Giovanni Pernice drops biggest hint yet he's returning to Strictly after probe results
1 month ago
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Giovanni Pernice was a guest on the Lorraine show this morning, in his first TV interview since quitting Strictly following the 17 allegations made by Amanda Abbington.
15:45, Tue, Oct 22, 2024 | UPDATED: 15:56, Tue, Oct 22, 2024
Giovanni Pernice on ITV's Lorraine show (Image: ITV)
Giovanni Pernice has addressed rumours of a Strictly comeback, despite being asked by bosses to leave earlier this year amid a probe into whether he was guilty of misconduct.
He was hugely missed by a loyal fanbase, many of who supported him throughout, and has now been cleared of 11 of the 17 allegations, with only claims such as "swearing" and using "belittling language" upheld. He spoke on the Lorraine show this morning, marking his first time on British TV screens since the probe, and addressed the burning question fans and foes alike have been dying to know - whether he'll return to Strictly.
Giovanni blushed as he revealed: "I think at the moment I'm just very focused," citing his solo tour of the UK between January and July 2025, and his current appearance on Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly.
He's been getting top ratings for his performances over in Rome, thanks to British and Italian votes combined, but the native Sicilian hasn't ruled out a return to the show he spent almost a decade on in Britain. "Who knows? Never say never!" he teased.
He revealed that while he has "regrets" about his time with Amanda Abbington turned out and "could change his approach", he has no plans to rein in his famously "strict" and "tough" teaching style, pointing out that it won him the Glitterball trophy in 2021 with Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Giovanni Pernice chatted about the allegations with Christine Lampard (Image: ITV)
The international champ was asked how he'd address Amanda if she was with him that morning.
He replied that they'd probably "have a nice cup of tea", while "talking about what happened in the [rehearsal] room."
In one TV interview, Amanda complained he'd had a "35 min rant" at her, "throwing his hands up in the air, calling me names and saying he couldn't really cope with it anymore".
She claimed his hostility continued "seven hours a day for seven weeks" and that she simply "shut down" after being branded "mad and unstable".
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington in 2023 (Image: BBC)
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However, Giovanni was adamant that he'd "never called her mad in that room", while also arguing that they hadn't been rehearsing for seven hours per day.
He continued that the swearing he'd been accused of as one of her complaints against him was something they'd engaged in mutually, while he also told Mail Online that she'd called him a "c***".
An unearthed video of Amanda from before she left the show seems to support his version of events, with her claiming that they were "swearing all the time" together as banter, before praising her partner as an "incredible choreographer".
Giovanni emphasised: "There's a difference between being a bully and caring about what you do!"
1 month ago
7
English (US) ·