Giovanni Pernice has officially confirmed his romance with co-star Bianca Guaccero. The 34-year-old dancer left Strictly last year and joined Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of the show, where he was paired with the 43-year-old actress and singer.
The couple appear to have grown increasingly close, with Giovanni sharing details about their relationship during their introduction clip in Saturday's episode. Giovanni shared: “Bianca is my priority. She has been my priority from the beginning. She is still my priority today and will be until the end of the show and beyond.” A touched Bianca responded: “Being someone's priority is something new for me. I have always been the one taking care of others.”
She added: “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s something I’m discovering at the age of forty-three. Having someone next to me who is proud of me and is happy for my happiness is something new to me. This has never happened to me in my life.”
In an interview with Italian TV presenter Monica Setta, Bianca shared a heartfelt message, vowing to overcome her fears and embrace their future together: "Dear Giovanni, I promise you to leave out all my fears, doubts and closures. The symbolic gift I put under the Christmas tree is to believe in our possibilities."
The couple has already met each other’s families and visited their respective hometowns in London and Italy. In the interview set to air on December 21, Bianca continued: “I had a heavy stone on my heart, I had difficulty believing in true love. When I met Giovanni I felt at home and I was in London with him and then 24 hours with my parents. I wanted to introduce him to the country and the people I love.”
This new chapter in Giovanni’s life follows his exit from Strictly amid allegations made by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington. While an internal BBC investigation cleared Giovanni of any wrongdoing, accusations about his intensity during training from other former contestants persisted. Despite the controversy, some fans hoped for his return, especially after he was cleared by the BBC. Reports suggest Giovanni may make a comeback to the show next month.
This comes amid claims that Amanda attempted to have Giovanni excluded from the show, according to The Mail. However, Strictly bosses have reportedly insisted that Giovanni play a key role in the upcoming special episode, set to air on December 21.
Giovanni was a long-running feature on the show and won a Bafta for won a Bafta for ‘Memorable Moment’ when he and deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis performed a powerful silent dance to Clean Bandit's Symphony in 2021.
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(Image: BBC))A BBC insider told the publication: “Given his impact, particularly for the Bafta win – which was voted for by the public – it is only the obtuse who would think that Giovanni should not be included in the 20th-year reflections in some form. Giovanni has made an immense impact on Strictly and will absolutely not be erased from Strictly Come Dancing's history.
"What he and Rose did was incredible, and just because Amanda has come along and made allegations, many of which were not upheld, does not change that. Strictly's bosses love Gio, they feel strongly about what happened, and they see it as only right that he is celebrated. Amanda may have met with the BBC recently, when she aired her views about Giovanni and the show, but Strictly still adores Gio and its bosses know that viewers will be thrilled to see him back.”
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