Anton Du Beke found himself in an uncomfortable position when questioned about his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star, 

Giovanni Pernice, during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. 

The professional dancer was invited onto the show on Monday, February 24, to discuss his new golf-themed podcast, Putt & Strut, co-hosted with TV presenter Sarah Stirk. 

However, the conversation quickly shifted towards Giovanni, 

whose departure from Strictly last year followed allegations of misconduct during training sessions—claims he has strongly denied.

An Awkward Moment on Live TV

During the interview, host Richard Madeley confronted Anton with a direct question regarding Giovanni’s potential return to Strictly Come Dancing. 

Referring to recent reports that Anton had expressed support for Giovanni’s comeback, Madeley asked, “It’s been reported that you, personally, would welcome Giovanni Pernice back onto Strictly. We know that the BBC upheld six bullying complaints against him, didn’t uphold others, but you say you would welcome him back. That’s sticking your head above the parapet. Why are you doing that?”

Caught off guard, Anton appeared hesitant to engage with the topic. After an awkward pause, he responded, “Umm, that’s a very good question; I’d prefer to talk about the golf.” Despite his reluctance, he briefly acknowledged Giovanni’s success on the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing and shared that he was excited to reunite with him for their upcoming tour.

“We’re going off on tour in the summer, so I’ll be seeing him when we go back on the road,” Anton explained. “I love being on stage with him and performing with him, and I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve got a wonderful company as well, so all in all, it’s a great show.” He then quickly changed the subject to his own upcoming musical tour, avoiding further discussion about the controversy.

Giovanni Pernice’s Strictly Exit and BBC Investigation

Giovanni Pernice left Strictly Come Dancing last year following reports of an internal BBC investigation into his training methods. The inquiry was launched after several former contestants raised complaints regarding his behavior in rehearsals.

The BBC’s review concluded that while some complaints were upheld, others were not. Specifically, the investigation found evidence of verbal bullying and harassment but did not support allegations of physical aggression. One of the complainants, actress Amanda Abbington, had previously spoken about her difficult training experience with Giovanni, which led to her early departure from the show in 2023.

Following the BBC’s findings, Giovanni released a public statement addressing the situation. He maintained his innocence regarding the more serious allegations and expressed frustration over the lengthy review process.

Giovanni’s Response to the Allegations

Taking to social media, Giovanni shared his relief that the investigation had not upheld the most severe accusations against him.

“It’s over. It’s finished. Six months, seven months of all of this,” he stated. “Seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not being able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review was a difficult time.”

He further explained, “Today I’m happy because, at the beginning, there were very serious allegations thrown at me, but as of today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld. All the threatening, abusive, harassment behavior allegations have not been upheld.”

Giovanni acknowledged that his training methods could sometimes be intense but insisted that his passion for dance was always at the heart of his approach. “Dancing is a very difficult thing to do. It’s a sport. It’s something that is difficult in every possible way, and sometimes you get frustrated,” he admitted. “As a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer, you get frustrated, but the only reason you do is because you care about what you do.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude to his fans and reaffirming his commitment to his career. “I’m happy because today I can carry on doing what I was born to do, which is entertain all of you. This is my life, and I love doing it. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The Future for Anton and Giovanni

With Anton avoiding the topic and Giovanni continuing to focus on his career, it remains uncertain whether a return to Strictly Come Dancing is on the cards for the Italian dancer. While some reports suggest Anton would welcome him back, his reluctance to address the issue directly on Good Morning Britain suggests that he may be treading carefully when it comes to public opinion on the matter.

For now, both dancers are moving forward with their respective projects—Anton with his musical tour and podcast, and Giovanni with his upcoming performances. Whether they will reunite on Strictly in the future is a question that remains unanswered.

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