Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing bosses ‘struggling to sign up women’ for next season after Giovanni Pernice allegations-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro
Bosses are said to have ‘been left reeling’.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are ‘struggling to sign up women’ after allegations were levelled against Giovanni Pernice (Picture: Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are ‘facing an uphill battle’ to convince female celebrities to sign up for this year’s season after allegations were levelled against Giovanni Pernice.
Earlier this month it was reported that the BBC was launching an investigation into the professional dancer, 33, after accusations made about his behaviour by former contestants.
It came after reports that his former partners Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore, and Ranvir Singh met to ‘compare notes’ about their experiences with him on the show.
However Giovanni recently defended himself on social media, saying he ‘rejects any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour’ and that he ‘looks forward’ to clearing his name.
Although it’s been reported that Giovanni has left the long-running BBC series and won’t be returning for the next season later this year, the allegations appear to have had a knock-on effect.
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‘Strictly bosses have been left reeling by the backlash against Giovanni,’ a source has said.
The professional dancer has said he ‘rejects any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour’ (Picture: PA)
‘One problem it has caused is that the booking team are struggling to recruit female celebrities for 2024.
‘In the past, some women have been reluctant to sign up due to the Strictly curse and others have struggled to commit to the full-on schedule. But this has made booking harder than ever,’ they added when speaking to The Mirror.
‘There is a concern amongst some about their treatment, while others are reluctant to be involved with the show while it’s under a shadow.’
Giovanni won the 2021 season of the series with Rose Ayling-Ellis (Picture: PA)
Last year Giovanni was partnered with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, 52, who quit a few weeks into the competition.
Over the weekend claims emerged that Giovanni reportedly asked BBC bosses to film his training and rehearsals’ with Amanda after he grew ‘concerned’ about her behaviour.
In their second week of working together, the dancer is said to have approached bosses after he apparently became ‘worried’ about her behaviour.
The next season of the show is due to air later this year (Picture: PA)
‘He wanted to ensure he was protected,’ it has been claimed.
‘What a relief he did,’ a source told the Mail on Sunday.
Last November Amanda, who quit the series early, asked the BBC for footage of rehearsals after claiming she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following her time on the show.
After three of Giovanni’s past partners took their complaints to a lawyer, BBC reportedly launched its own investigation, while the under-fire dancer has also hired his own lawyers.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to the BBC later this year.
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