Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice has been backed by BBC bosses despite a feud with his most recent partner on the show – Amanda Abbington.
The 33-year-old dancer was said to have fallen out with the actress, 51, who is alleged to be suffering from PTSD following her experience on the show.
Amanda withdrew from series 21 in week six after missing a show for ‘medical reasons’ the week before.
Last year was Giovanni’s ninth on Strictly, with an insider telling The Sun ‘it’s no secret Gio and Amanda had a tricky relationship’.
So, what have his previous partners said about him? Find the full list below.
Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice has been backed by BBC bosses despite a feud with his most recent partner on the show – Amanda Abbington
The couple danced for four weeks before Amanda quit the show for ‘personal reasons’
Amanda is now allegedly suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
Gio’s first dance partner was actress Georgia May Foote, who 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 seems fair to say that they struck up a good relationship on the show, as Georgia fell foul of 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 as it was reported that Sean was enraged with jealousy over her decision to take part, and even allegedly accompanied her to rehearsals at the beginning of her dancing journey.
To make matters worse for Sean, Gio and Georgia made it all the way, falling at the final hurdle to finish as runners-up.
Following the final, the couple announced their split – with Georgia seen kissing her dance partner during a romantic trip to Disneyland soon after.
But shortly before rehearsals for the next series began, the new romantics called time on their relationship after just a year.
Goergia tweeted: ‘Nothing I ever said about my feelings to Gio were fake before people start. I still love him very very much. But things change.’
Laura Whitmore
Laura Whitmore is another who has remarked on a difficult relationship with her dance partner – after being paired with Giovanni in 2016
Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore was Giovanni’s next partner, shortly after his split from Georgia.
The couple were eliminated in week seven of the 2016 series, finishing ninth.
Two years later, Laura revealed in a blog for the Huffington Post: ‘I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.’
Additionally, in 2020 she revealed Strictly bosses ‘forced her to spend’ extra time with Giovanni when 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 removed from everybody and having to spend 12 hours a day with this one person.
‘It did not become about the dancing. I just wanted to dance. I did not want to play the game of doing red carpets with your dance partner and stuff like that, which a lot of people thought you should be doing.’
Debbie McGee
Debbie McGee, has always been extremely positive about her relationship with the Italian pro
In 2017 it was TV personality and performer Debbie McGee’s turn to be coupled up with Giovanni.
The popular duo made it to the final but finished in second place behind Joe McFadden.
Paul Daniels’ widow, now-65, has been resoundingly positive about her former dance partner since the series, even seeming to come to his defence after the news around his most recent partner emerged.
On January 9, she posted a snap of the pair of them from their stint on the show to Instagram with the caption: ‘Happy memories. Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly.’
Speaking on Loose Women in 2018, she said: ‘We both have the same sense of humour. When we met on Strictly, Giovanni and I clicked we made each other laugh from the first day of rehearsals.
‘I realised everyone joked about how good-looking he is, he is very good-looking, very charming, but it wasn’t that what I got attracted to. It was his brain I suppose. I realised he knew his job, 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 as they reached the end of series 16
Giovanni made id back-to-back second-place finishes in 2018 with Steps singer Faye Tozer.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton edged them out in the final, but Faye still spoke of her pride for the dances she and her partner produced in series 16’s aftermath.
However, an insider told The Sun that the relationship was not perfect.
Before the final that year, they reported that an insider told them the pair were ‘struggling with the pressure and have both been ranting behind each other’s back’, as they came to terms with their lack of popularity – and therefore chances of winning – compared to their competitors.
They added that it made Faye ’emotional’.
Michelle Visage
Drag Race star Michelle Visage made sure to set the record straight about her and Giovanni’s relationship as rumours of a feud swirled, insisting that while they did clash, he was her ‘rock’
Giovanni is rumoured to have also clashed with Drag Race star Michelle Visage in 2019 – criticising her for not picking up steps quickly enough.
The pair ended up coming seventh in series 17.
And Michelle has since admitted that the pair endured a spikey relationship in their ‘tense’ backstage regime.
However, Michelle addressed their relationship in detail before their final appearance on the show, telling MailOnline: ‘The articles about my partner and I have been upsetting.
‘If anyone knows us, you 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 laughs together and to suggest otherwise is just sad.’
Ranvir Singh
Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh reportedly also complained to show bosses as she starred alongside the Italian until the semi final in 2020
Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh managed to finish fifth with the Italian dancer, but also talked about having a meltdown in training and ghosted him on social media after the 2020 series.
And a source has told The Sun that the presenter, like her most recent successor, also complained to bosses about being unhappy with training.
Fans also noticed Ranvir unfollow her former dance partner a year after the series, before refollowing him.
Some have also raised suspicions at her lack of support for the 33-year-old in subsequent Strictly Come Dancing series.
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, with deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis to capture the hearts of fans.
In the years since, Gio has been credited for continuing to use sign language at various points as a not to his former partner.
The pair have maintained a close bond – with Rose even appearing on Giovanni’s travel programme with Anton Du Bek.
‘After what we went through, how could we not stay in touch?’ she asked OK! Magazine in 2022.
Richie Anderson
Richie Anderson unfollowed his 2022 dance partner after the drama involving his successor deepened
Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson formed an all-male pairing with Giovanni in 2022, and was another who distanced himself from the Italian after the drama surrounding Giovanni and Amanda deepened – by unfollowing him on Instagram.
Rumours of a feud between the two had already existed after they sat apart on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, but both Gio and Richie had pushed back against them.
The Radio show host told the Metro while he was on the show: ‘It’s ridiculous, it’s not even a thing.
‘He has looked after me so much over the last couple of weeks. He’s like a big brother, which is weird, because I’m older.’
Amanda Abbington
It is alleged that Amanda has suffered PTSD following her involvement on the BBC show, and is requesting behind-the-scenes footage
Amanda’s departure from 2023’s Strictly was put down to ‘personal reasons’ a week after medical issues had been cited as a reason for her to miss a week’s dancing.
In a statement at the time she said she was ‘sad’ that she was ‘unable to go any further’ in the show.
The Sherlock star went on to post thanking her fellow contestants, the production team and ‘everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring’, but with the notable omission of a reference to her dance partner.
Giovanni, however, did send a message to Amanda, posting: ‘Amanda ..I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.’
A Strictly insider told MailOnline at the time: ‘This has been something that Amanda has been unfortunately having to consider making since late last week.
‘It has been a devastating time for Amanda. Her Strictly journey has been plagued by difficulties but she just didn’t think there was any other option.
‘As hard as it has been, 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 to Instagram which read: ‘We can be so hard on ourselves…be our own worst critics… But before you judge yourself… make sure your mirror is clean.’
And this just shortly followed Amanda herself reposting a quote from the late Robin Williams.
‘People don’t fake depression… they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind,’ she shared.
It is alleged that Amanda has suffered PTSD following her involvement on the BBC show, and is requesting behind-the-scenes footage.
Reference to Giovanni was notable in its absence from Amanda’s post about leaving the show
But it is understood that the professional dancer has been assured of his place on the show going forward.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the BBC previously said: ‘The BBC offers a comprehensive range of support to all individuals taking part in our shows.
‘Strictly Come Dancing has always taken duty of care incredibly seriously and there is a constant dialogue between senior members of the production team and the contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed swiftly.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Giovanni Pernice and Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
