Giovanni Pernice has reportedly quit Strictly Come Dancing after facing scrutiny related to his past female contestants. The professional dancer’s eight-year stint on the show has been marked by controversy, with his former partner Amanda Abbington quitting the competition last year due to personal reasons. Abbington, along with other contestants, is said to have had difficult experiences with Giovanni’s training methods, leading to PTSD in her case. The actor reportedly demanded footage of their rehearsals, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
The decision to leave the show comes as Giovanni feels that he has achieved all he can on Strictly Come Dancing, having won the trophy in 2021 and reaching the final multiple times. He has a number of exciting projects lined up and wants to focus on other TV opportunities. Despite the BBC standing by him amid the controversies, Giovanni believes that the scrutiny has become too much for him to handle. Reports of his departure will be disappointing for the network, which had indicated that he would be part of the upcoming series.
Amanda’s mid-series departure in the previous season was due to personal reasons and rumors of a feud with Giovanni. This incident, along with complaints from other contestants such as Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh, has shed light on Giovanni’s training style and its impact on his partners. While some celebrities have supported Giovanni, others have voiced concerns about the way the BBC is handling the situation. Giovanni has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that his approach is aimed at bringing out the best in his partners, although some have found it difficult to work with him.
Former partners of Giovanni, including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Georgia May Foote, and Debbie McGee, have spoken out in support of him. Despite the controversies surrounding his time on the show, Giovanni has had successful partnerships, including winning the series and making it to the final multiple times. His relationships with his former partners have been positive, with some even leading to romantic involvement. However, recent allegations and reports of clashes with contestants have cast a shadow on his future on Strictly Come Dancing, leading to his decision to leave the show.
The BBC has continued to support Giovanni amid the controversies, promoting his new prime time show with Anton Du Beke. While some former partners have defended him, others have expressed concerns about their experiences working with him. The network has stated that there is ongoing dialogue between production teams and contestants to address any concerns swiftly. The situation has led to discussions among the contestants who have had difficult experiences with Giovanni about how to best move forward and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Overall, Giovanni Pernice’s decision to quit Strictly Come Dancing highlights the challenges faced by professional dancers on the show and the impact of their training methods on their partners. The controversies surrounding Giovanni’s time on the show have raised questions about the handling of such issues by the network and the need for better communication between production teams and contestants. As Giovanni moves on to other projects, it remains to be seen how this development will shape the future of Strictly Come Dancing and the experiences of future contestants on the show.
