Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice has been backed by BBC bosses despite a feud with his latest partner on the show – Amanda Abbington.
The 33-year-old dancer was said to have argued with the 51-year-old actress, who was reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following her experience on the show.
Amanda pulled out of series 21 in week six after missing a show the week before for “medical reasons”.
Last year marked Giovanni's ninth appearance on Strictly, with an insider telling The Sun: “It's no secret that Gio and Amanda have had a difficult relationship.”
What have his previous partners said about him? The full list can be found below.
Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice has been backed by BBC bosses despite a feud with his latest partner on the show – Amanda Abbington
The pair danced for four weeks before Amanda left the show for “personal reasons.”
Amanda is now reportedly suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Gio's first dance partner was actress Georgia May Foote, whom he ended up dating for a year
Georgia May Foote
Giovanni's first dance partner in series 13 was Grange Hill and Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote.
It's fair to say they developed a good relationship on the show as Georgia came into conflict with the infamous Strictly curse.
She was in a relationship with her Corrie co-star Sean Ward when she took part in the 2015 edition of the show.
However, cracks began to appear when it was reported that Sean was enraged with jealousy over her decision to join in and even reportedly accompanied her to rehearsals at the start of her dance journey.
To make matters worse for Sean, Gio and Georgia made it to the end and failed at the final hurdle, finishing second.
After the finale, the couple announced their split – shortly after, Georgia was spotted kissing her dance partner during a romantic trip to Disneyland.
But just before rehearsals for the next season began, the new romantics ended their relationship after just a year.
Goergia tweeted: “Nothing I've ever said about my feelings towards Gio was wrong before people started.” I still love him very, very much. But things change.'
Laura Whitmore
Laura Whitmore is another who has spoken out about a difficult relationship with her dance partner – after dating Giovanni in 2016
Former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore was Giovanni's next partner shortly after his split from Georgia.
The pair were eliminated in week seven of the 2016 series, finishing in ninth place.
Two years later, Laura revealed in a blog for the Huffington Post: “I was paired with a dance partner that I was extremely uncomfortable with and I ended up feeling broken, I cried every day.” And in the end I was really broken , both mentally and physically.”
Additionally, she revealed in 2020 that Strictly bosses had “forced” her to spend extra time with Giovanni even though she just “wanted to dance.”
Speaking on Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle's Private Parts podcast, she said: “What I didn't like was being separated from everyone and having to spend 12 hours a day with that one person.”
“It wasn’t about dancing. I just wanted to dance. “I didn't want to play the game of dancing down the red carpet with your dance partner and stuff like that, which a lot of people thought you should do.”
Debbie McGee
Debbie McGee has always been extremely positive about her relationship with the Italian professional
In 2017, it was the turn of TV personality and actress Debbie McGee to work with Giovanni.
The popular duo made it to the final, but finished second behind Joe McFadden.
The widow of Paul Daniels, now 65, has been extremely positive about her former dance partner since the series and even appeared to defend him after news broke about his latest partner.
On January 9, she posted a snap of the two of them from their appearance on the show on Instagram with the caption: “Lovely memories.” “Giovanni and I had the best time on Strictly.”
Speaking on Loose Women in 2018, she said: “We both have the same sense of humor.” When we met on Strictly, Giovanni and I got on well and made each other laugh from the first day of rehearsals.
“I noticed everyone was joking about how good-looking he is, he's very handsome, very charming, but that wasn't what attracted me. It was probably his brain. I realized that he knew his job and had thought things through, so he was interesting to talk to. That’s why we have great chemistry.”
Faye Tozer
An insider claimed that Giovanni and Steps' Fay Tozer clashed at the end of season 16
Giovanni achieved two consecutive second place finishes in 2018 alongside Steps singer Faye Tozer.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton beat her in the final, but Faye still spoke of her pride in the dances she and her partner performed after series 16.
However, an insider told The Sun that the relationship wasn't perfect.
Before the finale that year, they reported that an insider told them that the two were “struggling with the pressure and both ranting behind each other's backs” as they came to terms with the fact that they were comparatively less popular – and therefore a lack of chances of victory compared to their competitors.
They added that it made Faye “emotional.”
Michelle Visage
Drag Race star Michelle Visage made sure her and Giovanni's relationship was made clear as rumors of a feud began to circulate, insisting that although they clashed, he was her “stone”.
Giovanni is also rumored to have clashed with Drag Race star Michelle Visage in 2019 – and criticized her for not moving forward quickly enough.
The pair finished seventh in series 17.
And Michelle has since admitted the pair had a difficult relationship amid their “tense” backstage regime.
However, Michelle opened up about her relationship in detail ahead of her final appearance on the show, telling Web: “The articles about my partner and I were disturbing.”
“If anyone knew us, they would know how close Giovanni and I are. Gio is my best friend in this competition, he is my rock and I trust him with everything.
“We have the most fun and laugh together and to say otherwise is just sad.”
Ranvir Singh
Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh also reportedly complained to show bosses as she played alongside the Italian until the semi-finals in 2020
Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh managed to finish fifth with the Italian dancer, but also spoke of a training breakdown and posted it on social media after the 2020 series.
And a source told The Sun that the presenter, like her most recent successor, had complained to her bosses that she was unhappy with the training.
Fans also noticed that Ranvir unfollowed her former dance partner a year into the series before following him again.
Some have also expressed suspicion that she did not support the 33-year-old in the follow-up series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Rose Ayling Ellis
Giovanni won his first Glitterball trophy in 2021 with deaf EastEnders actress Rose Aylig-Ellis
Giovanni won his first Glitterball trophy in 2021, alongside deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis to win the hearts of fans.
In the years that followed, Gio is credited with continuing to use sign language at various points in reciprocation to his former partner.
The two have a close bond – Rose even appeared on Giovanni's travel program with Anton Du Bek.
“How could we not stay in touch after what we've been through?” she asked OK! Magazine in 2022.
Richie Anderson
Richie Anderson unfollowed his dance partner in 2022 after the drama surrounding his successor intensified
Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson formed an all-male couple with Giovanni in 2022 and was another to distance himself from the Italian after the drama surrounding Giovanni and Amanda intensified – by unfollowing him on Instagram.
There were already rumors of a feud between the pair after they clashed on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, but both Gio and Richie had defended themselves against them.
The radio show host told Metro while on the show: “It's ridiculous, it's not even a thing.”
“He has looked after me so well these last few weeks. “He’s like a big brother, which is weird because I’m older.”
Amanda Abbington
It is claimed that Amanda suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following her stint on the BBC show and is requesting behind-the-scenes footage
Amanda's exit from Strictly in 2023 has been put down to “personal reasons”, a week after medical problems were cited as the reason for her not going dancing for a week.
In a statement at the time, she said she was “sad” that she “couldn't continue” on the show.
The Sherlock star went on to thank her fellow contestants, the production team and “everyone at Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring” in her post, but notably omitted any reference to her dance partner.
However, Giovanni sent a message to Amanda, posting: “Amanda… I'm so sad we can't move on but I'm proud of what we've achieved and I'm sending you so much love.”
A Strictly insider told Web at the time: “This is something Amanda has unfortunately had to think about since the end of last week.”
“It was a devastating time for Amanda. Her Strictly journey was plagued with difficulties but she just didn't believe there was another option.
“As hard as it was, there was a chance they could have won.”
Just hours before the departure was announced, Amanda's partner Jonathan Goodwin, 43, shared a cryptic post on Instagram which said: “We can be so hard on ourselves… be our own worst critics… But before yourself condemn…” Make sure your mirror is clean.
And this happened shortly after Amanda herself reposted a quote from the late Robin Williams.
“People don’t fake depression, they fake being okay.” Remember that. Be kind,” she shared.
It is claimed that Amanda suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following her stint on the BBC show and is requesting behind-the-scenes footage.
The reference to Giovanni was notable as it was missing from Amanda's post about leaving the show
However, it is understood that the professional dancer's future place on the show is secured.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson previously said: “The BBC offers full support to everyone who takes part in our broadcasts.”
“Strictly Come Dancing has always taken due diligence very seriously and there is ongoing dialogue between senior members of the production team and contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed quickly.”
Web has contacted representatives for Giovanni Pernice and Strictly Come Dancing for comment.