There were few Strictly professionals who were as excited as Giovanni Pernice for the show’s 20th anniversary.
A three-month celebration of dancing, sequins and celebrity, it would also be Pernice’s tenth appearance on the BBC’s most-watched show. She couldn’t wait to get started.
But yesterday, weeks after the Mail revealed that the criticized Italian would not be returning for the series, the BBC published its list of dance professionals for the class of 2024 – and Giovanni was notably absent.
It comes after news that his partner of last year, Amanda Abbington, hired top 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 embroiled in scandal since her 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 turning back” for him and Strictly, the show that made him one of the most recognizable faces on television.
BBC bosses had hoped he would be able to return next year, once the scandal that has engulfed his beloved show has passed. But even if he is exonerated (which he and his team hope he will be) it won’t 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’s a real shame, but there’s no turning back: it’s over. He is a tough guy but all this has hurt him a lot. Gio loved entertaining the show’s loyal audience for many, many years, but she also loves teaching her peers how to dance.
‘It was their dream job: watching their careers and seeing them improve. But even if this all goes away and the investigation rules in his favor, he simply wouldn’t be able to come back next year.’
It’s 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 Abbington had been at odds (which she officially denied), he left the show after nine weeks.
The Sherlock actress told the Strictly production team she was leaving for medical reasons. However, a few weeks later, she asked them for the rehearsal footage that featured her and Pernice.
In January he claimed in The Sun that he had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after taking part in the much-loved show. She reportedly told his friends that the dancer’s behavior had been “abrasive.”
Giovanni and Amanda performed together on Strictly Come Dancing last year. Amanda withdrew from the competition after five performances.
Amanda is seen struggling with rehearsals. She has now hired prominent attorneys Carter-Ruck to represent her and two other women in a complaint against Giovanni.
Giovanni vehemently denies the allegations and insists he is a “tough taskmaster” and a “winner.”
As for yesterday’s announcement, it came a month after the Mail revealed that Pernice quit the show when it became clear Abbington was not going to give up her misconduct allegations against him. For Pernice, it was a devastating decision to have to make.
After all, the BBC had offered him a contract just weeks before, and he was delighted to sign it. His friends say he is “sad” at how he ended his Strictly journey. “All this has left a very bad taste in me,” said one.
No matter if Pernice, 33, is cleared of everything he is accused of, this year’s Strictly, his 22nd series, must surely now be tarnished.
The rest of last year’s cast will return, including Neil Jones, who is set to land a famous partner again after two years on the sidelines without one. Cypriot dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas will also join the group and will have 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 of those working at Strictly are “gutted” by their decision to leave. For months they supported him. As well as being a star of the show, he is also close friends with many members of the ‘Strictly family’.
A BBC employee tells me: ‘This series would be a lot more fun for everyone if Gio was involved. There has been immense loyalty to him from his BBC colleagues. We all thought he would disappear, but Amanda wasn’t going to let that happen. Nobody wanted this. Viewers of the show love Gio.”
Behind the scenes at Strictly HQ, the investigation into the dancer’s behavior continues.
We can reveal that Pernice, in recent weeks, has begun collaborating 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 am told that he is “fully committed” to the process and is “positive” about the outcome.
He insists that he asked the BBC to record his rehearsals with Amanda – and not the other way around – and has provided evidence of this.
Regarding the accusations that have been made against him, he undertakes to defend himself. Last month he ordered London-based law firm Schillings to represent him as he promised not to be struck off. Schillings insists Pernice will “clear his name” and “cooperate fully” with the BBC investigation.
In a statement to the Mail they said: ‘Schillings is working with BBC studios to provide them with Giovanni’s evidence to firmly refute the claims being made about him and confirm that Giovanni is cooperating fully with that process.
‘As with any reality television show, when decisions are made for entertainment purposes, 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 measure, some say, that effectively means “war.”
Her decision to hire the hardcore company came after Amanda claimed Giovanni left her bruised after kicking her foot.
Sources close to the star say that if he is acquitted, he will “consider his options” before taking legal action against the baseless insults against him.
Amanda and Giovanni in a promotional session for last year’s series. Giovanni says he is committed to fighting allegations from his former Strictly partners
The couple dances foxtrot during Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere series, receiving a good score of 31 out of 40.
“Don’t expect this to just go away,” a friend said. “Anyone who knows Gio knows that he will always stand up for himself and always tell the truth.”
I’m also told that he is said to be “disappointed” that robust psychological testing is not performed on celebrity contestants.
For now, however, Pernice remains optimistic.
On Friday she will begin her UK dance tour with Strictly judge Anton du Beke – Anton and Giovann Together – at the Beck Theater in Hayes, west London.
He also has a film called Man And Witch: The Dance Of A Thousand Steps (I’m told its title, given recent events, has caused much amusement among his friends). He attended the premiere of the film, also starring Jennifer Saunders and Eddie Izzard, earlier this month with his model girlfriend Molly Brown.
And she also launched a fragrance for her new brand, Vita.
A friend tells me: ‘Giovanni is very encouraged by the support of his fans. “They pretty much keep a smile on their face.”