Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has criticized his teaching techniques.
The dancer has come under fire in recent weeks after her 2023 partner Amanda Abbington claimed the show had given her post-traumatic stress disorder and reportedly demanded footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni.
During an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday night, Giovanni was asked about his celebrity partners' training, to which he replied: “I'm definitely a perfectionist.”
“Like everyone else, I like to win.” But for me it's more about getting the best out of partners, especially when I see that there is talent there. “I want to do my job right.”
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice addressed criticism of his teaching techniques during an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday night
His alleged feuds with 2016 partner Laura Whitmore and 2020's Ranvir Singh have also resurfaced, while 2021's Rose Ayling-Ellis and 2017's Debbie McGee have spoken out in his defence.
Giovanni previously opened the lid on his intensive rehearsal schedule.
Speaking to Spencer Matthews on his Big Fish podcast last May, Giovanni, 33, gave insight into his grueling training regime and revealed that his key to success as a dancer is: “Pretty much practice 20 hours a day.”
He continued: “The studio is open 24 hours.” Well, 18 hours a day, sleep and go back to the studio and practice. Lots of lessons.'
Giovanni also owed his success to his can-do attitude and his refusal to accept defeat.
The star explained how he feels about losing: “I don't want to sound cliche, but when you lose, when something doesn't go your way, I'm one of those people who gets back up,” just like Rocky Balboa, one of my idols, you go down but then you get up again straight away.
“It doesn't make sense to me if you can't cry about these things anymore. You are the person who decides your future.” “No one else can do it for you, so you have to find a way to do it better.”
Asked if he ever feels emotionally vulnerable, he replied: “I stay away from it, the reason for it is a waste of time in my opinion.”
“I think vulnerability is good, it's beautiful, but in my head it just doesn't make sense because there's always a solution to do better.”
The dancer has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after her 2023 partner Amanda Abbington claimed the show left her with post-traumatic stress disorder (pictured in the show).
Giovanni was asked about the training of his celebrity partners, to which he replied: “I'm definitely a perfectionist… But for me it's more about getting the best out of partners.”
Giovanni has lifted the lid on his intensive rehearsal schedule as his former celebrity partners spoke about their experiences with the Strictly professional
“I have a million problems, but I always find a way to make things better. I'm not one of those people who cry.” “So vulnerable isn't a word I can use to describe myself.”
The podcast has resurfaced after stern judge Craig Revel Horwood defended Giovanni amid the ongoing scandal.
The judge praised the show's dancers as “the backbone of the show” after it was reported BBC bosses were supporting Giovanni amid Amanda's claims.
The Sherlock actress is said to have sought legal advice over the dancer's alleged behavior towards her and believes video footage could “back up” her claims.
Speaking to The Sun ahead of the Strictly tour, Craig said: “The professionals not only have to be creative and be good choreographers, they also have to be psychiatrists, doctors, nurses and social workers. Orientation people. It's not just about teaching dance.'
Sherlock actress Amanda is said to have sought legal advice over the dancer's alleged behavior towards her and believes video footage could “back up” her claims
This comes after Amanda revealed she was “sent death threats” by Strictly Come Dancing fans in a new interview.
The star dated Giovanni but left the BBC One show midway through the series last year, citing “personal issues”.
It was then revealed that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following her appearance on the show.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Amanda thanked both her fans and her Strictly colleagues for their support.
She explained: “After Strictly I was diagnosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for a number of reasons and I told a few people about it in the utmost confidence, alongside other things that were going on in my life at the time, both professionally and personally. “
Amanda continued: “I'm very sorry that people felt the need to send me death threats, threaten my children and cite my previous, healthy relationship with an ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health.” I wish All the best to these people.'
She has two children with her former actor Martin Freeman, a daughter Grace, 15, and a son Joe, 17.
It was recently claimed that the show had given her post-traumatic stress disorder and demanded footage from rehearsals to highlight the Italian's “tense” and “complete” training methods, which allegedly caused her great distress.
Amanda left Strictly in the fifth week in October and did not return for the final, where eliminated celebrities took part in a group dance.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has defended Giovanni in his feud with Amanda
Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances on the show, but it was claimed she was having problems behind the scenes.
After her departure, she reportedly struggled with Giovanni's “militant approach to training” and her time on the show was said to be “plagued by difficulties.”
An inside source told The Telegraph: “It could be that she didn't know what she was getting into.”
'He [Giovanni] was quite hard and she found that difficult. If she wasn't doing very well, it wouldn't have helped.'
They continued: “She was with a partner who had a certain training style that she couldn't get along with.” “Whether that's what happened or if there's something else going on, I don't know.”
She is reportedly looking for footage of her rehearsals to back up her claims while she seeks legal advice.
A source on set told The Sun: “The BBC have received a request for the footage they have of Amanda and Giovanni.” This is called a data subject access request.
“There is a feeling that the footage will shed light on what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly.” Rehearsals can get very tense.
“Giovanni is a perfectionist and he can be incredibly full.”
A friend of Amanda's told the publication that it took her months to recover from her Strictly experience and that she needed therapy.
They said: “The whole experience left Amanda broken and sad.” She needed therapy and was shocked by the behavior she was subjected to.
“Everyone else had a great time, but she was really stressed about having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She cried a lot and couldn't sleep or eat properly.'
The friend added that Amanda found the negative reaction she received on social media for not mentioning Giovanni in her resignation statement difficult, but insisted her family and friends were there to support her.
It was reported that she left the show after a clash with Giovanni, but she denied claims of a conflict at the time.
Sources at the BBC are prepared to clash with the Sherlock star over her claims the show traumatized her, saying she told them at the time she was quitting for another medical reason.
A source told the Mail: “Amanda's reason for leaving Strictly was completely different to her post-traumatic stress disorder.”
“She told production about a completely different health condition and them.” [were] were very supportive and did everything they could to help.
“Nobody seems to really understand what’s going on here.”
It is understood BBC bosses first learned of her post-traumatic stress disorder late last year when they received a request for the tapes.
Adding to the confusion, Amanda quickly dismissed suggestions that she and Giovanni had a falling out before the show aired in September.
On Instagram, she dismissed the claims as “nonsense” and urged people: “Shut up, this is nonsense.”
During the broadcasts, she and the Italian dancer, who has been working on the show since 2015, were seen hugging and looking like friends.
A Strictly source said: “All you could see in the studio was the two of them hugging and kissing.”
Sparkle star Giovanni also reportedly received the news of Amanda's exit just a few hours before the official statement was released.
Amanda left Strictly in the fifth week in October and did not return for the final, where eliminated celebrities took part in a group dance
However, BBC bosses are reportedly standing behind Giovanni following the feud.
According to The Sun, bosses arranged a call between Giovanni's management and Strictly executives where they offered him their full support and checked in on his mental health.
It is understood Giovanni was assured his place on the show was secured.