Amanda Abbington has reportedly blocked Giovanni Pernice from being able to phone her (Image: PA)

Amanda Abbington has reportedly blocked Giovanni Pernice’s telephone number after he allegedly tried to call her amid an ongoing Strictly Come Dancing investigation into his behaviour

Amanda Abbington is said to have blocked Giovanni Pernice’s number after the former Strictly Come Dancing professional allegedly tried to contact her amid their ongoing dispute.

A new report has suggested that 50-year-old Sherlock star Amanda was startled to see 33-year-old Giovanni’s name appear on her phone as an incoming call. The duo had been paired together as contestants on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing last year.

However, they abruptly quit the show after five weeks, and while health reasons were cited for the sudden exit at the time, it was later revealed that Amanda was bringing a complaint against the show claiming the professional dancer had been abusive to her during their training sessions. Giovanni has always protested his innocence, but he will not return to Strictly for the 2024 season – which begins in just two weeks.

The investigation into Amanda’s claims is still ongoing – and a decision is expected to be announced. However, the news that Giovanni allegedly attempted to contact the actress while the investigation has been in process is said to now be delaying the show.

Giovanni exited Strictly after starring on the show since 2015 ( Image: PA)

Amanda is said to have found Giovanni’s attempt to call her as ‘very odd’ (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

According to The Sun on Sunday: “Giovanni tried to call Amanda a few weeks ago. Nobody knows why. They’ve not spoken since she quit the show, so for him to call out of the blue, especially with an inquiry taking place, is very odd.

“Amanda didn’t want to speak to him and blocked his number. She wants nothing to do with Giovanni. She told her team of the incident and they passed on the information to the BBC executives heading up the inquiry. Giovanni hasn’t been in touch since.”

The suggestion Giovanni tried to contact Amanda comes a week after The Mail on Sunday reported that the dancer is expected to be cleared by the BBC’s investigation. A source told the publication: “The BBC wanted to exonerate Mr Pernice because nothing that Amanda said could be proven and that he had been very supportive of her.”

The report suggested Amanda expected to lose her claim. After Amanda made her complaint public at the start of the year, a number of other former Strictly professionals and celebrity contestants have spoken out about his abrasive approach to rehearsals. Co-star Graziano Di Prima, 30, also found himself under fire and accused of unprofessional conduct.

He is not returning to Strictly for the 2024 season. The ongoing investigation into Giovanni’s behaviour is said to be a “dark cloud” over the hit BBC show which will celebrate 20 years on the air with the launch of season 22 on Saturday 14 September.