Strictly Come Dancing favourite Giovanni Pernice has reportedly quit the BBC dancing show.
It’s said the 33-year-old Italian dancer has decided to hang up his dancing boots despite entering talks for another series. A source told The Sun: “Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much, and now is the time to make a fresh start.
“He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he’s achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times. He remains adamant he’s done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn’t to everyone’s liking — especially in this day and age.
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“He has a lot of other exciting projects in the pipeline right now, and he’s just super-excited to get cracking on them. This, now, is his priority.” In a statement shared with the press, a BBC spokesperson said: “The Professional Dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be announced in due course.”
(Image: BBC)
The news comes just four weeks after Giovanni reportedly began contract talks with the BBC to do another year on the BBC show – marking its 20th anniversary. The dancer, who has been soaking up the sun on a relaxing holiday abroad, reportedly told bosses he was taking a three-week break to make his final decision.
And it appears as thought the dancer has made his decision to go his own way, although the BBC was said to be “very keen” on keeping Gio around.. It comes after Gio faced allegations over his training methods, including from former dance partner Amanda Abbington.
(Image: BBC)
The Sherlock star, 52, sensationally quit the ballroom competition half-way through the series last October following a series of tense discussions with the pro dancer. The actress later told her fans that she had been diagnosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder following her time on the show.
The BBC were left “puzzled” after she requested to see video footage taken during their rehearsals together as part of a potential legal claim against him. Following her exit, Gio defended his training methods and even claimed the mum-of-two had the potential to go all the way.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He said: “It’s a shame because, in my opinion, she could have gone all the way. I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring. I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place.
“In every single part of the world, if you’re a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night.” Since then, it has been reported that more of the dancer’s ex partners struggled to adapt to his strict training regime.
In March, it was claimed that three of Gio’s former Strictly partners, including Amanda, former Love Island host Laura and GMB star Ranvir to speak about their “difficult experiences” competing with the Italian dancer.
Gio first joined the show back in 2015 and quickly became a fan-favourite on the BBC show. He reached the final in his first year with actress Georgia May Foote, but he stormed to victory in 2021 with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Daily Star has reached out to Giovanni’s representative for a comment.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
