‘I think he’s great’ says Dancing On Ice’s Alex Murphy and backs Giovanni Pernice in Strictly row with Amanda Abbington
GIOVANNI Pernice has the backing of a top Dancing On Ice star amid his “feud” with his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Amanda Abbington.
The Italian pro, 33, received some touching words of support from Alex Murphy, 34, a skater on the ITV reality series.
The American figure skating star, who quit Dancing On Ice in 2020 after triumphing with actor Joe Swash, told how Giovanni was “great.”
The BBC professional’s Strictly Come Dancing partner, Amanda, quit last year’s show for “personal reasons” after her experience with Giovanni was said to have been blighted by a series of rows.
This week, The Sun exclusively revealed how the actress, 51, has now demanded backstage footage of her time on the show.
The TV star has told pals she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder on the programme.
Now Alex, who knows all too well the reality of training a famous face in their discipline, has stuck up for the dancer.
She candidly told GB News: “I think what happens – obviously, I’m a professional, I think Giovanni is great. I will as a pro stand with the pros and you’re like, ‘He’s doing the best he can.’
“It’s really hard because you have to gauge each person as an individual.
“So every time that you want to think to yourself, ‘This is a dance competition’, or, ‘This is a skating competition,’ it’s not, it’s a TV show.
“And we need to remember that as professionals.”
She then added: “The hard part is every person is different.
“Every single time I went in, I had to have a completely different teaching structure.”
Meanwhile, her words are sure to bring comfort to Giovanni who at been at the heart of rumours this week.
His Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special partner Nicola Roberts recently joked how she wanted to “strangle” the star.
He has also faced allegations that he clashed with previous partners, including Ranvir Singh, who lodged an official complaint, singer Faye Tozer, and presenters Laura Whitmore, Richie Anderson and Michelle Visage, over his boot camp methods.
Yet his former partner, Debbie McGee, has now come out in support of Giovanni.
The Sun has also exclusively revealed the BBC has pledged to stand by Giovanni.