Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly ready to welcome Giovanni Pernice back ‘with open arms’ after a ‘really tough’ past few months.
The pro dancer, 33, has faced months of allegations against his teaching style, after reports of a feud emerged with former partner Amanda Abbington.
It had been claimed that producers were ‘undecided’ about whether to pair Giovanni with a celebrity on the next season of Strictly, however, his future on the show has now been revealed.
Here is what you need to know.
Will Giovanni Pernice be back on Strictly?
Sources have now claimed he will be welcome back, and is ‘thrilled’ to be so.
An insider has said he’s been ‘offered a contract’, adding to the Mail: ‘While there are dots on i’s and crosses on t’s still to be written in, it all looks to be happening for him. As it’s the 20th anniversary, it’s a big year for the show and everyone involved wants Giovanni to be part of it.
‘It has been a really difficult few months for him. To have been hit with such claims – but not having anything he can respond to – has been really, really tough.’
The publication also notes that the BBC and Giovanni’s team say no official complaints have been made against him, despite reports that his former partners Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore also had a negative experience with him on the BBC show and shared an ’emotional summit’ with Amanda about working with Giovanni.
‘The BBC are backing him all of the way,’ the source added. ‘There have been no complaints about Giovanni’s behaviour, nobody has actually come forward and said, “He did this to me” or “He did that to me”.’
And despite reported regrets over pairing Giovanni with Sherlock actress Amanda, 52, who quit the BBC One competition after five weeks, it’s said: ‘Now everyone at Strictly is ready to welcome him back with open arms.’
Following the claims of a ‘feud’ initially being reported, plenty of Strictly stars jumped in to defend Giovanni, including his former dance partners.
Amanda was said to be seeking legal advice in reports earlier this year after she quit Strictly after one month.
While she has not said much over her exit, citing ‘personal reasons’ at the time, it’s since emerged that she’d requested video footage of her rehearsals and was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly.
Following her exit, Amanda ‘snubbed’ Giovanni while other former dance partners and co-stars have rallied around him in support, and it was later said she spoke to Laura, who partnered with Giovanni in 2016, and Ranvir, who partnered with him in 2020.
Following the trio’s reported discussion, reports claimed they’re considering lodging a ‘formal’ complaint against him.
It was claimed former Love Island host Laura cried daily when in training during training for the series and did not feel comfortable dancing with the professional dancer.
‘There is some shock that the BBC appears to be doing nothing. Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged an issue during training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy,’ an insider said.
It was later claimed that Giovanni – who won a Bafta for his silent dance with Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, left his Strictly partner Steps star Faye Tozer in tears after a backstage clash on It Takes Two in 2018.
A source said the pair, who reached the finals and were crowned joint runners-up, often locked horns as Faye found the way he spoke to her ‘abrasive.’
They told The Sun Faye broke down on It Takes Two after struggling with Giovanni’s ‘intense’ training style and his ‘fiercely competitive’ nature.
The publication reported at the time that Giovanni had a meeting with Strictly bosses and is expected to return to the show as the broadcaster is backing him.
An insider said: ‘They have not received any official complaints and are backing him.
‘He is an accomplished pro dancer and it’s expected he will be taking his place in the formal line-up when it’s announced later this month.’
When approached by Metro.co.uk, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘The professional dancers for 2024 will be announced in due course.’
A source close to Giovanni also previously told The Sun he found the allegations surrounding Amanda ‘deeply unfair and offensive.’
They added: ‘He believes he’s done nothing wrong, and simply wants to get the best out of his partners.’
This comes after Metro.co.uk understood no investigations have been launched by the BBC into Giovanni’s conduct on Strictly.
The BBC is said to have held a meeting with Giovanni last year about his conduct. However, no action was taken, and it has reportedly decided against launching an investigation, Metro.co.uk understands.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to reps for Giovanni, Faye and the BBC for comment.
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Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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