'It's war.' Giovanni's fury at Amanda Abbington's sex claims as he insists he has 'bombshell' evidence that 'proves Amanda is a liar' and has left the BBC in 'meltdown', his friends reveal to KATIE HIND

When Amanda Abbington tearfully told how she suffered 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature' at the hands of her Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice during a sit-down interview with Channel 4 on Wednesday night, Pernice's lawyers were watching.

I'm told they were stunned that Abbington had initiated a chat with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who had appeared on the same season of the dance show as the actress, before the result of the BBC's own investigation into her claims against the Sicilian dancer had been revealed.

Pernice's legal hawks from celebrity firm Schillings were, of course, on high alert for any new accusations that might defame their famous client, whose fall-out with Amanda began almost a year ago.

It was worse than they could have thought. Through tears, Amanda told Guru-Murthy that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by video clips of her rehearsals with Pernice that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.

She also claimed that Giovanni had blocked her from seeing the 50 hours of rehearsal footage that the BBC hold.

Now, sources familiar with the scandal tell me that it's war.

Giovanni is 'absolutely furious' with his former Strictly partner for bringing sex-related claims into her dossier against him because it was, say his friends, the first he had heard of it. Nor had she included the claims in her first accusations against him submitted to the BBC.

Meanwhile, Pernice's spokesman told the Mail: 'Giovanni has not seen or blocked [anyone from seeing] the video footage, which belongs to the BBC. Gio has chosen not to receive it to preserve the integrity of the review.'

Sources close to Giovanni say he learned that Amanda was to make the claim to Guru-Murthy just hours before the interview aired. Perhaps tellingly, she didn't repeat the accusation during her appearance on ITV's Lorraine yesterday in which she was interviewed by stand-in host Christine Lampard. ITV may have been hesitant about airing the claims for legal reasons.

The Guru-Murthy interview has hardened Giovanni's resolve, say his friends. Team Giovanni have now claimed that they have 'bombshell' evidence that will, they say, 'prove Amanda is a liar'.

A friend of the dancer told the Mail: 'Gio is so cross. He just can't work out why she would come out and say these things. She didn't give any further detail, it's like she drops a bomb and then doesn't follow it through. The verdict is just days away now, it's the home straight for him but he is absolutely determined to clear his name.

'He and his team are adamant that there is something concrete which will prove that Amanda is telling lies. He can't wait for the truth to come out, it will be a huge relief for him. Giovanni is not going let this go. It is basically war now. He will clear his name with all the evidence he has.'

I'm told that Giovanni has not ruled out taking his own legal action against Amanda. He is perhaps in a good position to, having instructed the famously aggressive law firm Schillings, which has represented the likes of JK Rowling and Meghan Markle.

'Giovanni knows what his options are when it comes to suing Amanda,' says one friend. 'Let's just say he has set himself up nicely with the infrastructure around him to pave the way. He is absolutely reserving his right. This is a mess.'

Indeed it is. Over at the BBC, I'm told that bosses are 'literally in meltdown' over what to do next. They are said to be 'incandescent' with rage after the actress claimed Giovanni behaved sexually towards her, having not raised these complaints during the investigation.

Sources say they are convinced that she wants a big pay-off and believe she calculated that if she keeps slinging mud, she will get one.

They also suspect that Amanda will 'probably never leave the situation to ''just be'' and despite apologising to those celebrities who didn't have a positive experience on Strictly, director general Tim Davie is said to be ''concerned'' about where the scandal goes next.'

'It is a nightmare,' one insider tells me. 'They keep telling us that they will listen to complaints but Amanda, and now others, are shouting louder about their negative experiences of the BBC.'

During her interview with Guru-Murthy, Amanda described the abuse she allegedly received after complaining publicly about Giovanni's behaviour.

'The aftermath has been something that I wasn't expecting,' she told him. 'The death threats and the rape threats towards not only myself but my daughter, and the threats of death to my son.

'I was getting like dozens a day, of people just saying, ''Just go and kill yourself'', ''I hope you die of cancer''.'

But friends of Giovanni point out that he too is vulnerable.

'Imagine having someone chucking out accusation after accusation knowing full well that there is no way you can respond because you are in the middle of a BBC investigation,' said one friend.

'It seems like because he is a man it's OK - and it isn't. We are worried about him. It's a case of keeping him going for just a little bit longer now, and once the outcome comes, he can regroup and get his life back together.'

Meanwhile Guru-Murthy, who has been proudly sharing his scoop on social media, has become the butt of jokes inside the Channel 4 News office.

Colleagues have been giggling at the fact that he, as such a seasoned journalist, could have missed such a scandalous story as a member of Strictly's Class of 2023.

'It's hilarious,' said one. 'He was the reporter with the inside access but he didn't see it!'