Krishnan Guru-Murthy has spoken about the challenges celebrity contestants faced on Strictly Come Dancing last year, highlighting his former co-star Amanda Abbington's struggles.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4, the Channel 4 News presenter discussed his experience on the series and revealed how he raised concerns to production regarding the difficult time Abbington was experiencing.
The Sherlock star had raised issues, including allegations of bullying, against her former professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
The journalist noted that all the celebrity contestants found the competition challenging, each for different reasons. He also discussed how they often shared their experiences and supported each other via a WhatsApp chat.
Guru-Murthy shared: "I set up a chat on WhatsApp I think on our first day when we all met and it was very lively and we all shared our experiences of Strictly and afterwards.
"And it was full of ‘This is difficult’, ‘This is a nightmare’ and all the rest of it. We would share our trials and tribulations and Amanda did as well.
“So, yes there were messages that she posted that made it very clear that she was struggling and having a very hard time,” the 54-year-old continued.
“We were all having a hard time, you know, because it's tough, but it was different in terms of what she was saying.”
The broadcaster, who has mostly spoken positively about his time paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley, continued: “I did speak to people at the time about the fact that I was worried about Amanda and that they should speak to her.
“And they reassured me that they were in close contact with her.”
The broadcaster went on to explain that after voicing his concerns about Abbington’s especially challenging experience compared to the rest of the cast, he focused his attention back to his own journey.
He continued: “For four days of the week you're buried in the Strictly experience with your dance partner and just concentrating on that, you don't have time to think about anything else.
“So I raised it, I talked to them about it, they said, ‘Yes we're on it, don't worry’.”
In March this year, rumours started to swirl as Abbington made formal complaints to the BBC about Pernice, her professional partner on the series.
Months later, and the corporation is still embroiled in a growing Strictly scandal as more allegations by other contestants against the professionals have come out.
One reality TV star who took part in the 2023 series, Zara McDermott, revealed her professional partner Graziano di Prima kicked her during studio rehearsals. After BBC bosses saw the footage, he was dismissed from the show.
Abbington recently spoke with Guru-Murthy for a Channel 4 interview, detailing her experiences in the rehearsal room, alleging that she was bullied and “humiliated in a sexual way.”
She also claimed that over 50 hours of rehearsal footage are being withheld from her and her legal team for use in a potential case.
"It's out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I'm not the one who's blocking it," she said.
"I've said anyone can watch it, but he [Giovanni] doesn't want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he's got nothing to hide.
"Yes, it's bullying and it's aggressive behaviour, there were other things that were very upsetting, that you manage in the room at the time, because you're a woman, and you have to manage those things because otherwise, what do you do?"
Pernice has vehemently denied the claims. A spokesman for the dancer previously said: “We are co-operating fully with the BBC’s review process.
“All parties have been asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media before it concludes. We will continue to respect the integrity of the investigation and believe it is the right forum for all the evidence to be reviewed.
“As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us. They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form.
“Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and, having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.
“We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.”
The cast of the upcoming 2024 series have started rehearsals while the results of the BBC investigation are imminent.
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
