountability isn’t weakness — it’s growth.” She paired the quote with a serene black-and-white selfie, her expression calm but unmistakably pointed. Within minutes, her comments section exploded with speculation, and fans were quick to join the dots. “This is 100% about Giovanni,” one commenter wrote. “The timing is too perfect.” Another chimed in: “She’s keeping it classy — but we all know who she means.”

The Beeb are expected to wrap up their investigation into her allegations later this week. The mum-of-two had initially complained to the broadcaster that she endured five weeks of inappropriate behaviour on the show last year.

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It has been reported the star labelled her a “mad woman” on tour(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

At the time, the actor sensationally quit the show halfway through the series, citing medical reasons. Later that year, she was diagnosed with PTSD, which she claims she developed from her time on the dance competition.

The apparent feud between Amanda and Giovanni has been one of Strictly’s most talked-about off-camera sagas. During their time on the show, the duo wowed viewers with their early routines but reportedly struggled behind the scenes. Sources at the time claimed that Giovanni’s notoriously intense rehearsal style clashed with Amanda’s expectations, leading to emotional strain and heated disagreements. When Amanda abruptly left the competition, speculation ran wild — and while both parties initially stayed quiet, the story refused to die.

Giovanni’s recent remark, delivered during a podcast appearance, seemed to pour fresh fuel on the fire. Though he never mentioned Amanda by name, his “mad women” quip was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled reference. Many fans saw it as a disrespectful jab at his former partner, reigniting debate about his treatment of celebrity contestants. “Giovanni should have known better,” one Strictly fan page posted. “Calling women ‘mad’ for standing up for themselves isn’t a good look — especially after everything that’s come out.”

Explaining what her experience was like on the show, she told The Sun on Sunday: “I found Giovanni’s behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn’t sit back and let him do that to other people.”

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The Sherlock star branded the dancer “abusive and cruel”(Image: / SplashNews.com)

She added: “I should never ever have danced with him. I know what is on those tapes and I am not frightened of those tapes being seen. It goes way beyond treading on my toe. I know what happened and the fact that he is blocking the tapes says a lot.”

The Strictly Come Dancing universe has once again erupted into full-blown drama — and this time, it’s Amanda Abbington who’s reigniting the fire. The former contestant has seemingly taken a not-so-subtle swipe at her ex-dance partner Giovanni Pernice, following his recent comments that many interpreted as a dig toward her. Fans are now dissecting every word of Amanda’s latest post, which reads like a carefully worded — but unmistakable — clapback to Giovanni’s “mad woman” remark.

Amanda’s response — measured but unmistakable — appears to be her way of reclaiming the narrative. Her post has already amassed thousands of likes and hundreds of supportive comments, with fans applauding her restraint. “This is how you handle shade — gracefully,” one follower wrote. Another added, “You don’t have to name names when everyone already knows the truth.”

Insiders close to Amanda say the actress has no intention of escalating the situation further, but she wanted to make it clear that she won’t stay silent while being mocked publicly. “Amanda’s been through a lot since Strictly,” a friend told The Mirror. “She’s moved on with her life, but she won’t tolerate being disrespected. Her post wasn’t meant to start drama — it was a reminder that words have consequences.”

In the court of public opinion, Amanda appears to be winning sympathy. Many have praised her for speaking up about her experience without resorting to insults or theatrics. “Amanda’s been treated unfairly,” one supporter tweeted. “She’s allowed to defend herself, especially when she’s being mocked in such a public way.” Others, however, have defended Giovanni, insisting that his intense style is part of what makes him such a successful coach. “He pushes his partners to be their best,” one fan argued. “Not everyone can handle that pressure.”

As for whether the two will ever bury the hatchet, insiders aren’t optimistic. “Too much has been said now,” one source admitted. “There’s no love lost between them, and both want to move on — just in very different directions.”

For now, Amanda is focusing on her acting projects and personal life, while Giovanni continues rehearsals with his current Strictly partner, determined to prove that he’s still the show’s leading man on the dance floor. But with every post, interview, and cryptic comment, the ghosts of Strictly past seem determined to linger.