Remember those days in school or any other educational environment when you could call for a teacher’s head when you got an equation wrong?
No, me neither – and yet it appears everyone’s at risk in the mirror-clad Strictly Come Dancing classroom.
I am, of course, talking about Giovanni Pernice who has come under fire this week following reports his 2023 partner Amanda Abbington is seeking legal advice about their time on the show.
It’s been claimed by sources that Abbington is suffering PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] as a result of her time working with Pernice and as such, she’s “demanded” footage for their rehearsals in her quest for legal guidance.
Abbington and Pernice were plagued by rumours of a feud throughout their time on Strictly – exacerbated by a toe-curling final interview they gave together on It Takes Two days before the Sherlock star quit for “personal reasons”.
And PTSD is an incredibly serious matter which requires serious attention and for the sake of Abbington, I hope she does get the help, resolution, or whatever she needs from the saga to heal and leave the glitter-covered ordeal behind her.
However, the reports of Abbington being affected by Pernice’s training methods have resulted in floods of claims that several of his previous partners have taken issue with the Italian dancer.
That’s where the bigger problem lies – as soon as one bemoans a strong-handed approach that may have hurt their feelings, the snowflakes begin to pile in and leave Pernice under an avalanche of cries and moans.
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington’s feud has continued months after their Strictly exit
GETTY
Since reports of Abbington’s latest steps emerged, newspapers have been filled with – aptly timed – supposed complaints from Ranvir Singh, backstage clashes with Faye Tozer, arguments with Michelle Visage and spats with The One Show’s Richie Anderson.
Instead of sharing personal thoughts on the current saga – I haven’t seen the footage from rehearsals and despite numerous attempts I am yet to hear from either camp – you’ll find below what each supposedly p**sed Strictly star said about Pernice.
And perhaps while a professionally trained champion dancer’s high standards may lead to the odd argument, given what the celebs said at the time of their Strictly stints, the calls for Pernice’s head could do with being drowned out by Strictly composer Dave Arch’s orchestra.
Let’s start with those who were reportedly so disgruntled with Pernice that they actively sought action.
Ranvir Singh
Much has been made of the fact that Singh said ahead of her Strictly tenure: “Don’t be fooled by his angelic face! He is a fiery Italian, super strict – I am a bit scared of him.”
She made the remarks on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and following the developments in the Abbington feud, it was conveniently reported Singh had filed official complaints with the Beeb.
The Sun claims a source said: “Like Amanda, Ranvir also flagged an issue during training with Giovanni and said she was unhappy. The BBC appears to be doing nothing and it’s shocking.”
But let’s see what Singh said about Pernice after she left the show back in 2020. On Instagram on December 20, 2020, she penned: “Just thought I’d share with you my last official @bbcstrictly photo with my partner @pernicegiovann1 .. as I get ready for bed before hosting @lorraine tomorrow. What can I say that hasn’t already been said..?
“An extraordinary experience, with a beautiful passionate dancer, that has no doubt seen us both grow.. so so proud of the dances we performed. Thank you so much for willing us on and hope looking back you have some memorable moments as you watched from home, just as we do from dancing in that magical studio for you. Connection is everything. xx.”
No semblance of discomfort towards her “beautiful, passionate” partner in there from Lorraine Kelly’s regular standby host – at least Abbington had the balls to omit Pernice from her farewell statement.
WATCH HERE: Giovanni and Amanda awkwardly face ‘rumours’ probe in final joint interview
Faye Tozer
Similar to Singh, The Sun reported Tozer and Pernice had been “struggling with the pressure and have both been ranting behind each other’s back” ahead of the 2018 final.
And yet following said final, Tozer’s tribute to her time on the show was full of nothing but gratitude to the Italian.
The Steps star penned: “That’s all folks! My @bbcstrictly journey is complete! Thank you @pernicegiovann1. You gave me everything you had and took me all the way to the final. I cannot thank you enough for our beautiful dances. I will treasure them forever.
“It has been a truly unforgettable ride and ended on such a high! I’m so proud of what we achieved partner! And a huge thank you to each and everyone who supported and joined us on our journey. I am forever grateful.”
A month later, she was celebrating reuniting with Pernice to kick off the Strictly Live Tour – what a horrible bloke!
Michelle Visage
Once again, a source told – you guessed it – The Sun that Pernice and Visage had been “locking horns” backstage during their stint together.
The insider allegedly said: “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.”
And yet when she was voted off the show, Visage penned on social media on December 12, 2019: “What a trip this has been! Good luck to all of the @bbcstrictly finalists, I love you all! @pernicegiovann1 and I are back for one more whirl as #TEAMVISAGIO this Saturday night on the final.. So sad it’s over, I can’t even tell you how much I’ll miss it. Can I do it next year, please? SEE YOU ON T’TELLEH ON @bbcone.”
Okay, not a luvvy-duvvy farewell post but a month later, Visage revealed she was so traumatised from working with Pernice that she’d decided to join him on his live tour.
“#TEAMVISAGIO IS BACK! I will be dancing with my @pernicegiovann1 again on his tour ‘THIS IS ME’ on April 12th at Her Majesty’s Theatre! Tickets available NOW at GiovanniPernice.com SEE YOU THERE! #VOGUE I am SOOOOOO excited!” she told her fans weeks later.
Giovanni Pernice has come under scrutiny following Abbington’s demands
GETTY
Richie Anderson
Anderson and Pernice didn’t really last long enough in the competition for their supposed spat to go up a gear but much has been made in recent weeks that The One Show host has unfollowed the Strictly pro on social media.
Each to their own, but Anderson had nothing but kind words for Pernice when they bowed out of the show in 2022.
“‘Choose Dance – always! It’s been short, but sweet! Never did I think I’d be given the chance to attempt to cha cha cha, quickstep and samba live on television. I also got to meet some amazing people who will be friends forever! Can’t wait to cheer everyone on for the rest of the series,” he began.
Turning to Pernice, he added: “@giovannipernice it’s been an honour to dance in the ballroom with you. Thanks to everyone who voted, supported and sent kind comments. Keeeeeep Dancing.”
Laura Whitmore
Arguably an understandable instance where Pernice and his celebrity partner were always destined to clash was when Whitmore was coupled up with the dancer.
Pernice had ended a relationship with actor Georgia May Foote prior to Whitmore’s series and she just so happened to be a pal of the former Love Island host.
The intensity of rehearsals took its toll with Whitmore writing in a Huff Post blog in 2018: “I’m still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show. 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.”
And the others who weren’t reportedly scolding their agents for pairing them up with a dancer who was supposedly some sort of handsome Italian version of Mrs Trunchbull from Matilda?
Rose Ayling-Ellis won the show with Pernice and has time and time again lauded the dancer for their experience.
She penned on Instagram on Valentine’s Day 2022: “Six months ago, I didn’t have a clue what I signed up for and to be honest I was terrified. Now, I know for sure that it was the best decision I have ever made, what a crazy ride and life changing experience it has been. @giovannipernice , I am so grateful that you were part of my strictly journey.
“Thank you for telling my story and showing everyone who I am. Our friendship is so special and lasting for sure. Thank you to everyone who supported us, it has blown me away, you are the reason we got this far and made such an impact not just from dancing.
“Without you all, it would not have been possible. Now I am home, in my safe space with some calmness after the whirlwind that was strictly. I feel myself heading off to new adventures and I can’t wait to see what happen next. But I will never forget everything that strictly has given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” (sic)
And Debbie McGee showed her support for Pernice just this week with a snap on social media in which she paid tribute to the 33-year-old: “Happy memories. Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly.”
The BBC has reportedly decided to back Pernice and won’t be investigating the claims levelled against him.
And it’s a decision they must stand by because persecuting a professional dance champion for holding high standards in the rehearsals studio is as baffling as hiring a trained theatre performer to compete against a 70-year-old Family Fortunes presenter.
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