After a turbulent few months following his exit from the British Strictly Come Dancing after nine years, Giovanni Pernice has finally found a way to make a comeback. The star is at the centre of a BBCStrictly scandal after a complaint from his former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington landed him in trouble over behavioural issues during rehearsals.
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The BBClaunched an investigation into the matter as the pro dancer started his new company – Rock You Productions Ltd. Though the official results of the probe are still pending, the star has officially joined the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, Ballando con le Stelle.
BBC bosses give Giovanni Pernice a ‘clean bill of health’ for Italian Strictly
In the past, the BBC has been accused of ‘protecting’ him, but eventually, Giovanni had to take a step back from the UK version of the show. Pernice’s departure from Strictly in the UK followed Amanda Abbington’s allegations, where she described the atmosphere in the rehearsal room as ‘disastrously unworkable’ and even accused Pernice of ‘bullying’. While the official investigation into these claims is yet to conclude, the BBC appears to have given him the green light to get back to work, albeit in another country.
According to The Sun, BBC bosses have reportedly stepped in to reassure the Italian production team that Pernice poses no threat to his dance partners, paving the way for him to continue his career in Italy. An insider told MailOnline:
Of course, he wanted to take part on Ballando. He loves dancing but there was a question mark hanging over his head regarding his conduct.
The BBC decided that was absolutely unfair and made the decision to intervene and give him a clean bill of health.
The BBC’s decision to speak on Pernice’s behalf has been seen as clear indication that the investigation’s findings might prove him innocent.
Pernice returns to Italy
Since arriving on Ballando con le Stelle, Pernice has expressed his excitement about returning to the Italian dance scene. He has been particularly active on social media, sharing numerous behind-the-scenes moments with his new celebrity partner, Bianca Guaccero.
Bianca, an Italian singer, actress, and television presenter, seems thrilled to be working with Pernice. The duo is popular not just with Italian fans of the show, but also with UK fans, who have flooded Pernice’s comment section with how much they miss him on the show. One commented on his Instagram post:
Italy is lucky to have you back, Giovanni, and all of us strictly fans in the UK are gutted you’re not with us
This comes as Strictly’s latest season has seen a notable drop in viewership.
UK’s Strictly ratings lower than last year
Reports indicate that 6.4 million people tuned in to watch the first live episode of the new series, down from 7.3 million viewers in 2023, according to The Independent. This decline continues a trend seen earlier in the series, as the pre-recorded launch episode on 14 September drew just 5.5 million viewers, a significant decrease from the 6.2 million who watched last year’s launch.
Although these figures highlight a drop in overnight TV ratings, it may not tell the full story. Many people now watch shows via BBC iPlayer or on catch-up TV, which aren’t accounted for in these early ratings.
However, compared to previous years, this season's viewership remains lower. For example, in 2020, 10.2 million viewers tuned in for the first live show, a much higher figure than this year’s 6.4 million.
Read more:
Shirley Ballas struggling with deteriorating back condition: Will it affect her future on Strictly?
Amanda Abbington: Who is her partner Jonathan Goodwin and what happened to him?
Graziano Di Prima allegedly looking to sue BBC after being axed: Here's everything we know
Sources used:
The Sun: BBC tells Italian Strictly that ‘Giovanni Pernice isn’t a danger despite Amanda Abbington’s claims’
The Independent: Strictly Come Dancing 2024 ratings for first live show revealed with huge ‘drop’
