This Morning’s host slams Strictly for pairing Giovanni with wrong celeb after he announces shock exit
THIS Morning expert Will Best has waded in on Strictly’s pairing choices after Giovanni Pernice quit the BBC show.
The Italian dancer, 33, has faced allegations in recent months over his tough training methods from a number of his previous partners, including actress Amanda Abbington, 52.
Last night The Sun exclusively revealed that Giovanni has decided to step back from Strictly.
Today, Will Best, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary discussed it during Will’s showbiz segment Will Best‘s Showbiz Round-Up on ITV‘s This Morning.
An interested Dermot asked Alison, who took part in the show in 2014, if the celebrities get a say with who they are partnered with.
Alison replied: “Not at all.”
The presenter then described it as a “big task”, and Will agreed and said: “It’s always going to be difficult right.
“You’ve literally got big celebrities who aren’t used to being told what to do, sometimes.
“You’ve got people who are really competitive. That’s the way they’ve been brought up, they’ve been doing it since they were very young. They want to win!”
Dermot added: “It’s all about personality.”
Will replied: “Exactly. They should get people to actually pair them properly based on who is going to get on.”
Just weeks into the competition last year, Amanda revealed that she had quit Strictly, following reports that she had been “feuding” with Giovanni.
Months later Amanda allegedly told pals that her tense relationship with Giovanni left her with PTSD, and she demanded footage back from training sessions.
A number of Gio’s previous partners, including Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh, then spoke out about their experiences.
Last night a source told The Sun: “Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much, and now is the time to make a fresh start.
“He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he’s achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times.
“He remains adamant he’s done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn’t to everyone’s liking — especially in this day and age.
“He has a lot of other exciting projects in the pipeline right now, and he’s just super-excited to get cracking on them. This, now, is his priority.”
I am a perfectionist, 100% but it comes from a perspective of caring
Giovanni
In March 2024, Giovanni broke his silence on the Strictly feud with Amanda.
He said: “It’s a shame because, in my opinion, she could have gone all the way.”
Speaking on the Mirror‘s Invite Only podcast, he continued: “I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring.
“I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place.
“If you’re a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night.”
Chance to shine solo
NEWS to make a million housewives’ hearts break; but the right news.
After months of fevered speculation concerning his “vigorous” training methods, Giovanni Pernice has cut his losses, and quit the show that made him a household name. (And, as mentioned, a housewives’ favourite).
Frankly, Gio’s position on Strictly had become untenable.
One unhappy celebrity partner is unlucky. Four is unacceptable.
By all accounts, away from the dance floor, Giovanni is nice chap.
Certainly, he was, for many years, a hugely popular figure behind the scenes.
But since Amanda Abbington very publicly quit the show, citing “private medical reasons”- which she later elaborated was PTSD, from the stress of training up to 10 hours a day with Gio – his popularity with fellow pros is understandably on the wane.
No-one wants to be associated with a headline-stealing taskmaster, one who makes his partners cry.
In his defence, Giovanni is a passionate Sicilian, one who grew up in dance schools where crying through exhaustion was the norm. This was his norm.
But in 2024, on a glossy, Saturday night celebrity dance show, this isn’t normal.
He’s an incredibly good-looking, charming and talented performer – he has already been flooded with “exciting TV offers”.
This, then, is Gio’s cha-cha-chance to shine, solo, and win over a whole new legion of fans… not just the housewives.