Giovanni Pernice’s return to British TV confirmed with ex Strictly co-star-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Giovanni Pernice is returning to British TV screens in January (Picture: Brett Cove/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Giovanni Pernice’s next TV role has been confirmed after his Strictly Come Dancing exit.

The BBC show has been hit with scandal over the last year, following allegations against Pernice, 34, by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington.

Pernice, who is not part of Strictly’s professional dancing line up in 2024 after nine years on the show, previously rejected ‘any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour’ toward Abbington.

The BBC investigated Abbington’s claims, and issued an apology, upholding some of her points but clearing Pernice of the most serious allegations.

There were no findings relating to physical aggression, but complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, the PA news agency reported.

Now Pernice is set to make his first British TV appearance since the scandal, as he’s been announced as a star of Celebrity Hunted.

It will be his first UK TV appearance since he exited Strictly Come Dancing (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Celebrity Hunted is back with Danielle Harold, Kimberly Hart Simpson, Giovanni Pernice, Kai Widdrington, Denise Welch, Lincoln Townley. Bottom Row Simon McCoy, Lucrezia Millarini, Duncan James, Christine McGuinness, Zeze Millz and David Whitely (Picture: Channel 4)

The Channel 4 show is returning on January 5 in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, and Pernice will be partnered with fellow Strictly professional Kai Widdrington in an effort to escape a team of Hunters in an adventure across the UK.

The Shine TV (part of Banijay UK) produced series will also feature Loose Women star Denise Welch and her husband Lincoln Townley, popstar Duncan James and model Christine McGuinness, podcasters David Whitely and Zeze Millz, soap stars Danielle Harold and Kimberland Hart-Simpson and news anchors Simon McCoy and Lucrezia Millarini

The famous faces will be tasked with going on the run across the UK mainland while a team of Hunters try to track them down.

Pernice was on the show for nine years before his exit (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The aim of the game is to evade capture for 14 days, while the Hunters – a handpicked team of police and military experts – are assisted by resources including CCTV and ANPR cameras, as well as helicopters, drones, dogs, and cyber forensic technology.

After the allegations against Pernice were made, the BBC said in a statement it takes allegations of bullying and harassment ‘very seriously’ and that the review into Abbington’s complaints took time because of their complexity, and for ‘a rigorous and robust process’.

‘We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made,’ the statement read.

‘We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.’

Amanda Abbington accused Pernice of bullying during her time on the show (Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

The statement added that the BBC production team did take steps to address issues at the time, but, ‘ultimately, these were not enough’.

The new measures introduced for Strictly stars and pro dancers were announced earlier this year, and include chaperones present during training.

Following the report, Pernice shared a video on social media, saying: ‘Hello everyone, it’s me. It’s over. It’s finished.

‘Six months, seven months of all of this, seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not being able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and the privacy of the review, was a difficult time.

‘It was difficult because reading stuff that was untrue, wasn’t the nicest time of my life, let’s be honest.

‘But today I’m happy because at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as of today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld.

Responding to the report, Abbington said in a statement:  ‘As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.

‘In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being “mad and unstable”.

‘I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work. My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

‘Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.

‘It’s not just a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.

‘I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.’

Celebrity Hunted airs on January 5 on Channel 4 at 9pm.

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