First look at Giovanni Pernice’s acting debut after Strictly exit and ‘abusive’ allegations-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice will make his big screen debut as the dance master in fantasy film Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps.

The 1980s inspired fantasy movie marks a major new career move for Giovanni who is rumoured to be exiting Strictly Come Dancing after it was reported that the BBC is launching an investigation into accusations of poor behaviour by former contestants.

The Italian dancer, 33, has rejected ‘any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour’ on social media. Meanwhile, his former dance partners including Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh reportedly met to ‘compare notes’.

Despite the ongoing media storm, Giovanni is putting his best foot forward in his first movie role making us question – is he bound for Hollywood?

Man and Witch follows a lonely goatherd who discovers that he has been cursed at birth to never take a wife.

When he makes a bargain with a reclusive witch (played by Tami Stronach) to reverse the spell he discovers that if he can’t complete her three impossible tasks, he will never find true love.

During the movie, the goatherd is tasked with learning the eponymous dance of a thousand steps and the King’s dance master (Giovanni) is swiftly recruited to explain the complex dance.

Giovanni is making the leap from small to big screen (Picture: Man and Witch)

He stars alongside some 80s and 90s TV and movie icons (Picture: Man and Witch)

This film also marks Tami’s first movie role in 40 years after she rose to fame as the Childlike Empress in the hit 1984 film The NeverEnding Story.

Also a producer on this latest project, Tami spoke about recruiting Giovanni with Metro.co.uk.

‘We needed a dance master for our film so it seemed really fitting to collaborate with the Strictly Come Dancing world,’ she said.

‘My experience is the only experience I can speak to with Gio but I had a great time on set with him. He was funny and very professional. We did a village dance scene which I choreographed so I was overseeing those rehearsals,’ she added.

In the exclusive clip Giovanni shows off his dazzling dance moves with a small montage filled with pirouettes and even some dance-floor grinding with the princess.

All while dressed to boot in faux-mediaeval black and silver patterned garments topped off with breeches and a collar ruffle.

Giovanni is joined by an all star cast including Lord of the Ring’s Sean Astin, Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd, Absolutely Fabulous actor Jennifer Saunders and comedian Eddie Izzard.

‘I need to credit my husband [Greg]. His script pulled a lot of people to the project,’ Tami said about the casting process.

‘We had one very famous person come back and say the script was like a poem then another very famous person say they were just so excited to hop on a project that didn’t feel like an algorithm or committee wrote it. This is a story that poured out of someone’s heart, that’s it.

‘While I am still pinching myself over the mega-names, the UK ensemble is really incredible and they really make the film. The casting all the way through is such a gift.’

Giovanni started Strictly in 2015 (Picture: PA)

Earlier this year Giovanni’s previous Strictly partner Amanda revealed she was seeking legal advice after quitting the show just five weeks in at the end of last year.

She also said she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD and claimed to have requested video footage of their dance rehearsals. A source said she had a tough time with Giovanni’s ‘bullying and abrasive’ behaviour.

Giovanni’s 2016 partner Laura and 2020 partner Ranvir have also both spoken out about their negative experiences.

Laura reportedly ‘cried daily while in training’ while Ranvir joined her fellow contestants in considering lodging a ‘formal complaint’.

Giovanni took to Instagram earlier this month to defend his name in a new statement refuting the accusations.

Giovanni has vehemently denied the accusations around his behaviour while on Strictly (Picture: Getty)

‘You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week,’ he wrote.
 
‘Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.
 
‘Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.
 
‘I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win – for me and my dance partners.’

Man and Witch: The Dance Of A Thousand Steps will have its world premiere on Sunday June 2 at the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s Leicester Square as part of as part of the Never-ending FantasyCon weekend. Tickets on sale now.

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