Strictly's Amanda Abbington pauses interview to issue apology in emotional Giovanni moment

Amanda Abbington was forced to apologise as she spoke out about her "toxic" experience on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Sherlock actress, 50, appeared on Thursday's instalment (July 25) of Lorraine, her first live interview since lodging a complaint against her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

Amanda told Christine Lampard of the shocking abuse she had received online since the allegations were made, including death and rape threats to both her and her family.

"I knew that raising my concerns would mark me as public enemy number one but I didn't expect the onslaught that I got and the persistent amount of death and rape threats," she admitted, adding: "Not only to me but to my children and other members of my family."

Amanda began taking screenshots of the abusive messages, however, admitted she had to stop as it was impacting her mental health.

The mum-of-two revealed another shocking message she received which said: "I'm sat here laughing at the thought of your daughter being raped in front of you because of what you did to Giovanni."

The actress was quick to issue an apology to viewers over the message, which could have caused upset and distress. She said: "I'm so sorry if that has upset anybody watching. I'm so sorry, but things like that were happening every day for eight months."

Amanda slammed the "toxic environment" she endured for five weeks before pulling out of Strictly in 2023. The Mr Selfridge star said: "I felt I had to speak up because I don't want people to be frightened about speaking about if they're being bullied or if they are in a difficult situation and they feel like they are not being heard.

"I do feel I have the right to say it was a toxic environment that I was in while I was rehearsing because it was. I know what happened in the room, and it would be remiss of me if I was to say it's fine, I don't want to talk about it.

"It's important that women and men, because men get bullied as well, it's important that women feel they are in a safe space where they can say this is inappropriate behaviour and it needs to be recognised."

Amanda added: "It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five weeks. It started very early on and when it started to happen I shut down because I recognised those red flags."

She said the issues began early on in training, telling 2008 Strictly contestant Christine: "It was week one, the third day. I've got texts to the producer on the third day saying 'This is awful, he hates me, I don't know what I'm doing wrong'."