Eagle-eyed Strictly Come Dancing fans claim to have 'rumbled' the reason why Giovanni Pernice isn't doing the live tour, after being left gutted by his absence from the line-up.
Just days after this year's final saw Hamza and Jowita lift the Glitterball trophy, in a closely fought contest, the full list of couples and pros taking part in the Strictly tour was published. And, while Hamza and Jowita were on there, along with the likes of Molly and Carlos, final top scorers Fleur and Vito and Tyler and Dianne, there was no place for Giovanni and his celeb partner from this year's show, Richie Anderson.
With Kai Widdrington stepping into replace Gorka Marquez as Helen Skelton's partner, the potential could have been there for Giovanni to take on a similar role with a different celeb or join the likes of Neil Jones, Amy Dowden and Luba Mushtuk as a pro dancer on the nationwide tour, which will get going in Birmingham on January 20.
READ MORE: Strictly's Gorka Marquez shares sweet family update after final defeat and tour 'split'
Instead, Giovanni will play no part in this year's spectacle, having won nearly every show this year alongside his 2021 champion partner Rose Ayling-Ellis. And, while disappointed that he won't be part of it, fans are claiming that there was no way he could do it, given that his own tour, Made in Italy, also starts in January, running right through to May. One commented: "Hew was never going to do it, he has his own tour."
Others vented their frustrations on Gorka and Giovanni's absence from the tour underneath the announcement post on the Strictly tour Instagram, with one writing: "No Giovanni or Gorka...whats the point !!!!!! both best two male dancers without those two guys not worth going"
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