BBC issue statement as Giovanni Pernice 'leaves' Strictly Come Dancing after 9 years

The BBC has responded to rumours that Strictly Come Dancing favourite Giovanni Pernice may have danced his last tango on the show, amid reports he won't be returning for the new series.

The broadcaster was apparently "very keen" to retain the 33-year-old Italian pro-dancer, who has been at the centre of controversy due to his intense training methods with previous celebrity partners, including actress Amanda Abbington.

Speculation over Giovanni's future with Strictly has been rife after an internal memo leaked without his name listed among this year's professional dancers, sparking rumours of his exit. It's believed that Giovanni is now looking for fresh television opportunities.

His potential departure follows a tense partnership with Sherlock star Amanda, 52, in the previous series. She exited the competition in October following a series of fiery rehearsals with Giovanni, which allegedly left her in tears because of his demanding coaching style.

An insider revealed tonight that Giovanni feels overwhelmed by the attention: "Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much, and now is the time to make a fresh start," they said.

"He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he's achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times", reports the Mirror.

An insider revealed to The Sun: "He remains adamant he's done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn't to everyone's liking - especially in this day and age. He has a lot of other exciting projects in the pipeline right now, and he's just super-excited to get cracking on them. This, now, is his priority."

A BBC spokesperson shared with the Mirror: "The Professional Dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be announced in due course."

It's understood that the BBC is supporting the Italian dancer 'all the way', following their offer of a new contract to him.

The embattled dance professional is said to have concluded his eight-year run on the show, following months of controversy over claims of his demanding training approach from past celebrity partners, including actress Amanda Abbington, who made an unexpected exit during the last series.

Amanda later disclosed her diagnosis of mild post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from her stint on the competition. Subsequently, further allegations emerged from other celebrity partners.

It was rumoured that Giovanni and Amanda had several confrontations backstage and in rehearsals while she participated in the show.

Earlier in the year, it was reported that Amanda had asked the BBC for backstage footage of her practice sessions with Giovanni, possibly as part of preparations for legal proceedings. Giovanni, who also departed the 2023 series after five weeks, has not yet made any public comments regarding these issues.

Amanda Abbington exited Strictly Come Dancing citing "medical reasons", yet whispers abound that the Sherlock star is seeking legal counsel following an onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), allegedly as a result of her stint on the show, with suggestions pointing to Giovanni being a particularly exacting instructor.

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