NOT only has former Strictly star Giovanni Pernice announced his dramatic return to the dancefloor, just months after being axed from the BBC show.
But it turns out that he’ll be joining forces with Giada Linni, 29, the wife of his friend and disgraced ex Strictly star Graziano De Prima.
For Giovanni will join the Italian version of Strictly, where Giada is one of the professional dancers.
Graziano’s wife, Giada Lini, 29, today announced on social media that her contract for the new season of Ballandro, con Le Stelle, had been renewed.
She said: “Finally I can officially announce that I will be part of the cast of the masters of 2024 for my 4th season.”
The pair who have been together since 2014, married near Graz's home on the Island of Sicily in summer 2022.
Italian dancer Graz, 30, was sacked from the BBC show after he admitted to kicking his dance partner Zara McDermott,27, during rehearsals, the proof of which was captured on camera from the rehearsal footage.
Meanwhile Giovanni seemed delighted with his new role as he announced the news with the words, “I am excited because finally I am back on the dancefloor.”
The 34-year-old Italian professional dancer has been embroiled in a backstage controversy since actress Amanda Abbington complained to the Beeb about his conduct while she was partnered with him on last years show.
Meanwhile Giovanni denies any wrong doing, but as the results of the investigation are due to be published soon, it has since come to light that the Sherlock actress, Abbington has been questioned a second time over ‘new evidence.”
Back in June the cast of professionals for the forthcoming season was revealed with the notable abence of Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice.
A firm favourite, Pernice has starred on the show since 2015 when he was partnered with Coronation Street star, Georgia May Foote.
Now, in a new post on Instagram, Pernice has confirmed to fans that they can see him back on TV but not on the BBC. Instead, Pernice is returning to Italy to take part in Ballando con le stelle, or as he puts it the ‘Italian Dancing with the Stars’.
In the video, Pernice says: “Hi everyone, it’s me, Giovanni. Hope everyone is having a nice rest of the summer. I’m here in Portofino, and I just finished two fantastic weeks with my family.
“But I’m here to give you some exciting news because I can finally reveal that from next week, I will be joining the cast of Ballando cone le Stelle, which is the equivalent of Dancing with the Stars - the Italian version.
The news comes after another former Strictly pro, Aljaz Skorjanec, who is making a series comeback, addressed claims that he acted in an “aggressive manner.”
Having departed in 2022, fans are delighted to see the return of the Slovenian pro.
But over the weekend it was reported that his U turn has ruffled feathers, due to a ‘shocking’ altercation with a female professional co-star while performing on the Strictly tour.
Škorjanec who is married to Strictly spin-off It takes Two presenter, Janette Manrara, who was herself a professional on the show, has denied the allegations.
