Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice used his latest TV opportunity to hit back at claims things aren't quite rosy behind-the-scenes with Richie Anderson. The Italian dancer and BBC Radio 2 are one of two same-sex couples on this year's series.
Reigning champion Giovanni and Richie delivered an energetic cha cha cha to I’m Your Man by Wham! for their first routine on the hit BBC One dance contest on Saturday night during week one of the 20th series.
Wearing matching T-Shirts that said ‘Choose Dance’, the new partnership received a score of 23 from the judges - Mostsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas - with Richie's Strictly superfan mum also giving him an additional top score of 10.
"For a moment I thought I was at RuPaul’s Drag Race darling”, Craig said during his comments, adding that he thought it was stiff but gave him "full marks for entertainment".
But despite getting off to a solid start, there were reports Giovanni and Richie weren't quite 'clicking' off-screen. it comes after fans fell in love with the Strictly pro and his winning partner Rose Ayling-Ellis last year thanks to their connection in the ballroom.
Giovanni, 32, and radio host Richie, 34, appeared on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on Wednesday evening (September 28) where they appeared to address claims of a feud between them. Host Janette Manrara asked them how training has been going following the first live show to which Giovanni replied: "We’re having a good time, we’re definitely having a good time.
"Obviously it is a dance competition, at the end of the day, so we have to learn something but there is no problem between us. We are having a good time."
He was also asked about how his plans for the competition now being in a same-sex couple, to which he said they are "the same" despite it being the first time he's been paired with another man on the BBC show.
"The plans are the same, to teach Richie how to dance. That is the point of the show. I’m a teacher, he’s a student," Giovanni told former Strictly pro Janette.
But he also tackled the rumours head on as during one moment of their chat, Giovanni turned to look straight into the camera and said: "But there is no problem. Where is the camera? There is no problem between us, we are having a good time. So forget about what you are writing, it's not true."
"They are in love everybody," Janette added jokingly. It came after a cute video appeared of the pair on Instagram of them dancing. In the clip, Gio introduces Richie by saying: "Ladies and gentlemen it's Giovanni and Richie here, and today my perfect student now slash best teacher in the world is going to teach you a Cha Cha Cha."
The pair then showed off some moves with Gio giving his dance student some pointers. And Strictly viewers were loving the video, calling it "too cute" and saying that Giovanni and Richie had "got this".
Comedian and actor Jayde Adams and professional Karen Hauer are the show’s second female same-sex couple, following in the footsteps of Katya Jones and Olympic gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams who were paired up in 2020.
The 15 couples will return to the ballroom this Saturday for the second week of the competition which will see the public vote open for the first time this series. On Sunday, the results show will return with the first couple being eliminated.
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