Strictly pro backs Giovanni Pernice amid complaint row with Amanda Abbington as they prepare to tour together
BBC star Lauren Oakley shared her alliance with Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice, with a sweet post to social media.
Giovanni, one of Strictly’s most successful dancers, has faced allegations from his former celebrity dance partner, Amanda Abbington, after she quit the show.
However, Lauren has made it clear that she backs Giovanni, despite the accusations.
Taking to Instagram, Lauren shared a snap of the pair dancing as she rocked a red silk dress.
She captioned the picture with a kiss emoji before the word: “…soon,” alluding to the pair’s upcoming tour.
Loyal viewers also flocked to the comments to share their thoughts, with one writing: “Two incredible dancers! Can’t wait to see the show.”
Another chimed in: “Can’t wait to see you and Gio on the 20th.”
A third added: “Can’t wait to see you shine.”
It comes after Amanda allegedly told pals her tense relationship with Giovanni left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
But it is understood that Giovanni has since been assured of his place on the Saturday night show.
Amanda, 51, quit last year’s Strictly for “personal reasons.”
The Sun on Sunday later revealed that Amanda now wants to review recordings of their “tense” training sessions with a view to seeking legal advice.
A pal said: “Amanda has been left broken and saddened by the whole experience.
“She has needed therapy and was left in shock by the behaviour she was exposed to.”
Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore has also claimed that Giovanni left her “broken”, after starring on the show in 2016.
She criticised the BBC for making her “spend 12 hours a day with this one person”.
Two years after her appearance on the show, she told the Huffington Post: “I’m still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show.
“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.”