September 29th 2024.
Giovanni Pernice's grand debut on the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing was met with resounding success. The 34-year-old, who hails from Palermo, returned to our screens for the first time since his departure from the BBC programme. His nine-year run as a professional dancer on Strictly ended in June amidst an investigation into allegations of misconduct made by his former partner Amanda Abbington and other celebrities. However, Giovanni has denied these accusations, while Amanda has described his teaching methods as "toxic" and "degrading" during their time together on the show.
Determined to clear his name, Giovanni has now joined the cast of the Italian Dancing with the Stars, known as Ballando con le Stelle. This move came shortly after the firing of his colleague Graziano Di Prima. Fans were delighted to see their favorite pro back on the dancefloor, this time with his new celebrity partner, Italian actress and singer Bianca Guaccero.
The Italian version of Strictly has a slightly different format from the UK show, with one couple winning and another being eliminated every episode. Giovanni and Bianca's samba performance wowed the judges, earning them an impressive 37 points. With an additional 30 points from the Regular Guest, the pair soared to second place on the leaderboard, marking a triumphant comeback for Giovanni.
In Ballando con le Stelle, the final score is a combination of the judges' total and viewer votes, with one couple receiving the bonus 30 points each week. Some points are also awarded by studio guests' representatives, typically in the later stages of the competition.
After their first dance together, Bianca shared a clip of their performance on Instagram, expressing her gratitude to the audience for their support and affection. She also thanked her pro partner and promised to see everyone again next Saturday.
Giovanni himself announced his signing to the Italian Strictly on social media, expressing his excitement to get back to dancing for his fans. He also announced the ticket sales for his upcoming dance tour, titled The Last Dance, which will take place across the UK from January to May.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the allegations made against Giovanni is still ongoing, with the findings expected to be released soon. Despite the turmoil, he and Bianca are said to be getting along great and are both hoping to win the series.
In the UK, Strictly returned to our screens last week with a star-studded lineup, including Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, Chriss McCausland, Pete Wicks, Jamie Borthwick, Shayne Ward, and Nick Knowles. The show airs every Saturday and Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Giovanni's friends have revealed that he has been having a tough time dealing with the abuse claims, feeling like he has been left in limbo. They see his move to the Italian show as a form of sweet revenge and a lovely boost for him after a difficult few months. Speaking to the Daily Mail, a close source mentioned that this is his way of moving on from the whole situation and that he is excited to keep dancing in his home country.
Despite being adored by Strictly viewers, Giovanni's time on the show came to an abrupt end due to Amanda's claims. However, his friend believes that it is now Italy's gain. They added that he is determined to move on from the whole ordeal and see this as a new opportunity.
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