UNDER FIRE Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice has told pals he is quitting the dance show – after opening talks to film another series.
The BBC is said to be “very interested” in continuing to work with the Italian, 33 – who has faced accusations about his strict training methods from previous celebrity partners including actress Amanda Abbington.
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Giovanni Pernice has quit Strictly Come Dancing – after facing allegations about his tough coaching from celebrity partners such as Amanda AbbingtonCredit: Ray Burniston / BBC / PA Wire
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Amanda left the show in tears in OctoberCredit: Pixel8000
And the internal memo of this year’s professional dancers for the show is circulating without his name.
And The Sun can reveal Giovanni has told friends he is now looking for a fresh start on other TV shows instead.
His shock move comes after The Sun first revealed tensions between the dancer and Sherlock star Amanda, 52, his celebrity partner last year.
She quit in October after a series of interruptions that left her in tears.
Amanda later told The Sun on Sunday that she had been diagnosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder after competing in the competition.
Then came the claims of other celebrity partners.
Tonight, a source told The Sun: “Gio feels the attention has become too much for him and now it’s time for a fresh start.
“He wants to focus on other TV projects and feels he has achieved all he could on Strictly, having won the 2021 trophy and reached the final an unprecedented four times.
“He remains adamant he did nothing wrong other than being a difficult manager, but he knows his coaching style is not to everyone’s liking – especially in this day and age.
“He’s got a lot of other exciting projects in the pipeline right now and he’s just super excited to tackle them. This is his priority now.”
10 Strictly Come Dancing secrets you didn’t know from pre-show rituals to song choices 
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Sherlock star Amanda said she was diagnosed with mild PTSD after the competition Credit: Guy Levy / BBC
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Gio triumphed in 2021 with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-EllisCredit: PA
The news comes four weeks after Giovanni began contract negotiations with the BBC for another year of the hit competition – marking its 20th anniversary.
The star, who has been relaxing on holiday abroad, told bosses she is currently taking a three-week break to reflect on her decision.
However, it seems unlikely that he will change his mind.
Gio joined the series in 2015 and has become a fan favorite — reaching the final in his first year with actress Georgia May Foote and triumphing in 2021 with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Giovanni recently defended his coaching methods and said Amanda could have made it to the final if she had stayed.
He told the podcast two months ago: “I’m a perfectionist, 100 percent, but it comes from a caring perspective.
“I think all professional dancers are in the same place.
“It’s a shame because, in my opinion, she (Amanda) could have gone all the way.”
A chance to shine solo
BY CLEMMIE MOODIE
NEWS that will break the hearts of millions of housewives; but the real news.
After months of fevered speculation about his “energetic” training methods, Giovanni Pernice has cut his losses and quit the show that made him famous. (And, as mentioned, a housewives favorite).
Frankly, Gio’s view of Strictly has become untenable.
One unlucky celebrity partner is out of luck. Four is unacceptable.
By all accounts, away from the dance floor, Giovanni is a nice guy.
Certainly, he has been an extremely popular figure behind the scenes for years.
But since Amanda Abbington very publicly quit the show, citing “private medical reasons” – which she later elaborated was PTSD, from the stress of training to spending 10 hours a day with Gio – his popularity among fellow pros has understandably declined.
No one wants to be associated with a business leader who steals the headlines, the one who makes his partners cry.
In his defense, Giovanni is a passionate Sicilian, one who grew up in dance schools where crying from exhaustion was the norm. This was his norm.
But in 2024, on the glitzy Saturday night celebrity dance show, that’s not normal.
He is incredibly handsome, charming and a talented performer – he has already been inundated with “exciting TV offers”.
So this is Gio’s cha-cha-chance to shine, solo, and win over a whole new legion of fans… not just housewives.
Amanda reported her professional partner’s alleged behavior to the BBC around the time she left, and Giovanni was spoken to by an official adviser.
The actress also later demanded to see rehearsal footage of the pair.
Other allegations have surfaced against Giovanni.
At least three other celebrities are said to have struggled to adjust to his erratic methods – with Laura Whitmore, Ranvir Singh and Richie Anderson all reportedly unhappy.
It was claimed in March that Amanda, former Love Island host Laura and GMB star Ranvir had an “emotional meeting” to discuss their experiences with him on the show together.
They discussed making a formal complaint to the BBC.
Laura previously revealed she was “extremely uncomfortable” being paired with Giovanni in the 2016 series.
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Gio seen out of the limelight in LondonCredit: Simon Jones – The Sun
Speaking in 2018, she said: “I’m still not ready to talk in detail about my experience on the show. I ended up feeling broken.
“I cried every day. And I was really broken, both mentally and physically, until the end.”
The negative reports have not gone down well with some of Gio’s fellow professionals on the show, which won a TV Bafta on Sunday night.
Some “were not happy” with the BBC’s decision to stand by him and think he was right to quit.
A source said: “Many other dancers, who take their jobs extremely seriously and strive to give celebrities the best possible experience, have been humiliated by the recent headlines.
“He is not the easiest guy to work with, because he is such an athlete in his desire for success, and he especially fell out of favor with some professional women.
“They’ve all been told he’s quitting and think it’s the right decision for everyone involved in the production.”
Giovanni was on holiday in Dubai with girlfriend Molly Brown, and the couple has now flown to a European resort.
The BBC has yet to announce anything, with the full list of professionals to be announced later this year.
Earlier this year, Giovanni and Anton’s Adventure in Spain was shown, a travel series starring him and Strict Judge Anton Du Beke.
It is assumed that another batch has been ordered.
Last night a BBC spokesman said: “The professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be announced in due course.”
A spokesman for Giovanni declined to comment.
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Gio’s 2015 Georgia Debut May FooteCredit: PA
How the drama unfolded
By ELLIE HENMAN
2015: Giovanni joins Strictly and reaches the final with Georgia May Foote.
2016: Teamed up with Laura Whitmore, who later says her experience with Gia left her in tears every day.
2018: Enters the final again, this time with Faye Tozer.
2021: Wins with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
SEPTEMBER 2023: Paired with actress Amanda Abbington, who threatens to quit in the first weeks after the row.
OCTOBER 2023: Pulls out of the live show for “medical reasons” and then quits altogether.
6 JANUARY 2024: Amanda demands the BBC hand over rehearsal footage after seeking legal advice following claims she suffered from PTSD.
JANUARY 7: The BBC refuses to launch an investigation into Giovanni despite a range of concerns, including from another of the dancer’s former partners, Ranvir Singh.
JANUARY 9: The Sun reveals the BBC is standing by Gio.
JANUARY 13: Amanda reveals she received death threats over the row.
MARCH 16: Amanda, Ranvir and Laura meet to compare notes on how Gio treated them.
MARCH 23: BBC in a bind as bosses are “undecided” over whether Gio should get a celebrity partner.
MARCH 31: Giovanni is set to hold a key meeting with the BBC as it is revealed he has clashed with a fourth partner, Faye Tozer.
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Source: HIS Education