Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice frenzy proves who its real stars are

Because the mainstays of Strictly, we stay up for seeing the professionals yearly – they’re those we actually root for

Might 17, 2024 3:13 pm(Up to date 4:22 pm)

Giovanni Pernice has been a Strictly skilled dancer for simply shy of a decade. He’s danced jazz dressed as a skeleton with Steps’ Faye Tozer, vogued with RuPaul’s Drag Race decide Michelle Visage, carried out a Lion King-inspired samba dressed as Pumba with TV presenter Richie Anderson, and, in 2017, he spun Debbie McGee round his neck, hands-free within the ultimate (which he’s made it to a document 4 occasions). When he lastly received in 2021 with Rose Ayling-Ellis, the programme’s first deaf contestant, after dancing in silence throughout their couple’s selection routine, he grew to become the undisputed king of Strictly.

Now it’s throughout. The Solar has reported that Pernice has “give up” Strictly following complaints from his former movie star accomplice Amanda Abbington over his strict instructing strategies. Abbington left final 12 months’s collection early and later claimed she had been identified with “delicate PTSD” following a collection of bust-ups with Pernice.

Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh, who danced with Pernice in 2016 and 2020 respectively, have additionally referred to Pernice’s powerful coaching type. On Free Ladies, Singh informed her co-hosts that she was a “bit scared” of him, whereas Whitmore mentioned on a 2020 podcast that she was “extraordinarily uncomfortable” with the dancer she was paired with and ended her time on the collection “damaged, each mentally and bodily”.

It has since been reported that the BBC has launched an inner investigation into Pernice following complaints by three unnamed “traumatised” celebrities.

Now, an inner memo leaked to The Solar exhibits that Pernice’s title just isn’t on the record of execs competing within the subsequent collection, as a consequence of begin in September.

Abbington’s allegations have led to a grim scandal that has hung over Strictly for the higher a part of a 12 months. Followers are determined to know what actually occurred between the pair. That curiosity isn’t shocking given Pernice’s reputation – he’s good wanting, recreation for fun and above all, an impressive dancer. It additionally proves a long-held principle by Strictly followers: that it’s the professionals, not the celebrities, that we actually care about.

Over the 20 years Strictly has been on tv, the skilled dancing line-up has turn into simply as vital to viewers because the celebs. Relating to revealing the companions within the annual launch present, we’re enthusiastic about which dancer is partnered with which movie star, not the opposite means round. Simply consider how sorry all of us felt for Anton du Beke (all the time the bridesmaid, by no means the bride when it got here to the Glitterball Trophy) when he was paired with Judy Murray, Ann Widdecombe, Susannah Constantine, and Jacqui Smith.

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The celebrities are ephemeral obsessions, their reputation lasting solely whereas they’re on the dancefloor (until after all, they succumb to the “Strictly curse” and shack up with one of many execs, like Gemma Atkinson – married to Gorka Marquez, Rachel Riley – married to Pasha Kovalev, or Stacey Dooley, who not too long ago had her first child with Kevin Clifton). For some, Strictly is an opportunity to make their debut to the lots, for others it’s an opportunity to spice up their profession to the following stage. Both means, they be a part of the present underneath the shadow of its execs, deferential to their experience and the connection they’ve already developed with us at residence.

Because the mainstays of Strictly, the professionals are those we will stay up for seeing week-in, week-out. Whereas we do root for the celebrities, we additionally vote for our favorite dancers – we observe their previous wins and hope they get the popularity from the judges we really feel they deserve.

I’m unsure underdog Invoice Bailey would have received in 2020 if it weren’t for the nation’s love for his accomplice, Oti Mabuse – and I believe we will all agree that Strictly misplaced a little bit of its sparkle when she departed two years later. It’s no shock that she’s gone on to evaluate Dancing on Ice, have her personal ITV breakfast present and current private BBC documentaries – she was made for TV and had a readymade fanbase of Strictly viewers who had fallen in love together with her charisma, honesty and expertise over the earlier six years.

She’s not the one one with transferable expertise: the Strictly execs are seasoned all-round entertainers. Years {of professional} dance competitions – the plastered smiles, the pretend tan, the glitzy outfits – have prepped them for the cutthroat world of showbiz. It doesn’t matter what the tabloids are saying about them, on Saturday nights they’re the epitome of sparkly professionalism – dependable, enthusiastic, good.

Pernice’s exit may sound like unhealthy information for Strictly and the BBC (identical to Mabuse, he’s reportedly making the bounce to ITV, with rumours swirling that he’s signed up for I’m a Movie star, Get Me Out of Right here) however it’s going to finally reserve it. Behind-the-scenes scandals taint what is meant to be a joyful, family-friendly collection, suggesting a darkish facet of overzealous coaching and backstage distress. In different phrases, the pleased, shiny flooring Saturday evening exhibits can be undermined and uncovered as a fraud.

Now, the present should go on. There are many different Strictly execs who’re able to turn into Strictly’s golden boy. Johannes Radebe is mesmerising on display, Kai Widdrington is proving himself to be the hunk of the collection, and Nikita Kuzmin is a formidable competitor. Whoever emerges as Strictly’s subsequent hero, one factor is definite – it’ll be all eyes on them, not whichever D-lister is on the top of their arm.