Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice joined the BBC One dance contest in 2015 and has proved extremely popular with the show’s devoted fans. However, the 33-year-old Italian hunk has been the subject of a few ‘feud’ rumours during his time on the series.
During this year’s series, ‘feud’ rumours plagued Giovanni and partner Amanda Abbington. They denied the claims and have since quit the show due to Amanda’s “medical” issues.
But it isn’t the first time Gio has found himself in the headlines. Here are all the alleged rows and fall outs Strictly’s Giovanni has been reported to have been involved in…
Giovanni Pernice ‘feud’ rumours on Strictly
Laura Whitmore
Gio and Love Island host Laura were paired up in 2016. They made it to week seven of the series, but it seems Laura wasn’t overjoyed at being connected at the hip with her dance pro.
She reportedly reflected during an appearance on the Private Parts podcast: “What I didn’t like was being removed from everybody and having to spend 12 hours a day with this one person. It did not become about the dancing – I just wanted to dance.
“I did not want to play the game of doing red carpets with your dance partner and stuff like that, which a lot of people thought you should be doing. I did not want to do that.”
Michelle Visage
Drag Race judge Michelle and Giovanni were Strictly partners in 2019.
Amid tabloid rumours of rows backstage, a source told The Sun: “Michelle has become quite unhappy at times. She has a fiery relationship with Giovanni. They have been locking horns since the start.
“Both are very strong characters and they’ve both had a lot to say. He’s probably not used to a partner being quite so in control and calling the shots.”
However, while Michelle slammed the reports, she also seemed to confirm they could quarrel.
She reflected: “We’re both Italian. We’re both intense. We’re both Virgos. So there’s a perfectionist level that’s really ridiculous between us.
“So Mondays and Tuesdays is a lot of us at each other’s throats. By the end of the week, we’re totally in love with each other again and it’s fine. Our relationship is very fiery. It is weird, but it’s perfect.”
Ranvir Singh
Giovanni and GMB’s Ranvir reached the semis in 2020. Despite tabloid suggestions they may be more than dance partners due to their sizzling chemistry on the dance floor, both Gio and newly-single at the time Ranvir denied it.
Fans also reckon there may have been a special spark between the two, even after they departed the competition. And those claims weren’t put to bed when Ranvir posted about “connection is everything” on social media.
However, a few months later, Giovanni was very direct when speaking to ED!, telling us he was single and “absolutely there’s no way” of a chance of love between him and Ranvir.
Additionally, a few months later, there were report Ranvir may have unfollowed him on social media. Why would she do that?
Richie Anderson
Radio host Richie teamed up with Gio for the pro’s first same-sex dance partnership on Strictly in 2022.
Their run, however, was brief as the duo were eliminated in week 3, Gio’s earliest-ever exit from the series.
Furthermore, fans speculated Giovanni wasn’t “happy” with dancing alongside Richie. And ‘rift’ rumours also included the allegation Gio found the going “hard” with the Radio 2 presenter.
“The pair haven’t clicked,” a source alleged to The Sun in September of last year.
“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.”
However, on It Takes Two, Giovanni insisted there was “no problem” between them.
He said at the time: “There is no problem between us, we are having a good time. So forget about what you are writing, it’s not true.”
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni on Strictly
This year, there were ‘feud’ rumours surrounding Giovanni and Amanda. Reports claimed that Amanda had threatened to quit due to her pro partner’s “aggressive behaviour” during training.
However, Amanda seemingly hit back at the claims. She wrote on her Instagram Story last month: “Ignoring the [bleep] because clearly people are [bleep]s. Just stop it, stop it, grow up. No one gives a [bleep]. Shut up, it’s [bleep], so [bleep] off.”
Meanwhile, during an appearance on It Takes Two in September, the pair confirmed they were getting along.
Amanda said they “laugh a lot”, adding: “We’re having a great time.”
Giovanni added: “We do have a good time. But at the same time it’s a difficult process. Especially for people who have never done Strictly before. I always say it’s a marathon not a sprint. The first few weeks, it is difficult. It’s a lot of hours to train, it’s a lot of hours you have to concentrate.”
Read more: Giovanni Pernice hits back at shock claims he was told about Amanda’s exit by producers
Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story.