Giovanni Pernice's former Strictly partner unfollows him just a year after show

08 January 2024 , 14:15

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Giovanni Pernice has been unfollowed on Instagram by one of his past Strictly Come Dancing partners (Image: BBC)

Giovanni Pernice has been unfollowed by one of his previous Strictly Come Dancing partners amid reports his most recent - Amanda Abbington - has demanded footage of their rehearsals from the BBC.

It is claimed 51-year old Amanda has sought legal advice and hopes any backstage video will support her accusations against Giovanni over his alleged behaviour towards her. During her five-week Strictly experience, actress Amanda is said to have struggled with the Italian's "aggressive training style and attitude" and "militant approach".

Amanda withdrew from the 2023 competition in October citing personal reasons and later failed to appear for the show's final on December 16. Since then she has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Giovanni and Richie Anderson lasted just two weeks in the 2022 series of Strictly (BBC)

Now, Giovanni's 2022 celebrity partner appears to have made his feelings known by distancing himself from the dancer on Instagram. Richie Anderson was coupled with Giovanni - in what was the latter's first same-sex partnership since he joined the show in 2015 - but they struggled on the dancefloor and were given the boot after just two weeks.

Within days of that series beginning, rumours of a feud and the pair "not clicking" were rife. At the time, Giovanni was said to have become frustrated with Richie's reluctance to listen to him in rehearsals, whilst speculation heightened after the pair sat apart on an appearance on It Takes Two. Giovanni later said the rumours were "untrue", however, insisting there was "no problem".

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But on Monday evening, BBC TV and radio star Richie made the social media move - one that is yet to be reciprocated by Giovanni. Addressing speculation of a fallout during their brief Strictly stint, Giovanni previously explained: "We're definitely having a good time. Obviously it's a dance competition at the end of the day so we have to learn something. But there is no problem. Where is the camera? There is no problem between us, we are having a good time. So forget about what you are writing, it's not true."

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However, body language expert Darren Stanton believes their relationship may have been more fractious than thought. Analysing their final performance and subsequent departure, he said Giovanni showed a side to himself that has never been seen before in the history of the competition.

"This is a very different side of Giovanni that we have seen in comparison to previous years," Darren said. "His body language usually comes across as genuine and clear in his support. Perhaps he felt Richie had not given his all during the week or generally felt let down at the fact he wasn't able to demonstrate progress and technical ability in the dance.

"I believe Giovanni was slightly embarrassed by being voted off in week two. Beyond all the sequins and glitter, he is obviously a very competitive, focused and hard-working professional dancer. It's clear being voted off at such an early stage has left him gutted, compared to his success with Rose Ayling-Ellis."

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Alan Johnson