AFTER winning Strictly in 2023, with Rose Ayling-Ellis, it looked like things were really on the up for Giovanni Pernice.
The Strictly pro became a fan favourite thanks to their wonderful partnership, and then landed a travel show with judge Anton Du Beke, Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily.
The pair are also touring together later this year, after a successful sellout show, Him & Me, last summer.
But in an exclusive interview with The Sun, brand and culture expert Nick Ede has said he believes even Anton could now turn his back on his friend.
It comes after Giovanni quit Strictly last week, with a trio of his former dance partners taking action against him as part of a Beeb investigation.
This includes Laura Whitmore, 39 — Gio’s partner in 2016 — and Amanda Abbington, 52, who this weekend told pals how Giovanni stamped on her in training before she quit in October.
We revealed today that another one or two celebs are planning to sue him as well.
“Giovanni had the world at his feet,” Nick says. “He had become a stand-out star from Strictly, commanding sell-out theatre shows, high-rated TV appearances, and he’s even set to have an acting role in upcoming film, Man & Witch.
“But the constant complaints against him mean that all eyes are on him and I don’t think this is a cloud he’s going to be able to shift any time soon.
“The latest allegations could be the nail in the coffin for Giovanni.”
Giovanni denies any wrongdoing, and has insisted: “I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour.”
Anton and co may turn away
However, with the investigation ongoing, Nick thinks Anton and many of the other Strictly pros have been left in a difficult position and may feel they have to distance themselves from Giovanni, in order to stay in BBC producers’ good books.
He says: “Giovanni is so embedded with Anton and their spin-off show was actually very successful.
“But I’m sure he’ll be feeling the pressure to continue with his friend or ditch him for the sake of his lucrative judging role on one of the biggest shows on UK TV.
“He has to think about his relationship with the BBC as well as the other professional dancers on Strictly, and that’s going to be a really difficult thing for Anton to do.
“It’s very difficult for everybody. Everybody needs to make sure that they are still on the show, and are not complicit with the various things that have been going on.”
Nick also thinks many of Giovanni’s former co-stars will be reassessing how they behave towards their celeb dance partners, in light of the investigation.
He says: “They need to make sure that they think about their own personal brand, and I suspect they’ll be concentrating on making sure they do the best job and are looking after the talent they are paired with in the most perfect way.
“BBC and professional dancers will have a duty of care to the talent who are going to be on the show, and their main objective will now be to make sure everybody is happy on Strictly.”
How the drama unfolded
By ELLIE HENMAN
2015: Giovanni joins Strictly and reaches the final with Georgia May Foote.
2016: Partnered with Laura Whitmore, who later says her experience with Gio left her in tears every day.
2018: Makes the final again, this time with Faye Tozer.
2021: Wins with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
SEPTEMBER 2023: Paired with actress Amanda Abbington, who threatens to quit in early weeks following rows.
OCTOBER 2023: She pulls out of live show for “medical reasons” and then quits altogether.
JANUARY 6, 2024: Amanda demands the BBC hands over rehearsals footage after seeking legal advice following claims she was left with PTSD.
JANUARY 7: The BBC refuses to launch probe into Giovanni despite a string of concerns, including from another former dancer partner, Ranvir Singh.
JANUARY 9: The Sun reveals the BBC is standing by Gio.
JANUARY 13: Amanda reveals she has received death threats over the row.
MARCH 16: Amanda, Ranvir and Laura meet to compare notes on how Gio treated them.
MARCH 23: BBC in a bind as bosses are “undecided” on if Gio should get a celeb partner.
MARCH 31: Giovanni to hold a crunch meeting with BBC as it is revealed he clashed with a fourth partner, Faye Tozer.
MAY 16: The Sun reveals Giovanni has QUIT the show.
MAY 17: BBC launches and internal investigation into the conduct of the star.
MAY 20: ‘One or two’ more celebs are said to be considering action.
Family will lose support
While losing a lot of lucrative work would be hard for anyone, it may be even more of a blow for Giovanni.
Speaking on Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily, he previously revealed he supports himself, as well as his family who live in the Italian region.
“So obviously there is a fear that if I stop, everyone else stops because of me,” he added.
While Strictly professionals aren’t paid eye-watering amounts for their four month run on the show, there are plenty of lucrative spin-offs – and Gio is the dancer with fingers in the most pies.
As well as the TV work and his tours with Anton, Giovanni has a sellout solo tour each year, kicking off in January – with 2025 dates already booked in.
His latest accounts at Companies House revealed his firm, GP Productions, held £810,000 in funds and assets – up £500,000 on the previous year.
In October, he launched his fragrance, Vita, which retails at £60 and amid plans to further expand his lifestyle brand, GPVita.com.
He wrote: “My dream come true is finally here! VITA is my new fragrance for men and women – an intoxicating scent that captures the sensuality, vitality and energy of Sicily.”
For someone like him, I’m A Celeb could be actually the best way forward – for people to see who he is, and for him to be honest about his career and his highs and lows
Nick Ede
Nick says: “Strictly pros don’t make millions of pounds, but they do very well from it.
“But what they do better from is the spin-offs and the live tours. That really does get you to improve that bank balance in a massive way.
“So not to be doing that and not being part of the Strictly family is going to have an impact on him, and an impact on his family, and he’s going to have to look at other ways of generating revenue, or rehabilitating his celebrity and his PR, especially if his work with Anton disappears too.”
I’m A Celeb ‘redemption’
Nick thinks the best step for Giovanni to take next would be going on a reality show, like Celebrity Big Brother or I’m A Celebrity.
He finishes: “Everything we’re hearing about Giovanni’s personality, at the moment, is speculation.
“On Strictly, we only see a snapshot of him, and we see a bit more with Anton on their road trip, but something like I’m A Celeb or Big Brother really strips away the persona and you’re left with the bare bones of that personality.
“So, for someone like him, it could be actually the best way forward for people to see who he is, and for him to be honest about his career and his highs and lows.”