BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer details 'massive surprise' over 2024 series amid exit

Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer has admitted Giovanni Pernice's exit was a 'massive surprise'. In June, the BBC confirmed the professional dancer line-up for the upcoming 2024 series, due to start in the autumn, which didn't include the Italian dancer.

Giovanni had been a part of the dancing show since 2015 when he reached the grand final with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote. Later, in 2021, he lifted the Strictly glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf contestant to win.

The 33-year-old was last paired with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, who withdrew from the competition in 2023 citing “personal reasons” but Giovanni has since been subject to a number of allegations regarding his conduct in the training room which he rejects.

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Karen, meanwhile was among those confirmed for a return alongside reigning champion Vito Coppola and Amy Dowden, who returns to the show after being unable to compete last year after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and undergoing treatment.

Speaking about Giovanni's exit from the show to the Mirror, Karen said: "We will miss him. It was a massive surprise. Things can happen that we don’t know about. I don’t want to say anything that’s not right, and I don’t want to hurt anyone.

"But it’s not a nice feeling for anyone. We are all so busy during the show doing our own thing. We are all in a bubble with our own celebs. I wouldn’t be able to comment (on the allegations). I haven’t spoken to him - he’s busy doing his thing on tour. I don’t know what happened. It is really sad."

It comes after fellow Strictly dancer Michelle Tsiakkas spoke out about the situation and confessed she's still in touch with under-fire Giovanni. Speaking to The Sun at the TRIC Awards, Michelle said: "We're sad about losing Giovanni - we are a big family at the end of the day, so we just want to continue being that family and supporting each other.

"Of course sometimes unfortunate situations happen." When asked if she'd spoken to Giovanni since the accusations, Michelle replied: "Yes, we're all really close." She added: "I really hope people keep watching because it is such an amazing show. It's the best distraction for people when they have troubles in their life and they put on the TV. And it's just such a happy show, it truly is, I would tell people to continue watching, it's a great show."

Meanwhile, Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas, who has already backed the show's former professional dancer, added to press at the same showbiz event on Tuesday (June 25): "You know what the show goes on... It will go on. Its a brilliant series this year - all the boys and girls will be getting ready with all their different numbers."