Giovanni Pernice: The Strictly star at the heart of a storm

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During the weekend, there was a surprising update to a story that had been slowly gaining attention for several months. Reports surfaced that Amanda Abbington, a star of the show Sherlock, along with television presenter Ranvir Singh from Good Morning Britain, and former presenter of Love Island Laura Whitmore had come together for an emotionally-charged meeting to discuss their individual "challenging encounters" while working with the professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on the show Strictly Come Dancing.

An individual, who claimed that Pernice is reputed for being very determined while training, informed The Sun that Pernice, Singh, and Whitmore had a personal meeting to discuss their shared experiences. The meeting was emotional but uplifting. They have each other's support after the difficult times they faced with Giovanni. There were tears shed. It is possible that all three of them may lodge a formal complaint with the BBC eventually, but at present, they are providing comfort to one another. Pernice, Singh, Whitmore, and the BBC have not given any comments so far.

Giuseppe Di Martino, a dancer on the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing since 2015, recently spoke out on a podcast in response to ongoing rumors of a feud with actress Amanda Abbington. The 33-year-old Sicilian defended himself against these allegations, which have been circulating for months. Abbington was partnered with Di Martino on the show last year, but she abruptly left the competition citing "medical reasons" after just five weeks into the 2023 series. After her departure, Abbington made her first Instagram post without mentioning or thanking Di Martino, which fueled the speculation even more.

In January, after three months had passed, there were reports that Abbington was consulting with legal experts and asked for video recordings of the times she practiced with Pernice. Soon after, Abbington announced that she had been diagnosed with a case of "mild PTSD" after participating in the show.

During an appearance on The Mirror's Invite Only podcast last Saturday, Pernice expressed his disappointment over Abbington's departure from their joint project due to health reasons. According to Pernice, he believed that they could have had a successful outcome if Abbington had continued with the project.

The confident dancer, who holds a record in Jive kicks and flicks as recognized by Guinness World Records for performing 55 in just 30 seconds, has had success on the show before. He emerged victorious in the competition in 2021 while partnered with Rose Ayling-Ellis and has achieved the status of a finalist five times throughout his nine-year tenure. Pernice's focused approach stems from his desire to make sure his celebrity partner is the best they can be for their Saturday night performance, which is essential to achieving a strong score. As a professional dancer, he takes pride in his work and aims to meet his goals.

Pernice and Abbington will be appearing on the popular dancing show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Even prior to the emotional meeting, it was apparent that Abbington was not the first individual to experience Pernice's strict standards. While there have not been any explicit accusations about his actions, others have hinted at his behavior in the past. For example, Whitmore, who danced with Pernice during the 2016 series, has expressed her discomfort with her partner. In one instance, she shared that she felt shattered, crying on a daily basis. Eventually, she was both mentally and physically exhausted.

Pernice teamed up with an Irish host for Strictly, making her the second celebrity he has worked with on the show. In 2015, he partnered with Georgia May Foote from Corrie, and that was his debut appearance in London. Pernice mentioned that he had trouble communicating at the start, as he didn't speak English back then. To cope with the situation, he had a translator to assist him during the first season.

Pernice hails from Palermo, Sicily and was born in 1990. When he turned 14, he left his hometown and ventured to Bologna in pursuit of his dreams of becoming a professional dancer. He received exceptional training in the Latin dance genre at a prestigious institute in the city. Pernice elaborated in The Times about the challenges of living independently at a young age, which forced him to mature rapidly.

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Singh and Pernice were paired up as partners in 2020.

He shared with The Guardian about the challenges he faced during his youth, being alone most of the time. He mentioned how this way of living can lead you towards a more concentrated approach, as there are fewer interruptions. Moreover, he became keen on winning after his first victory in a contest. The feeling of being a champion was so pleasant that he craved more of it, leading him to develop an addiction to winning.

He left school and went on to become an excellent performer. Winning the top prize at the Italian Open Championship in 2012 was his major achievement. Later, he participated in the Strictly competition and performed exceptionally, receiving the highest number of 10s ever awarded on the show. With the talented Rose Ayling-Ellis, the first deaf contestant to participate in the show, he made history as they won the show. Rose expressed her love for dancing with him since, being an Italian, he spoke directly and avoided metaphors and waffle, which was confusing for deaf people. A celebrated moment on the show was their silent dance, which received a Bafta TV award for its powerful, boundary-breaking impact, making history in the show's 20-year history.

routine on Strictly Come Dancing. The highly anticipated moment saw Rose, who is deaf, and Giovanni perform an emotional dance to the song “The Show Must Go On” by Queen without any music. Their performance garnered nationwide attention and inspired many viewers. This recognition has been celebrated and applauded as a triumph for not only the two dancers but for the deaf community as a whole. Rewritten: For their captivating silent dance on Strictly Come Dancing, Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice were honored with the prestigious must-see moment Bafta TV award. The poignant routine, which was performed to Queen's "The Show Must Go On," was a momentous occasion, as Rose is a deaf dancer who performed without any music. Their inspiring performance captured the hearts of many viewers, and it is recognized as a triumph for not only them but also the entire deaf community. This award is a true celebration of their talent, hard work, and dedication.

Pernice has said that he is a workaholic and doesn't take many vacations. He admits that it is difficult to balance his career and romantic life. He believes that dancers often end up dating each other because they share the same passion and commitment to their profession. He acknowledges that being a dancer can put a lot of pressure on a relationship but he believes that the right woman will understand his goals. Pernice has been in relationships with several high-profile women including Love Island's Maura Higgins, Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, his former Strictly partner Georgia May Foote, and fellow dancer Jowita Przystal.

In his conversation with The Guardian regarding the level of commitment required for his profession, he mentioned that he had to remain extremely focused throughout his career. He stated that his journey to reach his current position required immense hard work and personal compromises, but ultimately, everything paid off. He added that he had been participating in competitions regularly since his adolescence. His dedication towards his training has been so thorough that he had to skip celebrating holidays like Christmas and his birthdays on several occasions.

Apart from Pernice’s strong work ethic, viewers of Strictly Come Dancing recognize him as a stylish and composed personality. In 2017, Debbie McGee had the pleasure of being his dance partner. It was evident from her Instagram post in January that she cherished their experience together and considered it one of the most enjoyable moments of her life.

Despite the recent negative press, it’s unusual to witness his lighthearted excursion with fellow Strictly professional, Anton du Beke, on their latest BBC travel program, Adventures in Spain. It may seem like awkward timing for the BBC, but the network heavily advertised the show, which features Pernice facing his fear of heights on the Caminito del Rey and exchanging witty banter with du Beke, on their social media platforms on Monday.

Have you ever wondered about the dynamic between Pernice and his famous dance partners during rehearsals? Is he possibly harsh in his approach or is he simply straightforward? The conclusion to this curious tale has yet to be revealed.