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VICTIMS of Huw Edwards accused the BBC of double standards for releasing the Strictly report while staying silent about its investigation into the shamed presenter.

The BBC launched an inquiry into Edwards, 63, last July after the Sun revealed he paid a vulnerable teen for sexual images.

AFP

The BBC launched an inquiry into Huw Edwards last July[/caption]

Edwards, last month given a suspended jail term over indecent images of children, left the BBC in April.

The stepdad of the teen at the centre of our first story said last night: “It’s just double standards.

“I got a letter from director general Tim Davie saying they couldn’t disclose the report because of HR and GDPR and things.

“If Giovanni is a BBC employee what’s the difference?”

An ex-BBC worker who complained about harassment by Edwards accused bosses of acting quickly in the Strictly investigation “to save the show’s brand”.

They added: “At least those people have been updated.

“We have been left in the lurch.”

THE BBC yesterday apologised to Amanda Abbington as it finally published the findings of its report into Strictly bullying claims against Giovanni Pernice.

Actress Amanda, 50, is now poised to sue the Beeb for loss of earnings and damages.

PA

The BBC apologised to Amanda Abbington as it published the findings of its report into Strictly bullying claims against Giovanni Pernice[/caption]

Channel 4

Amanda, 50, is now set to sue the BBC for loss of earnings and damages[/caption]

Doug Seeburg/News Group Newspapers Ltd

The team for Gio, 34, believe he too has won after being cleared of the majority of complaints[/caption]

She told The Sun: “I want to take the time to consider the report in detail with my advisers before deciding what happens next.”

After months of speculation, the bombshell 30-page report was seen as “vindication” by Amanda.

The team for Italian pro Gio, 34, believe he too has won after being cleared of the majority of complaints.

The probe found he used swear words and “belittling” language and gave negative feedback.

It also found two moments of “inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace”.

One incident in which he grabbed his crotch and made a lewd gesture breached BBC guidelines.

Last night a source said: “Amanda is delighted and relieved, and feels her decision to speak out and complain has been rewarded.

“She hopes other celebs might come forward now, safe in the knowledge they, too, will be ­listened to.

“She has been through hell and lost work as a result of going public, and is considering taking further action against the BBC for damages and loss of earnings.

“Amanda suffered enormously, got formally diagnosed with PTSD, and feels the BBC breached its duty of care guidelines by not protecting her sooner.

“It’s hard to put a figure on how much she could expect if things go her way, but it could be up to £300,000.

“Obviously this would be the BBC’s worst nightmare; this has already been a costly investigation, and Strictly’s reputation has taken a walloping.”

The inquiry saw two ex-Met officers review hours of rehearsal footage from the last series. They also examined texts and screenshots between the pair.

Other celebrities who danced with Giovanni spoke to investigators, including Laura Whitmore, Ranvir Singh, Michelle Visage and Richie Anderson.

Debbie McGee, his 2017 dance partner, is said to have defended him in her interview.

Yesterday the BBC said in a statement: “The BBC has now concluded its review.

“We take any allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously and this review has taken time due to its complex nature and our desire to ensure a rigorous and robust process was undertaken.

It’s hard to put a figure on how much she could expect if things go her way, but it could be up to £300,000

Source

“Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we rightly expect very high standards.

“While competition can be tough, rigorous and demanding, we want the show to ultimately be a joyous and transformative experience.

“It is a great shame if this hasn’t been the case for everyone who has appeared on the show. We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all.

“We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.”

The Sun first broke the story last September when we revealed rowing behind the scenes, prompting Amanda to threaten to quit.

She later did, citing personal medical reasons.

The Sun on Sunday then revealed she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD, and had met other former contestants to share their experiences of dancing with Giovanni.

He quit this May, and the next day we revealed a formal legal investigation was under way.

Bosses have struggled to sign female stars following the claims, and there were fears the show would be pulled from schedules in its 20th year. Viewing figures are currently down on last year.

Responding to the BBC’s statement, Amanda said coming forward “was not an easy thing to do”.

She added: “In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’.

“I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work.

“My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

“Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.

“It’s not just a vindication for me, but for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.

“I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.”

She said the BBC had invited her to meet with senior management and she would be considering this.

Amanda added: “This apology means a great deal to me.

“So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were ‘not enough’.

“What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.”

We are pleased this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour.

Giovanni’s spokesman

Giovanni’s spokesman said: “We are pleased this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour.

“Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations put to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.”

Sources believe he could now be cleared to make a shock return to Strictly — though those close to him say he has also been left “burned” by his experience.

One friend added: “Giovanni feels he was thrown to the wolves, and is very bruised by some of the claims made by previous partners against him.

“He has always maintained his innocence so right now the thought of going back to Strictly seems outlandish.

“Only four allegations against him were upheld for bullying, plus two sexual complaints, but he feels there was context to these, and he was only ever joking.

“Not to belittle Amanda’s experience, which is valid, but Giovanni feels like he could have been supported better too.”

In July the BBC’s Director General took the unprecedented step of apologising for the claims emerging.

Tim Davie said he was “disappointed” to hear several celebrities had complained about poor treatment.

“He said the show’s professionals should not cross the line between being competitive and “unacceptable behaviour”.

“There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed,” he said.

“We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.”

BBC

A source said: ‘Amanda is delighted and relieved’[/caption]

BBC

Giovanni quit Strictly in May following the claims[/caption]

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OASIS have ruled out the use of dynamic pricing for their North American dates following fan outrage at the cost of tickets in the UK and Ireland.

Noel and Liam Gallagher, who reunited in August, announced yesterday that the band would tour Canada, the US and Mexico.

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Oasis have ruled out the use of dynamic pricing for their North American dates following fan outrage at prices for gigs in the UK and Ireland[/caption]

X/Oasis

The band have confirmed tour dates for US and Canada[/caption]

The first performance will be in Toronto, Ontario, on August 24, 2025.

Oasis will then head to the US for Chicago’s Soldier Field on August 28, the New York Giants’ MetLife Stadium on August 31, and Los Angeles’s Rose Ball Stadium on September 6.

They will also play Mexico City on September 12.

A string of 19 UK and Ireland dates — including two extra Wembley shows — sold out and sparked a furore over inflated prices.

A statement from Oasis’ management said: “Ticketmaster‘s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America.

“It is widely accepted that dynamic pricing remains a useful tool to combat ticket touting and keep prices for a significant proportion of fans lower than the market rate and thus more affordable.

“But, when unprecedented ticket demand (where the entire tour could be sold many times over at the moment tickets go on sale) is combined with technology that cannot cope with that demand, it becomes less effective and can lead to an unacceptable experience for fans.

“We have made this decision for the North America tour to hopefully avoid a repeat of the issues fans in the UK and Ireland experienced recently.”

There will be a pre-ballot for tickets, with fans being asked to confirm entry by October 1.

LIFE On Mars actor John Simm discovered his dad was not his real father on a trip into the past for ITV show DNA Journey.

John, 54, got the shock when he appeared on the programme with time travel police series co-star Philip Glenister.

ITV

John Simm, pictured with Philip Glenister, discovered his dad was not his real father on a trip into the past for ITV show DNA Journey[/caption]

PA:Press Association

John got the shock when he appeared on the programme with time travel police series co-star Philip[/caption]

ITV

John discover his real father Terence Naylor died in 1998[/caption]

The ITV genealogy show pairs two celebs an episode to make family discoveries using DNA tests.

John, who took part only because Philip, 61, asked him, said: “The DNA results came back and my dad, is not my dad. It turns out he isn’t my biological father, which is a bit of a shock. It spun my world, and everything I thought I knew wasn’t real.”

He used to sing and play guitar with the man he called Dad, Ronald Simm, in Lancashire working men’s clubs — and it turned out his real father often drank in the same places.

He added: “The thing that blows my mind, he might have been in the same pub one night and watched me play.

“It’s one of those mad, Back To The Future, Life On Mars things.”

But John, who has two sisters, Carol and Nicola, also admitted it was an incredibly sensitive discovery because he was so close to Ronald, who died in 2015 aged 78.

He said: “I’m glad my dad isn’t alive to see this because I’m sure he’d be shocked and upset.”

His mum Brenda, 73, was also “absolutely floored” by the news.

He said of her and Ronald: “They were together and then they split up and they were both with other people and then they got back together and had me.”

The show’s research led John to Featherstone in West Yorkshire, to discover his real father Terence Naylor died in 1998.

But he found Terence had a daughter Karen — and meets the half-sister he never knew he had in emotional scenes in the episode a week tomorrow.

ANDONI IRAOLA’S Bournemouth side put on a first half blitz to earn bragging rights on the south coast.

The Cherries were picking their spot in the first half, heading in three goals to the good at the break.

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Bournemouth’s first-half blitz sank the Saints on the south coast[/caption]

Getty

The Cherries led 3-0 at half-time[/caption]

Rex

Russell Martin’s Southampton side are yet to win a league game this season[/caption]

Summer arrival Evanilson found the back of the net for the first time since his £40m transfer from Porto.

While a deflected goal from Dango Outtara and a third from Antoine Semenyo were enough to basically put Bournemouth out of sight.

Three up and no response had the Vitality bouncing as the half-time whistle blew up.

Staring at the very real possibility of a THIRD 9-0 defeat five years, Southampton needed to change something at the break.

They did exactly that – Russell Martin making a triple change to try and change his side’s fortunes.

And for a moment it looked like it worked when, six minutes after the restart, Taylor Harwood-Bellis rose up above the crowd to nod home a goal.

Unfortunately for Saints fans, the 22-year-old rallying cries after the goal was about as far as the excitement got.

Bournemouth were unfazed by the early concession, taking back control of the game and playing their football to secure all three points.

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The Cherries now go one point ahead of Manchester United, while Southampton remain winless in 19th place with goal difference the only reason they don’t sit rock bottom of the pile.

PA

Evanilson opened his account for Bournemouth after his £40m move from Porto this summer[/caption]

Rex

Antoine Semenyo netted Bournemouth’s third[/caption]

Getty

Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ goal in the second half wasn’t enough to spark a comeback[/caption]