Who has former Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice danced with? Meet the celeb partners he’d been paired with
GIOVANNI Pernice’s time on Strictly Come Dancing has become the hot topic of conversation.
Here we take a look though all of the dance partners Gio’s had over the years – from the first one in 2015 to his last in 2023.
Who did Giovanni Pernice dance with professionally?
Georgia May Foote
Strictly fans first met Giovanni Pernice on season 13 of the show in 2015.
His first ever dance partner was Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote.
Things certainly heated up for the pair on and AND off the dancefloor.
After the show ended Giovanni and Georgia quickly became a couple and dated for around eight months.
They announced they had split in August 2016.
Releasing a statement, Georgia said: “It is with great sadness we have decided to split up. There is nobody else involved.
“Although it was not an easy decision to make sometimes you realise that it is better to be friends and this is one of those times.
“We both have very busy work schedules for the rest of the year so we are both going to focus on our upcoming work projects and we wish each other well in the future.”
Laura Whitmore
Gio’s next partner was former Love Island host Laura Whitmore.
The two were paired up in 2016 for season 14 and made it to week seven before being eliminated.
However, in 2018 Laura revealed that during her time with Giovanni on Strictly she “cried every day”.
Writing for the Huffington Post, Laura explained: “I’m still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show. I love dancing – I topped the leader board twice – but before it even begins.
“I was thrown into the lion’s den and into the middle of someone’s break-up that had nothing to do with me.
To the outside world I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability, but it affected me deeply. My friends and family knew that I was struggling.
Laura Whitmore
“Once again, I was a ‘rumoured love interest’.”
Continuing, she said: “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
“To the outside world I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability, but it affected me deeply.
“My friends and family knew that I was struggling. And they were there for me.
“The media, however, saw me as blonde bait in a sequinned dress.”
Laura has been named as one of Giovanni’s dance partners who have complained to the BBC about him.
Debbie McGee
For 2017, Giovanni was paired up with former magician’s assistant Debbie McGee.
The late Paul Daniels‘ wife wowed when she stepped onto the dancefloor, and the pair received huge praise from the judges.
In fact they were so good they made it to the final, but were runners’ up to winning couple Joe McFadden and Katya Jones.
Debbie and Gio got on very well during their time on the show together.
In fact in January 2024, she came out in support of Gio after he faced a backlash.
Taking to Instagram, Debbie shared a smiley photograph with the Italian dancer and wrote: “Happy memories.
Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly.”
Under fire Gio responded: “Love you … thank you [love heart emojis].”
Faye Tozer
Like Laura, Giovanni’s 2018 dance partner Faye Tozer is also said to have had “issues” with the pro dancer.
The Steps star danced with him for season 16, and on the surface they seemed to get on great.
They were paired up for the 2018 series and they just missed out on lifting the Glitterball to Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
But The Sun previously told how his “fiercely competitive” nature left Faye feeling emotional.
Speaking before the 2018 final, an insider told us: “Faye and Giovanni have been struggling with the pressure and have both been ranting behind each other’s back.
“Giovanni is fiercely competitive and wants to win.
But what I can say from my experience is yes Giovanni is tough. I wanted that – so it depends.
Michelle Visage
“But he knows they don’t have a hope in hell, as Stacey and Joe are both so popular with fans.
“Faye is sensitive, and after weeks of relentless training, she is feeling quite emotional.”
Michelle Visage
Like Debbie, Michelle Visage got on well with Gio in 2019 for season 17.
The Ru Paul’s Drag Race star and the Italian pro dancer made it all the way to Blackpool where they were eliminated.
Michelle has also shown her support for Giovanni, although she did say he was “tough”.
Don’t be fooled by Giovanni’s angelic face!
Ranvir Singh
When quizzed about him on This Morning in March 2024, she said: “I don’t like gossip so I am not here to gossip.
“But what I can say from my experience is yes Giovanni is tough
“He is probably the toughest pro there is.
“I wanted that – so it depends. Some people can handle that, some people don’t want to handle that.
“I wanted that.”
Ranvir Singh
Ranvir Singh has been vocal about not enjoying her time with Giovanni on Strictly.
Like Laura, she too has complained to the BBC about him.
When she was paired with Giovanni in the 2020 series, Ranvir told Good Morning Britain at the time: “Don’t be fooled by his angelic face!
“He is a fiery Italian, super strict – I am a bit scared of him,
Ranvir is yet to talk publicly again about Giovanni.
Rose Ayling-Ellis
Giovanni had his biggest success ever on Strictly in 2021 when he clinched the Glitterball Trophy with Rose Ayling-Ellis.
He was paired with the EastEnders actress for season 19, and week after week they won high praise from judges.
After the show ended Rose and Gio continued to be friends and would often share social media posts together.
The pair were so well liked, that in 2022 they won the TV Bafta for Must See Moment for their silent dance on Strictly.
Richie Anderson
Richie Anderson also didn’t have the best time on Strictly, when he was partnered with Giovanni in 2022.
The season 20 pair didn’t last long on the show, and were eliminated in week three.
The two men were plagued with rumours of a fallout when they sat separately from each other on It Takes Two.
During their time on the show, a source told us: “The pair haven’t clicked.
“Richie is so swept up by the whole experience that he is talking 100 words a minute, and it can be hard for Giovanni.
“He has told pals that Richie talks instead of listening during training, and it is frustrating.”
Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington was partnered with Giovanni for the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
However, just weeks into the series the actress announced she had quit the show.
Before she left Strictly, The Sun revealed how Amanda and Giovanni were feuding behind the scenes.
Amanda further fuelled rumours by sharing a cryptic post about bad behaviour on her Instagram account.
In January 2024, it emerged that Amanda allegedly told pals that her tense relationship with Giovanni during her time on Strictly had left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Sun revealed that the Sherlock actress had demanded footage of her rehearsals with partner Giovanni and was seeking legal advice.
Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He flees the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.