Giovanni Pernice will not return to Strictly Come Dancing as a professional for 2024, the BBC has confirmed.
The BBC One ballroom show is set to come back with a bang with a brand new series to celebrate 20 years on the airwaves. Last year, the show was won by Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, but the competition was tainted by Amanda Abbington’s explosive exit and claims about Giovanni Pernice’s gruelling training methods.
It has not been confirmed which pro dancers will return to the stage for the anniversary series. Fan favourites including Dianne Buswell, Nadia Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden will take to the dancefloor.
Also joining them is Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal. The final pro dancers returning to the show will be Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.
(Image: PA)
But fans will notice that Giovanni’s name was notably missing from the celebrity sheet – and it has now been confirmed that he won’t be returned to the show for his ninth series. The BBC have yet to issue a statement addressing the star’s absence from the professional line up this year.
The 33-year-old dancer has performed on the show for eight years. It’s fair to say he has been a fundamental part of the cast in recent years, even winning the show back in 2021 with Rose Ayling-Ellis. He also came second in his first series alongside Coronation Street star Georgia May Foot.
He also placed second in series 15 and series 16 with Debbie McGee and Faye Tozer. The star’s least successful series was with Richie Anderson when the pair placed 14th on the show.
It comes after the Italian ballroom dancer has found himself in quite the scandal after his former co-star Amanda Abbington accused him of bullying during their dance rehearsals last year. Loyal fans of the BBC One dance competition will remember that the Sherlock star dropped out of the show halfway through the series, due to “medical reasons”.
But the mum-of-two later claimed that the experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, and reportedly told friends that she found the Italian dancer’s training methods to be “abrasive”. The pro dancer, 33, has since denied allegations of “threatening and abusive” behaviour in the training room at Strictly – after rumours began to surface surrounding his conduct.
Giovanni told his fans at the time: “You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week. Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.
(Image: PA)
“Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.”
Although Giovanne won’t be returning to the show, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back at the helm alongside judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
