Ex-Strictly dancer ‘would put money’ on Laura Whitmore romance

Now here’s some confidence in the so-called ‘Curse of Strictly’.

Former Strictly dancer Gleb Savchenko is so sure that his old pal Giovanni Pernice will strike up a romance with Laura Whitmore on the show that he’s prepared to put a £100 bet on it.

Classy.

Russian star Gleb, who quit the show earlier in the year because he missed his family in Moscow, spoke to Star magazine about Gio’s recent split from Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote.

“”I’m not shocked. He’s young and he’s Italian. You know what Italians are like. They were never going to get married, have kids and live happily ever after,” he laughed.

Ouch. Don’t tell Georgia. Insiders close to the 25-year-old star said the pair had been talking about “moving things forward and marriage” up until their shock break-up.

“I bet you £100 Giovanni will get with Laura this year,” Gleb continued. “”And next season I’ll bet you another £100 he will get with his new partner!”

Oh dear, that’s Giovanni rumbled, then. Sorry Georgia.

31-year-old TV presenter Laura and Giovanni, 26, were first up on the show last Friday – and judges were suitably impressed with their moves.

“Gio is so talented,” gushed Laura when she was paired with the Italian star, “When I saw him last year I thought he was one of the best dancers and best choreographers in the whole show. I’m a feisty Irish lady, and he’s a feisty Italian guy so it should be interesting.”

Yep, and feisty.

“I still love him very very much. But things change,” Georgia told her Twitter followers at the time of their split. “Please…Be respectful to me at this time by not saying awful things. This is a hard time for me.’

Georgia has previously wished Gio and Laura all the best for the show, tweeting: “i would just like to wish @thewhitmore and @pernicegiovann1 good luck. Please do not believe the crap you read! Shes a beautiful person”.

And according to Gleb, Giovanni thinks so too. Oh dear.