Giovanni Pernice has revealed he had one request when it came to whether or not he would agree to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. The Italian dancer will perform in the festive version of the BBC One dance competition for the first time.
It comes months after fans feared he'd quit the hit show after he bowed out of the 20th series early after being voted out of the 2022 run of the competition alongside celebrity partner Richie Anderson. His exit from the competition came less than a year after he lifted the coveted Glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
But he was been quick to hit back at the claims and took to his Instagram Stories to share a news headline, which read: "Giovanni threatens to quit the show after being 'wasted' this series". He then added: "LOL [laughing face emojis] I'm not going anywhere!!!"
And his premature exit from the recent series of Strictly meant he had time to take part in the Christmas special. On Christmas Day fans will see the 32-year-old taking to the ballroom floor alongside Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts where the pair will be performing a romantic Waltz.
They'll be joined in the festive version of the competition by Gavin and Stacey actor Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova; soap actress Alexandra Mardell and Kai Widdrington; Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams and Luba Mushtuk; podcaster Rosie Ramsey who will be partnered with Neil Jones; and CBeebies presenter George Webster and Amy Dowden.
However, before he agreed to appear in the annual Strictly special, Giovanni admitted that he had one need that had to be met. “I always said if I was going to the Christmas special, I always said it had to be with someone good," he confessed before adding about his new partnership: "So I am happy about this."
And did Nicola, who has recently celebrated 20 years since bagging her first number one with her Girls Aloud bandmates, added: "I am glad I am doing my first with somebody who can dance, and I’m glad she decided to say yes to the show." And Nicola, who is best known for being one-fifth of Girls Aloud alongside Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and the late Sarah Harding, may be hoping she's already on her way to being crowned Strictly Christmas 2022 champ after being the winner of the first series of ITV’s The Masked Singer UK.
Talking about taking part, Nicola said: "It's all encompassing, as soon as you walk through the door, it's very much like strictly land, which I think is magical and it’s even more magical that it's Christmas. Kimberly obviously did the show and would explain to us back then what it is like, but until you're actually in it, and feel it for yourself it’s quite hard to understand. It’s like walking into the Strictly Grotto."
Adding her reasons for agreeing to the show she added: "I was actually in a meeting with a new acting agent and I said ‘I just really fancy some fun, what do adults do these days for fun, is there like soft play for adults!?’ I left the meeting and I got the call saying would you like to do the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special? And I was like, Yes, why not?"
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One on Christmas Day at 5:10pm.
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