Craig Revel Horwood makes huge Amanda Abbington tape admission as he says 'I've watched it'

Pernice, 33, has denied accusations of "abusive" behaviour towards the 53-year-old actress but has stepped away from Strictly.

The investigation prompted by Abbington's claims has also seen Graziano Di Prima, 30, axed from the show.

Revel Horwood opened up on the controversy during an interview on Friday morning, with just weeks to go until the usual launch date of the show.

"I knew nothing, the judges are very separate, when it came out in the press, I was shocked along with all the other judges," he told This Morning hosts Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson.

"We have nothing to do whatsoever with their training or how they get there at that point on a Saturday night - we don't see the camera rehearsals on the Friday, so we literally come in on the Saturday, judge what we see for that one minute 30 and it's done."

He continued: "I just want the investigation to be over so I can find out myself the truth - because I have nothing really to say.

"You know, it's really hard to pass judgement or comment on, 'he said this, she said that,' you know? It's really difficult and it has erupted.

"And of course, I've watched the Amanda tape and all of that sort of stuff and I've just been blown away by the whole situation."

On the BBC probe, which was scheduled to have wrapped up this week, the judge confessed: "I just want the investigation to be over so I can find out myself the truth - because I have nothing really to say.

He was asked whether he was "surprised and shocked," to which he answered: "Yeah, completely and utterly shocked by the whole situation."

Gibson delved into the BBC's response, asking Revel Horwood if he believed the broadcaster was taking "the necessary steps to investigate this properly".

"Yes, I really hope so - I really hope so. For their sake of course and for the future of Strictly Come Dancing," the choreographer replied.

"Putting chaperones in is a really good idea," he noted. "We have them in the theatre and we have a psychologist, if the rehearsals are getting too much for you, you have someone to go to, to talk about it. A chaperone in the room is just that one extra eye."

As he compared dancers' discipline to that of Olympians, he added: "You don't become an Olympian with someone not telling you what's wrong with your work, you know.

"But of course, you have to remember Strictly is not the Olympics, it's a bunch of celebrities learning to dance from scratch, from nothing, by amazing pros who have been in the business since they were three and trained within an inch of their lives. So you're putting two very different powerhouses together."

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The judge previously made similar comments as he welcomed the BBC's plans to introduce chaperones on the show.

"When I was in (musical) Annie we had chaperones everywhere, because of the kids and laws and all of that stuff," he explained while speaking on BBC Radio Wales

"And I've noticed in the theatre world we have chaperones and people we can speak to if you're having a down day.

"We have psychologists on the shows now and all of that, so I think it's just a normal progression of what's happening in life now."

He concluded: "I think it’s good. I think it's good to have that."