An emotional Giovanni Pernice has paid tribute to his ‘best friend’ Anton Du Beke for being the ‘support of my life’ after his ‘world collapsed’ following the Amanda Abbington allegations.

Addressing an audience on Tuesday, the first night of his tour, Last Dance, at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe, the former Strictly professional spoke in between dances and opened up about the scandal.

Reflecting on the time before the Sherlock actress, 50, made her bombshell allegations, Giovanni, 34, said: ‘I like to think I became quite successful. I was selling out everywhere.

‘I was on a TV show with my best friend [Du Beke] so I felt like I was at the top of my game.

‘I was untouchable – a superhero. I felt like I had my army… my audience. But fate did have different plans for me.’

In July last year, more than six months after Amanda Abbington quit the BBC show citing ‘personal reasons’, the actress accused Pernice of ‘unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour’ during their time dancing together on Strictly.

An emotional Giovanni Pernice has paid tribute to his ‘best friend’ Anton Du Beke for being the ‘support of my life’ after his ‘world collapsed’ following the Amanda Abbington allegations

tThe former Strictly professional spoke in between dances and opened up about the scandal when Amanada Abbington accused him of bullying

Pernice rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld.

But complaints of verbal bullying and harᴀssment meant the BBC issued an apology but Giovanni said he was ‘pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour’.

Now cleared by the investigation and a dancer on the Italian version of Strictly, Giovanni is touring the UK and said: ‘You probably know it hasn’t been the greatest year for me. I’m finally able to talk about it, I felt like the world collapsed.

‘I didn’t have anybody around me. People who were supposed to be my friends disappeared.

‘I felt left alone. Nobody wanted to see me. They didn’t want to be seen with me, because people would be like, ‘Oh you’re with him’.

The dancer went on to say there was always a voice in his head telling him he would be vindicated one day and the scandal would be over.

Giovanni also credited his ‘idol’ the Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, and said: ‘He would say to me, ‘Giovanni, don’t worry. Whatever happens, remember, the show has to go on.’

But the real source of support to the Italian dancer was his best friend and Strictly judge Anton Du Beke who continued to go on tour with Giovanni after the allegations from Amanda emerged – the pair will set off on their Together Again tour this year.

Giovanni said: ‘I was on a TV show with my best friend [Du Beke] so I felt like I was at the top of my game. I felt like I had my army… my audience. But fate did have different plans for me’ 

Amanda accused Pernice of ‘unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour’ during their time dancing together on Strictly

Pernice rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld

Giovanni continued: ‘I’m still standing and thank god I did that tour last year with my best friend who was the support of my life.’

Then pointing to Anton, 58, who was in the stalls watching, Giovanni asked the audience to give him a ‘big applause’.

Finishing off the show, the dancer said: ‘Remember this is not the last tour, this is the last dance because I’m going to be back in the summer with my best friend on the best tour. I love you so much.’