Kerry Katona fuels rumours of Strictly feud between Giovanni and Amanda Abbington saying she knows the ‘real reason’
TV star KERRY Katona has fuelled rumours of a Strictly feud between Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington.
It comes after Amanda, 51, announced she was leaving the series this week amid reports she struggled to get along with Giovanni.
The former Atomic Kitten star, 43, said Italian professional dancer Giovanni has earned himself a reputation as a strict teacher which could have contributed to Amanda’s shock exit.
“It’s a shame she [Amanda] left and while we don’t know why, I think it would be physically and emotionally gruelling,” Kerry said.
“I’ve heard her partner, Giovanni Pernice, is quite strict, which I’m not sure is always the way to go.”
Kerry has now thrown her name in the hat as a possible contender for the next series of the BBC dancing show.
She wrote on her OK! magazine column: “It seems like hard work but I’d love to do it, if I enjoy something then I’m not afraid to work hard.
“I loved taking part in Dancing On Ice and I think the key is making it fun so you enjoy the experience.
“Joanne Clifton would be my dream professional dancer to partner with, even though she’s not on the show any more.”
Last week, Giovanni’s parents Rosalda and Piero raced to his defence amid claims that Amanda quit over training bust-ups.
Speaking at their family home on the Italian island of Sicily, Piero, 66, said: “We are surprised by the fact she left the show, because everything was going OK — we thought they could have won.
“It all seemed OK for them before she quit the show.
“My son is a really nice, polite and respectful boy.
“He always had good results with different partners and he has never had problems with them.
“We’d never heard anyone saying negative things about Giovanni.”
He added: “In my opinion, sometimes you have to push a person to get to their best, but sometimes that isn’t what one person needs.
“I can just talk about Giovanni as a person. I’m surprised such a good partnership has ended.”
Mum-of-two Amanda, 51, pulled out of last Saturday’s show on medical grounds.
Her exit from the show was confirmed on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two on Monday — as the competition entered its sixth week.
Giovanni paid tribute to Amanda, sharing a sweet snap of them in pyjamas and saying: “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.”
The pro dancer appeared Strictly on Saturday night but fans insisted he looked “sad” and “devastated”.
“Poor Giovanni looked completely lost and sad tonight,” one wrote.
A second added: “Poor Giovanni he looks devastated.”