Amanda Abbington has reached a five-figure settlement with the BBC following her allegations of bullying and harassment during her time on Strictly Come Dancing, bringing a new development to a controversy that has cast a long shadow over the hit dance show.

The actress, who appeared on the BBC programme in 2023, raised concerns about the behaviour she experienced while partnered with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

Months after leaving the competition, Abbington described Pernice’s alleged behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’, prompting widespread discussion about the working environment behind one of television’s most popular shows.

Pernice has consistently denied allegations of abusive and threatening behaviour.

The BBC subsequently launched an investigation into the complaints, with the corporation facing questions over the welfare measures in place for celebrities and professional dancers taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

The dispute ultimately resulted in a formal review, which concluded in September 2024.

While the BBC did not uphold every allegation, the investigation found that some complaints relating to verbal bullying and harassment were substantiated.

However, complaints concerning physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld.

Following the conclusion of the review, the BBC issued an apology to Abbington and thanked her for coming forward.

Now, the latest development has seen BBC Studios agree an out-of-court settlement with the actress.

The five-figure sum was paid by BBC Studios rather than directly from the television licence fee, according to reports.

The BBC declined to comment on the settlement when approached.

The agreement brings another chapter to a dispute that began after Abbington’s early departure from Strictly.

At the time, the actress cited personal reasons for leaving the competition before later speaking publicly about her experience.

Her allegations prompted an increasingly intense debate about the treatment of contestants during rehearsals and the pressures involved in participating in the programme.

The BBC’s investigation was closely watched because Strictly has traditionally been presented as a family-friendly entertainment show, with the glamorous costumes, elaborate routines and famous celebrity contestants forming a major part of its appeal.

However, the allegations brought attention to the demanding environment behind the scenes, where contestants and professional dancers spend long hours rehearsing complicated routines under significant pressure.

The BBC acknowledged that although production staff had taken steps to address concerns at the time, those measures had ultimately not been sufficient.

In its statement following the review, the corporation said it took allegations of bullying and harassment ‘very seriously’ and explained that the investigation had taken time because of its complex nature and the need for a rigorous process.

The BBC also stressed that Strictly was intended to be a positive experience despite the competitive nature of the programme.

The corporation said it expected high standards from everyone involved and wanted the show to remain a ‘joyous and transformative experience’.

It then apologised directly to Abbington and thanked her for participating in the investigation.

The findings also led to changes in the way the BBC approached welfare on Strictly.

Among the measures introduced was a stronger duty-of-care framework designed to provide greater protection for celebrities and professionals working on the show.

The controversy also had consequences for Pernice’s Strictly career.

The professional dancer was absent from the show’s professional line-up in 2024, before continuing his career in Italy on the country’s equivalent dance programme, Ballando Con Le Stelle.

He later won the competition alongside actor and singer Bianca Guaccero.

Throughout the controversy, Pernice rejected allegations that he had behaved in an abusive or threatening manner.

The settlement does not amount to a finding that all of Abbington’s original allegations were upheld.

Instead, the BBC’s investigation concluded that some complaints relating to verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, while allegations concerning physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not.

That distinction has remained an important part of the story since the review was published.

Abbington’s settlement now comes as Strictly prepares to enter a major new era.

The long-running programme is returning next month with a new group of 15 celebrity contestants and an extensively reshaped presenting team.

For the first time in years, viewers will see the show without its familiar presenting duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Their departures have marked one of the biggest changes in the programme’s history, with Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe taking over presenting duties.

The new line-up represents a significant change in tone and structure as the BBC attempts to refresh the programme while retaining its huge audience.

Among this year’s celebrity contestants are EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, Love Island star Dani Dyer, Australian singer Delta Goodrem and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.

They will be joined by Cach Mercer, Will Best, Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey, actress Jaime Winstone and Bridgerton star Bethany Antonia.

Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, dog behaviourist Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, Tabby Stoecker, YouTuber John Nellis and Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters complete the cast.

The new series is arriving at a particularly significant moment for Strictly.

The show remains one of the BBC’s biggest entertainment programmes, but the controversy surrounding its backstage culture has forced producers to take a closer look at how contestants are supported.

The changes introduced following the review are therefore likely to remain an important part of the show’s future.

The BBC has repeatedly stressed that competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, but that this should never come at the expense of contestants’ welfare.

For viewers, the new series will inevitably be watched against the backdrop of the controversies that have surrounded the programme over the past two years.

The latest settlement is unlikely to erase those questions, but it does bring a degree of resolution to Abbington’s dispute with the corporation.

The actress has previously indicated that she was prepared to consider further action following the BBC’s review, making the reported agreement a significant development.

For Pernice, meanwhile, the settlement does not change the conclusions reached by the BBC investigation, which upheld some complaints but rejected others.

The dancer has continued his career outside the UK and has remained a prominent figure in Italian television.

Strictly’s producers now face the challenge of moving forward.

With a new presenting team, a fresh cast of celebrities and a revamped approach to the programme, bosses will hope that the focus can return to the dance floor rather than the controversies behind the scenes.

Yet the legacy of the Abbington allegations is unlikely to disappear completely.

The BBC’s apology, its acknowledgement that some complaints were upheld and the subsequent welfare reforms have all become part of Strictly’s history.

The reported five-figure settlement adds another significant development to that story.

As the glittering costumes return and a new generation of celebrities prepare to take to the ballroom floor, the programme will be hoping that its latest chapter is remembered for the dancing rather than the disputes that have dominated headlines.

For Abbington, the settlement represents the latest step after years of scrutiny surrounding her experience on the show.

And for Strictly, the return of the programme offers an opportunity to demonstrate whether the extensive changes introduced since the controversy can help restore confidence in the format.

The new series will now have to prove that the show’s famous combination of competition, entertainment and glamour can continue while maintaining the stronger standards of welfare that the BBC says it has put in place.