Yahoo News Giovanni Pernice's awkward encounter as Strictly fan can't remember him
The Strictly Come Dancing star might be hitting the headlines back home, but he found he was almost unrecognisable in his BBC travel show.
What did you miss?
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice might be a big name with fans of the dancing show, but when he visited Benidorm for the latest episode of his travel show he found that none of the Brits abroad knew who he was.
Pernice and his co-star Anton Du Beke star in BBC One series Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain, where Strictly judge Du Beke seemed to have almost as many fans as he does back at home.
It was a different story for Pernice, though, who had an awkward encounter with a tourist trying to remember who he was.
What, how, and why?
Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice is barely out of the headlines at the moment, but in British holidaymaker destination favourite Benidorm it seems he can still enjoy some anonymity.
Pernice and his co-star Anton Du Beke are currently starring in BBC travel show Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain, which saw them visit Benidorm in Monday night's episode.
While UK tourists frequently stopped Du Beke to take selfies with him, Pernice found they had a little more trouble in placing where they knew him from.
He said: "Most of the people here seem to think I'm called Gino," as he went on to have an awkward encounter with one Strictly fan on the beach.
The woman greeted Du Beke and then turned to Pernice, saying: "Oh, it's, erm...the other fella. Are you the one that's with Gemma?"
Pernice realised she was talking about Gemma Atkinson, who has two children with his co-star Gorka Marquez, telling her: "No, that's another guy."
The woman pressed on: "Was it... you've got two kids...?" but Pernice told her: "That's exactly the same person. That's Gorka, he's Spanish. The other one."
Looking confused, the woman said: "Oh, she was off the numbers programme. This is Rachel (Riley)..." as Pernice replied: "No, that's Pasha's (Kovalev) wife."
Eventually, the woman asked: "Was it the girl from EastEnders?" Pernice prompted: "Yes, her name is Rose (Ayling-Ellis, his 2021 Strictly partner)," as she finally called out: "Giovanni!"
What else has been happening with Giovanni Pernice?
The pro dancer has been at the centre of a controversy about his Strictly training methods since his latest celebrity partner Amanda Abbington quit mid-series.
It led to reports of training room rows between Pernice and some of his other Strictly partners, too, although others including Rose Ayling-Ellis and Michelle Visage have stuck by him.
Last week, Lorraine Kelly grilled him over the issue when he appeared on her ITV show, saying: "We know with Strictly, we know it didn't work the last time. Are you going to change? Because I know you are a perfectionist." Speaking over Pernice, she added: "You just want to win - and I don't blame you."
Pernice replied: "It's not just about the winning." The professional dancer said it was a "shame" that his partner bowed out of the competition early because she had the potential to get to the final. He added: "Sometimes it's worse... It was a very shame, I think with Amanda we could have gone all the way to the final. Great talent."
Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain airs on BBC One at 9pm on Monday.
Read more: Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni Pernice: The Strictly star at the heart of a storm (The Independent, 6 min read)
Strictly's Giovanni Pernice admits people don't recognise him in public (BANG Showbiz, 2 min read)
Giovanni Pernice answers frank questions about Strictly controversy on Lorraine (The Independent, 2 min read)
Watch: Lorraine Kelly grills 'perfectionist' Giovanni Pernice over Amanda Abbington controversy
