Anton du Beke has said he would like to see Giovanni Pernice back on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Breaking his silence for the first time on Giovanni’s exit, judge Anton said: “I’d like to see him back of course.” Giovanni vehemently defended his work ethic earlier this year when he was accused of “bullying” and “abusive” behaviour in the Strictly training room by actress, Amanda Abbington.

The BBC is reported to be in “panic” mode ahead of the release of a report examining bullying allegations on its primetime hit show, with bosses at the corporation worried about potential costly legal action when its findings are published.

This week, Anton added to The Sun: “But we’ll enjoy Aljaz, and his new efforts on the show this year, and we’ll move forward.”

Anton and Giovanni are good pals, having filmed their BBC travel show together as well going on tour together this year.

Anton and Giovanni are good pals, having filmed their BBC travel show together as well going on tour together this year

Strictly’s longest-serving professional dancer Giovanni has found himself at the centre of bullying allegations, after his celebrity dance partner Amanda came forward with testimony earlier this year. The Sicilian has since left the BBC show and joined the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le stelle.

Bosses at the BBC are said to be weighing their options ahead of the report’s publication, with the possibility of either Giovanni or Amanda taking them to court if they are disappointed with its findings. With excitement building for the start of the new series of Strictly on Saturday, the corporation will also want to avoid tarnishing its star-studded start.

A BBC source revealed to the Mail that the top brass “don’t know what to do for the best,” with the much-delayed bullying report.

They said: “There is a lot of panic and worry that whoever it does go in favour of will really go for the BBC, so every single word of whatever is released doesn’t give anyone the chance to complain.

“They literally don’t know what to do so it is being delayed and delayed. [Director-General] Tim Davie is a good guy but this is impossible to navigate.”

It recently emerged the staff on Strictly Come Dancing had been asked to “hand in their phones” by BBC bosses, after a reported subject access request by Abbington’s legal representatives, Carter Ruck. This will trawl for any reference to either of the former dancing duo, in the hopes of bringing to light anything that will support or disprove the bullying claim.