'Giovanni's a tough guy but this has really hurt him. He'll NEVER go back to Strictly.' The dancer's friends reveal to KATIE HIND why he believes he'll be exonerated - and why he'll fight back against his accusers...
There were few Strictly professionals who were as excited as Giovanni Pernice about the show’s 20th anniversary.
A three-month long celebration of dance, sequins and celebrity, it would also be Pernice’s tenth stint on the BBC’s most-watched show. He couldn’t wait to get started.
But yesterday, weeks after the Mail revealed the under-fire Italian wouldn’t be returning for the series, the BBC issued its list of dance pros for the Class of 2024 – and Giovanni was notably absent.
It came after news that his partner from last year, Amanda Abbington, has hired leading lawyers Carter-Ruck to represent her and two other women in a complaint against him.
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice with his model girlfriend Molly Brown this month
The dancer has been engulfed in scandal since his former Strictly partner Amanda Abbington, pictured, said she had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after her time on the show
And today the Mail can reveal that there is ‘no way back’ for him and Strictly, the show that made him into one of the most recognisable faces on television.
BBC bosses had hoped that he might return next year, once the scandal that has engulfed their beloved show has blown over. But even if he is exonerated – which he and his team expect him to be – he will not revive his relationship with Strictly, say sources close to him.
‘This is the end of Gio and Strictly,’ a friend of the star tells me. ‘It is a real shame, but there is no way back now – it’s over. He’s a tough guy but all of this has really hurt him. Gio absolutely loved entertaining the show’s very loyal audience for many, many years but he also loves teaching his partners to dance.
‘It was his dream job, watching their journey, seeing them improve. But even if this all goes away and the investigation finds in his favour, he just couldn’t go back next year.’
It has been a torrid six months for Pernice, who became a household name after winning the 2021 series with the show’s first deaf contestant, Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Last November, following numerous reports that he and Ms Abbington had been at loggerheads (which she denied on the record), she quit the show after nine weeks.
The Sherlock actress told the Strictly production team that she was leaving due to medical reasons. However, some weeks later, she asked them for the rehearsal footage featuring her and Pernice.
In January she claimed in The Sun that she had suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after taking part in the much-loved show. She reportedly told friends the dancer’s behaviour had been ‘abrasive’.
Giovanni and Amanda perform together on Strictly Come Dancing last year. Amanda withdrew from the competition after five performances
Amanda is seen struggling with the rehearsals. She has now hired leading lawyers Carter-Ruck to represent her and two other women in a complaint against Giovanni
Giovanni vehemently denies the allegations and insists that he is a ‘hard taskmaster’ and a ‘winner’.
As for yesterday’s announcement, it came a month after the Mail revealed that Pernice quit the show as it became clear that Ms Abbington was not going to give up her accusations of misconduct against him. For Pernice, it was a devastating decision to have to make.
After all, he had been offered a contract by the BBC just weeks before, which he was thrilled to sign. Friends say he is ‘sad’ at how his Strictly journey has ended. ‘It has all left a very bad taste,’ said one.
No matter whether Pernice, 33, is cleared of all that is alleged against him, this year’s Strictly – its 22nd series – must surely now be marred.
The rest of last year’s cast will be back, including Neil Jones who is tipped to get a celebrity partner again after two years on the sidelines without one. Cypriot dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas will also join the group and is set to get a starring role.
But, despite this, Pernice’s absence will be a weekly reminder to his millions of fans of the scandal that has engulfed the flagship show.
Behind the scenes at the BBC, many who work on Strictly are ‘gutted’ at his decision to leave. For months they stood by him. As well as being a star of the show, he is also close friends with many of the ‘Strictly family’.
One BBC employee tells me: ‘This series would be a lot more enjoyable for everyone if Gio was involved. There has been an immense amount of loyalty towards him from his BBC colleagues. We all thought it would go away but Amanda wasn’t going to let that happen. Nobody wanted this. Gio is adored by the show’s viewers.’
Behind the scenes at Strictly HQ, the inquiry into the dancer’s behaviour is ongoing.
We can reveal that Pernice has, in recent weeks, begun to engage with the BBC to share his side of the story.
Gionvanni, with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, holds the glitterball trophy after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021
I’m told he is ‘fully committed’ to the process and is ‘positive’ about the outcome.
He insists that he asked the BBC to record his rehearsal sessions with Amanda – not the other way around – and has handed over the proof of that.
As for the allegations which have been levelled against him, he is pledging to fight back. Last month he instructed London-based legal firm Schillings to represent him as he vowed not to be cancelled. Schillings insists that Pernice will ‘clear his name’ and ‘fully co-operate’ with the BBC’s inquiry.
In a statement to the Mail they said: ‘Schillings is engaging with BBC studios to provide it with Giovanni’s evidence to strongly rebut the claims being made about him and confirm that Giovanni is fully cooperating with that process.
‘As with any reality TV show, when decisions are being made for entertainment reasons, the producers have a duty of care to all participants. Giovanni is fully committed to clearing his name and defending his reputation against all false or misleading accusations against him.’ It is a move, some say, that effectively means ‘war’.
His decision to hire the ‘hardcore’ company came after Amanda claimed that Giovanni left her bruised after stamping on her foot.
Sources close to the star say that, should he be cleared, he will ‘consider his options’ over taking legal action against the unsubstantiated slurs against him.
Amanda and Giovanni in a promotional shoot for last year's series. Giovanni says he is pledging to fight back against the accusations of his former Strictly partners
The pair dance the foxtrot during the series to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac - receiving a good score of 31 out of 40
‘Don’t expect this to just go away,’ said one friend. ‘Anyone who knows Gio knows that he will always stand up for himself, he will always say the truth.’
I’m also told that he is said to be ‘disappointed’ that robust psychological tests are not carried out on the celebrity contestants.
For now though, Pernice remains upbeat.
On Friday he will begin his UK dance tour with Strictly judge Anton du Beke – Anton and Giovann Together – at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, west London.
He also has a film out named Man And Witch: The Dance Of A Thousand Steps (I’m told its title, given recent events, has prompted much amusement amongst his friends). He attended the premiere of the film, which also stars Jennifer Saunders and Eddie Izzard, earlier this month with his model girlfriend Molly Brown.
And he also launched a fragrance for his new brand, Vita.
One friend tells me: ‘Giovanni is buoyed up so much by the support from his fans. They are very much keeping a smile on his face.’
