A year after his shock departure from the BBC, Giovanni Pernice is preparing for an unexpected reunion that has fans talking. Several of his former Strictly Come Dancing co-stars will join him for a special one-off dance event — bringing old partnerships, familiar faces, and unfinished stories back into the same room. Insiders suggest emotions are likely to run high, with many fans calling the moment long overdue. And lingering in the air is one compelling question: will this be closure, or the start of something new?
The Italian professional dancer, 35, stepped away from Strictly in 2024 following a high-profile bullying investigation involving his former celebrity partner, actress Amanda Abbington. While the BBC inquiry did not uphold claims of physical aggression or threatening behaviour, some concerns relating to verbal conduct were partially upheld, prompting the corporation to issue an apology. Pernice responded at the time by saying he was “pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour.”
Now, more than a year later, Pernice is set to return to the stage — though not under the BBC banner. He will appear alongside several well-known ballroom names as part of a themed dance experience titled Dancing With The Stars, an independent event not affiliated with Strictly Come Dancing.
The experience will see Pernice share the stage with former Strictly professionals including Anton Du Beke, Aljaž Škorjanec, Gorka Márquez, Kai Widdrington, Janette Manrara, Lauren Oakley and Karen Hauer. Taking place across select dates between April and July, the three-day events will be hosted at luxury venues such as Celtic Manor Resort in Newport and Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor.
Organisers promise guests “spectacular dance lessons and showcases,” along with the chance to learn directly from the stars and hear personal stories from their Strictly journeys in a more intimate setting. While the BBC maintains strict rules around external commercial appearances, it is understood that participation has been approved on an individual basis.
Away from the ballroom, Pernice has remained firmly in the public eye. Earlier this year, he shared a dramatic five-week fitness transformation on social media, showcasing his dedication to both physical and mental resilience. He has also found happiness again, beginning a relationship with Italian television presenter Bianca Guaccero following his split from former partner Molly Brown during the investigation period.
Pernice and Guaccero later went on to win the Italian dance competition Ballando con le Stelle, with the dancer describing her as someone who “came into my life at a time when I really needed security.”
Abbington, meanwhile, has spoken openly about the personal and professional impact of the controversy. While admitting uncertainty about how the industry now views her, she has stood by her decision to speak out, saying she feels “good about the future.”
As Giovanni Pernice prepares to reunite with familiar faces from a chapter that defined much of his career, the moment feels less like a return — and more like reflection. The music may be different, the stage may have changed, but for many watching, this reunion represents something quietly powerful: acknowledgement, healing, and the possibility of moving forward without erasing the past.
