Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice is gearing up for an exciting return to the dance floor, albeit in Italy’s version of Strictly Come Dancing. Despite ongoing investigations by the BBC into bullying allegations made against him by Amanda Abbington, which he strongly denies, the 34-year-old confirmed his participation in Ballando con le Stelle. Giovanni shared the news with his Instagram followers in a post, expressing his delight to join the cast of the Italian Dancing with the Stars show.
In a video posted on Instagram, Giovanni, wearing a white shirt and gold necklace, conveyed his excitement for the upcoming dance floor experience. The professional dancer mentioned creating new magic on the dance floor and expressed extreme happiness to his followers, including translating his message into Italian for the new audience. Ballando con le Stelle, Italy’s equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing, first aired in 2005, following the UK premiere of Strictly.
While Giovanni makes a move to the Italian TV show, the UK version of Strictly Come Dancing will not see Graziano Di Prima in the upcoming series after footage featuring him and his dance partner Zara McDermott led to his exit. However, fans can look forward to Amy Dowden returning to the Strictly dance floor after her battle with breast cancer. The lineup for the new season includes a mix of celebrities such as Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri and other stars like Chris McCausland, JB Gill, and many more.
The male professional dancers are reportedly eyeing potential celebrity partners, with Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri being a top pick among the male pros. The anticipated premiere of Strictly Come Dancing is scheduled for September 14, 2024, at 7:20 pm on BBC One. With Giovanni Pernice making waves in the international dancing scene and UK fans eagerly awaiting the return of their favourite dancing competition, the stage is set for a thrilling season of dance and entertainment.