Giovanni Pernice has recruited one of Strictly Come Dancing's newest pro dancers for his own tour, after his absence from the show's annual arena tour was confirmed at the end of last year.
Turn the clock back nearly 12 months ago and Italian dancer Giovanni and his celeb partner Rose Ayling-Ellis won all but one show on the Strictly live tour, following their victory on the BBC programme at the end of 2021, only being defeated by Sara and Aljaz on opening night in Newcastle. Just like they did on screen, Giovanni and Rose's performances wowed are audiences up and down the country, as the Strictly tour took up residence in a number of cities.
The full line-up for this year's tour was announced in the run up to Christmas and, while the fact he and his most recent celeb partner Richie Anderson were voted out second this time round cast doubts over Giovanni doing the tour, there was still a lot of disappointment from fans when his name was missing from the poster.
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One disappointed fan branded the tour 'pointless' given that another popular pro, Gorka Marquez, won't be involved either, but the reason Giovanni will be missing is exciting for both his and his followers, as he is preparing to hit the road with his own show, Made in Italy.
He gave a ffist look at how things were going on his Instagram story last week and on Monday, there was no Bank Holiday break for him and his cast as they started rehearsals. And Giovanni's leading lady for Made in Italy is none other than Lauren Oakley, who joined Strictly as a pro dancer last summer.
While, unlike fellow newcomers Carlos Gu and Vito Coppola, she didn't get a celebrity partner in her first year, she was seen on screen in various group numbers and seemed very excited about her involvement in Giovanni's tour as she introduced herself as the 'leading lady' on his Insta story, during a break in rehearsals, quipping that the best part of being in the show would be dancing with Giovanni as the man himself filmed her with his phone.
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