POLL: Should Giovanni Pernice be allowed back on the Strictly dancefloor? Have your say

Dancer Giovanni Pernice has emerged from the Strictly ­bullying probe with rather less glitz than he had before - so we're asking if you think he should be allowed to return to the BBC show.

The BBC has apologised to complainant Amanda Abbington after it 'upheld some, but not all' of her accusations about the Italian during their time on the series. In all, six from 17 were upheld.

While Giovanni’s camp have insisted those six were 'trivial', Amanda does not agree and said they ­vindicated her decision to speak out. Among the upheld complaints were claims of “isolated incidents where Giovanni swore or threw his hands in the air”.

The review said “he was swearing and using what could be described as belittling language.” This amounted to bullying ­behaviour, it added. Another complaint upheld was that Giovanni, 34, was using “too much negative feedback”.

One told how he grabbed his crotch and uttered a lewd remark, and also told his dance partner that he “wanted to f*** her”. But a source close to Giovanni claimed: “This was all done in jest and perceived in this way by Amanda. They were intended as jokes and compliments of her dancing style. Her language could be just as coarse back.”

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He was cleared of threatening, abusive and physical behaviour. A source close to Amanda said: “Any ­findings of workplace misconduct by an internal ­investigation is pretty extraordinary. It really says ­something, and was deemed serious enough to ­apologise. It also shows up his teaching methods which he has so publicly said was beyond criticism. Giovanni certainly hasn’t been cleared as he would like to portray.”

The source noted that Amanda’s version of events was backed by other people, adding: “This is ­corroborated by a number of different people, ex-contestants, dancers, choreographers. It is not an insignificant number of people who have supported her. She is relieved as many thought it would be a massive fudge. A lot of people thought it shouldn’t be an internal investigation at all but given to an external body to consider.”

Giovanni left the show amid the accusations against him. But BBC insiders have since refused to reveal if the findings would have been enough to axe him at the time. Amanda’s source insisted: “He breached their policies so you have to ask how they would have kept him on.”

Giovanni last night told how being accused of bullying “wasn’t the nicest time of my life” and he was “relieved” at the review. He said: “Today I’m happy because, you know, at the ­beginning there were very, very serious allegations thrown out at. But none of those allegations have been upheld. The threatening, abusive, ­harassment ­behaviour ­allegations have not been upheld.”

Strictly returned to our screens on September 14 for its 20th anniversary show. Chaperones are now present during rehearsals.

What do you think? Should Giovanni be allowed back on the Strictly dancefloor? Take our poll above and expand on your thoughts in the comments.