Giovanni Pernice, a professional dancer on BBC Strictly Come Dancing, has reportedly quit the show after facing complaints from former celebrity partners, including Amanda Abbington. The 33-year-old Italian dancer has been known for his demanding training style, which has caused controversy with his past partners. A leaked internal memo did not include Giovanni’s name among this year’s roster of professional dancers, sparking speculation about his departure. It is reported that Giovanni is now looking for new opportunities in television. He recently took a romantic holiday to Dubai with his girlfriend, Molly, after rumors of his exit from the show emerged.
During their trip to Dubai, Giovanni and Molly shared photos and videos of their time together, showcasing their love and affection for each other. The couple enjoyed the sunny weather, fancy dinners, and relaxing days by the pool and beach. In one video, Giovanni recreated the iconic Dirty Dancing lift with Molly in front of the Dubai Fountains. The couple’s relationship seemed strong, with Giovanni expressing his love for Molly in a comment on one of her posts. It appears that they are enjoying their time together despite the speculation surrounding Giovanni’s departure from Strictly Come Dancing.
Giovanni’s decision to leave the show comes after a strained partnership with actress Amanda Abbington during last year’s season. Amanda, who abruptly left the show in October, reportedly clashed with Giovanni due to his intense approach to rehearsals. An insider revealed that Giovanni felt the scrutiny on him had become too much and wanted to focus on new TV projects. While Giovanni maintains that he has done nothing wrong, the tough training methods he used with his celebrity partners have faced criticism. The BBC has not confirmed his departure but mentioned that the professional dancers for the upcoming season will be announced in due course.
Amanda Abbington cited “medical reasons” for leaving the show, but rumors have surfaced that she may be considering legal action for post-traumatic stress disorder she experienced during her time on Strictly Come Dancing. Other celebrity partners of Giovanni have also spoken out about his demanding training methods, raising concerns about his teaching style. Earlier this year, Amanda allegedly requested backstage footage of her training sessions with Giovanni, possibly as preparation for legal action. While Giovanni has not commented on the situation, reports suggest that he has ended his eight-year tenure on the show amidst controversy surrounding his training approach. The Mirror has reached out to Giovanni’s representatives for further comment on this story.
