Giovanni Pernice backed by Strictly dancer despite venture being axed
Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice, two of Strictly Come Dancing's most beloved stars, are set to hit the stage together in just a month for their highly anticipated tour. The dynamic duo will be showcasing their dance prowess in their live show, Anton and Giovanni, away from the Strictly spotlight.
However, there have been whispers of uncertainty surrounding the tour following some backlash related to complaints about Giovanni's alleged conduct on Strictly. It's been suggested that a number of grievances were lodged, leading the BBC to initiate its own investigation.
Despite his future on Strictly being up in the air as the BBC has yet to announce its professional line-up for 2024, Giovanni has already revealed plans for a break next year following another round of touring and he's still very much involved in other projects.
A source said that his show with Anton is definitely going ahead, even after what they described as a "really difficult time" for Giovanni.
The insider shared: "Gio has not been found guilty of anything, though he is the subject of much speculation. The back together tour will go ahead, and he and Anton will be standing up on stage together as they have done for many tours."
Anton and Giovanni have been firm friends for years, even landing their own TV show where they explore Sicily and Spain. However, the reports say this has now been axed.
The allegations against Giovanni emerged after he was partnered with actress Amanda Abbington on last year's Strictly, who later left during the production of the show.
Later, she alleged that she experienced PTSD and was "bruised" during the rehearsals.
Following the recent controversy after rumours of his departure down the grapevine, Giovanni addressed his fans saying: "I look forward to clearing my name."
Passionately denying allegations of "abuse" with former partners, Giovanni maintains he is ardent and competitive, clarifying it "always comes from a place of love and wanting to win."
Giovanni has been a professional dancer on the BBC entertainment show since 2015, but in recent years he has faced criticism from some of his celebrity amateur partners, most notably Amanda Abbington with whom he was paired in 2023.
It has now been reported that Giovanni is not in the lineup for the new season of Strictly, coming later this year. The BBC have since released a statement to OK! that says: "The professional dancers for 2024 will be announced in due course."
