Strictly Come Dancing: Georgia May Foote Responds To Ex Giovanni Pernice Being Paired With Laura Whitmore

Strictly Come Dancing returned to our screens last night in what can only be described as an explosion of glitter, sequins, and excitement as the celebrity contestants found out which professional dancers they had been paired with for the series.

Needless to say, this didn’t go ahead without a fair bit of drama as viewers erupted in outrage after gorgeous MTV presenter Laura Whitmore was paired with Giovanni Pernice, who had recently split from Laura’s friend, Georgia May Foote.

Fans of the show were convinced that BBC bosses were trying to purposefully create tension after Georgia and Giovanni fell in love when dancing together during last year’s series of the show, sadly announcing their split last month.

It was reported after the pairing was announced that Georgia was understandably worried about her ex being paired with stunning singleton Laura, as a source promptly claimed to The Sun: “Georgia knows just how intimately the couples have to dance and is terrified that Giovanni might hook up with Laura.

"She is devastated that they are no longer together and struggling with the thought of Giovanni getting up close and personal with a friend of hers.”

However, Georgia quickly took to social media to rubbish the claims, tweeting both stars luck as they embark on their three-week rehearsal period.

She wrote: “Good luck to all the @bbcstrictly 2016 cast and crew on their launch show tonight! Sending all my love! I’m sure its going to be incredible.

"And I would just like to wish @thewhitmore and @pernicegiovann1 good luck. Please do not believe the cr*p you read! Shes a beautiful person.”

Laura and Giovanni’s pairing comes after Laura admitted that she was open to falling in love whilst taking place on the show.

She previously shared: “I did laugh when they were talking about your dance partner. I was like, ‘Is it dance partner or is it a future husband?’ Friends who have been on the show told me you make best friends for life.

"They said you do become close as your dance partner is such a big figure to you and you rely on them so much. So it’s not actually romantic, then again, the show has made a lot of couples. How many relationships have come out of it? Quite a few.”

Will sparks fly between Giovanni and Laura? Only time will tell…