Giovanni Pernice's comeback after Strictly scandal - new romance and BBC return

Giovanni Pernice is enjoying a triumphant comeback after the Amanda Abbington scandal threatened to end his career.

The Strictly Come Dancing star left the BBC show mired in scandal earlier this year after the Sherlock actress made complaints about his on-set behaviour. Amanda accused Giovanni of being "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" in their rehearsals for the star-studded series.

For months after his shock exit, the 34-year-old Sicilian kept a low profile as his dancing career hung in the balance. But fate delivered a remarkable turnaround when a BBC investigation acquitted him of Amanda's most serious accusations - and a flourishing romance on the Italian version of Strictly quickly followed.

So, as Giovanni begins to build a future with his ‘Ballando con le Stelle’ partner, Bianca Guaccero, 43, here's a recap of his impressive turnaround...

Strictly victory

After an agonising wait for the BBC to conclude their investigations into Giovanni's alleged abusive behaviour, the dancer's patience was eventually rewarded when he was cleared of Amanda’s most serious accusations.

The broadcaster's report, which was published in September, concluded that he was not guilty of any instances of physical aggression - although complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld.

The BBC's findings were enough for Giovanni to claim a victory, and the Italian dancer celebrated feeling 'vindicated' after months of controversy, the Mirror reports.

The Strictly professional, who was a staple on the show for almost a decade before quitting, took to social media to issue a triumphant statement on the BBC report.

In a candid Instagram video, the dancer shared his relief that the ordeal was over. He admitted that the months of enforced silence had been tough but necessary "because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review".

Giovanni said: "It was difficult because, you know, reading stuff that were untrue, wasn’t the nicest time of my life lets be honest. But today I'm happy because, you know, at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as in today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld. All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld.

He added: "I appreciate that dancing is a very difficult thing to do. It’s a, it’s erm, it’s a sport, it’s something that is difficult in every possible way and sometimes you get frustrated, you know, as a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer. But the only reason why you get frustrated is because you care about what you do."

New romance

Giovanni has struck up a relationship with his ‘Ballando con le Stelle’ co-star, having joined the Italian dancing show after the Strictly scandal forced him to quit the BBC. The dancer has grown increasingly close to his celebrity partner actress Bianca Guaccero, and spoken publicly about their budding relationship.

During Saturday’s episode, Giovanni said: “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.”

Bianca responded: “Being someone's priority is something new for me. I have always been the one taking care of others.”

She gushed: “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.”

The pair’s strong bond looks set to last long beyond the series, as Bianca vowed to embrace their future together during an interview with Italian TV presenter Monica Setta.

In a message directed a Giovanni, the actress said: "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."

In a sign of their commitment to one another, 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 explained: “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.”

Return to the BBC?

As Giovanni goes from strength to strength, reports suggest that he may even return to the hit BBC show next month.

The Mail claims that the Italian has been selected as one of the Strictly professionals to feature in a celebratory 20th anniversary special. It reports that Strictly bosses have insisted that Giovanni plays a starring role in the special show, which is due to be broadcast on December 21.

The dancer was an established favourite on Strictly, even winning a Bafta for TV’s most ‘Memorable Moment’ when he performed a powerful silent dance to Clean Bandit's Symphony alongside deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.

A BBC insider said: “Given his impact, particularity 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.”

They added: “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."

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