Giovanni Pernice

Giovanni Pernice is an Italian ballroom dancer who gained widespread public recognition as a professional dancer on the BBC hit reality competition series Strictly Come Dancing.

His tenure on the flagship dance show came to an end following a high-profile feud with his 2023 celebrity dance partner, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington. After Abbington withdrew from the series and lodged an official complaint regarding their rehearsal room experiences, the network launched an internal review into the allegations. The broadcaster ultimately cut ties with Pernice, ending his time as a long-standing fan favorite on the competition.

In the aftermath of his departure, Pernice spoke out candidly across several interviews regarding the toll the public controversy took on his personal health. He criticized the network for hanging him out to dry and rejected the notion of a supportive cast environment behind the scenes. Pernice stated that the severe stress from the fallout caused him to develop a physical heart condition and revealed that he suffered from suicidal thoughts during the investigation.