Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there’s a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

As a seasoned observer of the dance world, I must admit that this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. The controversy surrounding Giovanni and Amanda has certainly shaken things up, and it seems we are all left wondering who is dancing with whom.


Reflecting on my recent memories, about a year ago, I found myself abruptly concluding an extraordinary dance journey with Strictly Come Dancing, a show that had captivated me greatly.

Instead of planning to reach the finale of the British show alongside gifted dancer Amanda Abbington, unfortunately, she decided to leave after the sixth week instead.

We know now this came after weeks of difficulties between the pair. 

Afterward, it’s true that Giovanni has been subjected to accusations by Abbington, who labeled his conduct in the training room as ‘inappropriate’, ‘harsh’, and ‘abusive’.

This month, after a six-month long internal review, the BBC issued an apology to Abbington as they confirmed that only six out of her seventeen complaints were valid. Additionally, they exonerated Giovanni from the gravest accusations against him.

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals
Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

He has always strongly denied being abusive and gave his side of the story in an exclusive interview to me this week.

Still, it’s tough to bounce back from. But what a difference 12 months make.

On the previous Saturday, it was in his homeland of Italy where Giovanni, aged 34, set a new record by earning the highest number of perfect scores (10/10) for his quickstep dance on the local adaptation of Strictly Come Dancing.

Five judges were present on Dancing with the Stars, which means he achieved a phenomenal 50 points out of 50 possible ones.

In response to the dance performance, the lead judge, ex-ballroom sensation Carolyn Smith, commented, “That’s how you execute a quickstep,” prompting the audience to rise in applause.

Indeed, it wasn’t solely Giovanni who made an impact on the panel, but also his latest collaborator, the one he refers to as bringing joy into his life and helping him discover contentment following the turbulence of last year.

Instead of the unpleasantness that used to characterize my rehearsals with Amanda, the ones I now have with the new dancer are filled with joy.

She is stunning Italian actress and divorcee Bianca Guaccero. And Giovanni, is absolutely smitten. 

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals
Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

‘All I’m going to talk about from now until December is Bianca and Ballando,’ he tells me.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been collaborating closely with an exceptional partner, and this week we found ourselves jetting off to the vibrant city of London – a place where my counterpart spends a significant portion of their time. Our purpose? To delve into intensive training sessions that promise to elevate our collective expertise to new heights.

Supporters of the popular ballroom figure claim that partnering with Bianca has provided him with just the right boost.

Upon encountering Giovanni last Monday, his face lit up at the mere mention of her name. Could it be that love is brewing?

He mentions that she is single, but avoids answering directly about her relationship status. She is 43 years old and has a child. She is exceptionally intelligent and regularly attends rehearsals.

It’s definitely a place of happiness, I’m happy to be able to do what I love to do.’

I venture a guess and inquire about their kiss, yet once more, Giovanni remains tight-lipped. All I receive is a radiant grin in response. However, he clarifies, “I’m only concerned with Bianca.

“She’s terrific; she’s an exceptional dancer. Our performance shattered the record for the highest number of tens on the show in its 19-year history.

Giovanni has been single since splitting from British model Molly Brown, 24, in the summer. 

Besides Dario Acocella, Bianca parted ways with in 2017. Together they share a daughter named Alice.

As a lifestyle expert, I can share that it was me who rekindled Giovanni’s passion for dancing. Despite his assurance that his career wouldn’t come to an end following Amanda’s complaint, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong,’ he admitted, his dance journey seemed stalled for nearly a year.

Currently, Bianca and Giovanni frequently share Instagram videos that keep thousands of new followers engaged on a weekly basis.

Previously, they mentioned that they had recently come back from London and were eagerly anticipating today’s dance. It’s hard to miss the spark of chemistry between them, viewers will notice.

“A companion of Giovanni from Sicily stated: ‘Giovanni is focusing on the future, enjoys dancing with Bianca, and there’s a sparkle in his eyes, particularly when she comes up in conversation.’

‘She is the perfect person for him to have been partnered with after the whole Amanda saga.

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals
Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals
Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

He had gone through a very tough period, and it brought him immense joy to dance again. However, he hadn’t anticipated having someone as extraordinary as Bianca to share this experience with.

Of course, should things take a romantic turn it will be something Giovanni is used to.

Back in 2015, when I found myself partnered with the radiant Georgia May Foote on Strictly Come Dancing, little did I know that our partnership would blossom into something more. That very year marked my debut on the show, and it was a time I’ll never forget as we started dating, creating memories that still shine bright in my heart.

In my personal journey, I was fortunate enough to discover a beautiful connection with the talented singer, Ashley Roberts, who graced the stage of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. However, it’s essential to clarify that our dance partnership wasn’t meant to be – she danced enchantingly with Pasha Kovalev instead.

In 2022, Giovanni was linked to fellow Strictly professional Jowita Przystal, who is Polish.

As Giovanni danced with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021, should he achieve success with Bianca, he’ll end 2024 in a significantly different mood compared to how it began.

The BBC review found that Giovanni used ‘belittling’ language towards Amanda. 

As a result, the Corporation apologised and thanked her for coming forward.

In my line of expertise, I recently had the opportunity to delve into a comprehensive study that set us back quite a pretty penny – around £250,000, to be exact. On one particular occasion, the subject in question expressed his weariness with our collective well-being practices, stating bluntly, “I’m tired of it, if you want to appear less than radiant, that’s your prerogative.” In simpler terms, he seemed to imply that he no longer felt compelled to prioritize our aesthetic appeal.

In retrospect, I found myself using harsh words towards Giovanni in our WhatsApp conversations – a fact that was subsequently verified by the BBC’s investigation team, who concluded that I initiated the use of crude language in our exchanges.

Among the hours of rehearsal footage, it was determined that the Sherlock actress was the sole individual who used the offensive term often referred to as the “c-word.

In the course of their correspondence, Amanda, aged 52, addressed the professional dancer using derogatory terms like “jerk,” “rude person,” and “impolite one,” even though she had claimed that he was being abusive towards her.

Being smitten with my latest discovery, I can’t help but share the intriguing backstory of this captivating talent. Hailing from an illustrious Italian showbiz dynasty, she carved out her niche portraying a scheming character in a mesmerizing mini-series that unfolded on the enchanting island of Capri. Simply put, she’s the star I can’t stop watching!

Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals
Has Giovanni Pernice found his amore on the dancefloor? After a tumultuous year facing accusations of bullying from Amanda Abbington, friends say there's a twinkle in his eye again, KATIE HIND reveals

Although Giovanni hasn’t definitively decided against coming back to British Strictly (as he calls it “the show that transformed my life”), he seems content in Italy at the moment, as he has temporarily moved to Rome.

I can’t hide my joy at being closer to my beloved parents, who have had a tough time dealing with the aftermath of Strictly and found themselves fielding queries about whether their son was being unkind. They’ve been understandably upset by it all.

In the end, when Ballando approached him, the BBC assured in July that the report wouldn’t expose any harmful conduct towards Amanda regarding risky behavior.

‘I always wanted to come back, this is the right time for me to do that,’ Giovanni told the Mail.

Additionally, it brings me joy since on Strictly… they collectively signaled approval for me, which speaks volumes about my abilities.

In another part of the world, I continue performing the same role. Since I haven’t committed any errors, there was no way for them to prevent me from doing so.

It appears that Bianca might be aware of Amanda’s grievances, as the heads of Ballando suggested this could be possible. According to Giovanni, “Bianca is well-informed on the matter.

‘In the first few days you need to get to know that person before you really speak.

‘Then she was the first one who said, ‘I don’t know what’s happening, you are great to me.’

Although Giovanni and Bianca seem likely to reach the finals, he remains humble regarding their chances of winning.

‘Can you imagine if we did?’, he whispers. ‘It would be amazing.’

In fact, he has already been eyeing the silverware, and it’s far bigger than the UK’s glitterball.

‘The trophy is massive,’ he says, gesturing to just above his knee.

‘It’s as big as the Champion’s League one, it’s huge.’

What a revenge it would be, I say. He nods, and smiles. Again.

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2024-10-26 03:41

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