There is drama off the dance floor as BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro star Giovanni Pernice has reportedly threatened to quit the hit show. According to national reports, the star feels "wasted" in the current series.
Giovanni and dance partner Richie Anderson found themselves in the bottom two after voting finished for week 3 of the programme. Faced with a dance-off alongside Fleur East and professional dance partner Vito Coppola, Movie Week on the show eventually saw Richie and Giovanni samba away from the competition.
Giovanni and the BBC Radio 2 star adopted outfits to represent Disney characters Timon and Pumba for their dance to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King. However, according to the Sun newspaper, Giovanni has threatened to walk away from the show completely.
The tabloid states Giovanni feels he has been wasted with Richie Anderson. "He'd started talking about leaving Strictly, but going out before the show had barely begun was the final nail in the coffin for him," a friend said to the Sun. "Giovanni's the most popular male professional on Strictly.
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"He's a looker with charm who always has fans falling at his feet, but he also has a very nice manner and is extremely likeable. He desperately wanted to go much further in the competition and if he does quit before the next series, he's disappointed he won't be leaving on a high. There were a lot worse dancers that were saved by the public because they saw he was wasted being partnered with Richie. They had no chemistry."
But according to Birmingham Live Gio's representatives have denied the claims. Adding that last year, Gio won the show with Rose Ayling Ellis, lifting the Glitterball Trophy and beating John Whaite and Johannes Radebe in the final.
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