NICOLA Roberts took a brutal swipe at Giovanni Pernice during her Christmas Strictly stint as she was tipped to sign for the main series.
The 38-year-old previously joked that she “might have wanted to strangle” Giovanni during their time on the show.
Over the Christmas instalment, Nicola was teamed up with Giovanni.
Despite having prior dance experience, as a member of chart topping band Girls Aloud, Nicola admitted she struggled to pick up the steps, which irritated Giovanni, 33.
Nicola, 38, said at the time: “My process is quite slow.
“When you’re in a band you have weeks to perfect a two hour show, so there’ll be certain numbers that you pick up quickly or the numbers that might take a good couple of weeks to really sink in, and that’s my process, that’s how I’ve learned over the years.
“I was beating myself up and not understanding the routine, not grasping the technical aspects, and the position is still not there every time and it’s a lot to think about so it’s been very fast but I like to be professional and I like to do a good job.”
She further added on The One Show about Gio, who tellingly does not follow her anymore on Instagram: “Gio is a great teacher – he’s a perfectionist – as am I.
“The waltz is so technical and its so different to anything I’ve done before.
“I don’t necessarily like the learning process because I lose concentration and Gio is very ‘again, again, again.’ But I was grateful because when I finally got to do the waltz I was prepared.
“And as much as during the rehearsal process I might have wanted to strangle him, I was glad that when I left the ballroom I thought I had done a good job of the waltz.”
Giovanni has received several complaints over the years.
Three of his former partners — said to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Michelle Visage — all contacted the legal firm with their complaints.
He’s has denied any wrongdoing and instructed top legal firm Schillings to fight his corner.
Nicola, on the other hand, has been tipped to be part of the main Strictly show later this year.
A source said: “Nicola is a beautiful dancer with amazing musicality. She was really impressive on the Strictly special and her waltz was beautiful. They’d love to have Nicola back and the offer is there for her.
“She has got a jam-packed summer with Girls Aloud but Strictly think she could be amazing if she fancied a whirl.”
