Giovanni Pernice has reportedly quit Strictly Come Dancing over an ongoing misconduct row with his celebrity partners and will not appear in the show’s upcoming 20th series.
The professional dancer, 33, is one of the BBC show’s most recognisable faces but is said to have called time on his eight-year stint.
Giovanni’s stormy exit is just the latest mishap for the BBC show, which has certainly seen its fair share of scandals over the years.
Strictly’s infamous ‘curse’ has haunted the show ever since its first season in 2004, when winners Natasha Kaplinsky and her hunky pro partner Brendan Cole were blighted by affair rumours – though they have always denied any wrongdoing.
Since then, the ‘curse’ has reoccurred throughout the 19 seasons, appearing to cast a spell over the dancers and celebs so powerful that it has broken up marriages.
I’m out: Giovanni Pernice has reportedly quit Strictly Come Dancing over an ongoing misconduct row – but it isn’t the first time a whiff of controversy has hit the show
The ballroom contest has also been marred by controversial comments over the years, including racist and sexist remarks from judges and dancers that have required a formal apology to be issued.
Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look at each time Strictly was embroiled in scandal.
2001-2024: The Strictly ‘Curse’
Hitting back: Kristina Rihanoff was forced to defend her romance with Strictly partner Ben Cohen insisting that their relationship only began once his 11 year marriage to wife Abby had come to an end in 2013
Strictly Comes Dancing has most famously been dogged by its ‘romance’ curse over 20 scandalous years.
The curse – which has claimed several marriages – is at odds with the family friendly vision of the show.
Strictly hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons during season one, when viewers were transfixed by the apparent close bond between newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her hunky partner Brendan Cole.
Although the pair went on to win the show, their success was blighted by affair rumours.
BBC presenter Natasha soon split from long-term partner Mike Barnard while Brendan dumped his fiancée and fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup.
However, Natasha has always denied any wrongdoing, saying: ‘There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan.’
In 2013, professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff was forced to defend her romance with her rugby player partner Ben Cohen, insisting their romance only began after the end of his marriage to wife Abby.
‘He left his wife a year ago,’ she told the Daily Mirror. ‘Recently we started dating but we’re allowed to see each other as two single people.’
Split: Rachel began dating her professional dancer partner Pasha Kovalev in 2013 after splitting from her husband, and since then they’ve gone onto marry in 2019 and they now have two daughters
2018 saw romances emerge between Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley (pictured), as well as Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
She said: ‘Ben’s said it many times and I’ll say it again – I wasn’t involved in the breaking up of his marriage.’
Meanwhile Abby described the split and resultant divorce as ‘the most traumatic thing to ever happen to me’.
Ben, 37, met Abby in 1995 at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before welcoming their daughters in 2008. He and Kristina now share a six-year-old daughter, Milena.
On the same series, Countdown’s Rachel Riley’s relationship Pasha Kovalev ended her marriage to Jamie Gilbert, to whom she had been married for just one year.
In 2015, Georgia May Foote announced her split from Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward after she came runner-up in the show, and was later spotted kissing her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
And 2018 saw romances emerge between Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley, as well as Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg.
Seann Walsh and Rebecca Humphries’ relationship ended after he was caught kissing his dance partner on Strictly
Four months after the 2018 series concluded, filmmaker and journalist Stacey and her partner Sam Tucknott announced they were separating.
The couple had been together for five years before the split – but the separation was far from a clean break.
In 2019 Sam accused Stacey of having an affair with Kevin Clifton while she was still in a relationship – however they have both denied this.
He told The Sun he discovered Stacey and Kevin’s romance when he was leaving their shared home after the break-up and he saw a message from the professional dancer flash up on her phone, which he claims said: ‘I love you.’
According to Sam’s version of events, they argued before Sam left the flat they shared in Brighton, before Stacey sent him a message later that evening explaining she had fallen for her dance partner.
Louise Redknapp revealed in her autobiography You’ve Got This that taking part in Strictly gave her the confidence to go it alone. Just months after taking part in the show, she left her husband Jamie Redknapp
The newspaper reports she wrote: ‘I didn’t start entertaining and texting him (Kevin) until I split up with you. I was not with you when we started it all. I did fall for him but when we were done. I will tell you anything you want to know.’
One of Strictly’s most controversial ‘curses’ was the end of Seann Walsh’s relationship with Rebecca Humphries after he was snapped kissing his then-dance partner Katya Jones – on Rebecca’s birthday.
At the time, Katya was also married to fellow professional dancer from the series, Neil Jones.
Following the revelation, Rebecca released a scathing statement on her X/Twitter account in which she accused Seann of ‘aggressive’ behaviour, and claimed he called her a ‘psycho’ when she expressed suspicion about cheating.
She said: ‘It’s more than lying, it’s controlling.’
At the end of her statement, she revealed she had taken their cat in the split.
Following the scandal, Seann appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show where he cut a sombre figure and admitted: ‘I think everything she said in that statement is right.’
He continued: ‘And I think if you lie and cheat on the person that you’re meant to care for and be in a relationship with, then that is a form of abuse, of course it is. All I can be is as sorry as I am. I hope one day that she’ll forgive me.’
Meanwhile, Katya and Neil stayed together for almost a year after the photos surfaced. However, they announced their separation in August 2019.
Former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, who was married to Jamie Redknapp when she starred in the show in 2016, has revealed she believes the show contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.
Writing in her memoir You’ve Got This, she said: ‘If I’d done the show four years earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have walked away from my marriage.’
She said that, previously, she would have been ‘too scared’ to leave her husband, with whom she shares two children, but that taking part in Strictly, which saw her reach the final, set her on a ‘new path’ and proved she could ‘find work again’.
2009: Show accused of ageism over Arlene Phillips sacking
Original judge Arlene Phillips only found out she’d been sacked from Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her for comment on a radio show
The dancer and choreographer was axed from Strictly in 2008 after four years as a judge
Original judge Arlene Phillips only found out she’d been sacked from Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her for comment on a radio show.
The dancer and choreographer was axed from Strictly in 2008 after four years as a judge.
She was the only judge on the panel – which at the time also comprised of Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman – not to have her contract renewed.
When Phillips was replaced by Alesha Dixon, who was 26 years younger, the show was accused of ageism.
The axing caused uproar among fans and calls of sexism while Harriet Harman, the minister for women and equality, blamed ageism when the debate reached the House of Commons.
2009: Anton Du Beke’s racism slur
In 2009 professional dancer – and now judge – Anton Du Buke used a racial slur to describe his partner Laila Rouass, which he said was ‘backstage banter’
In 2009 professional dancer – and now judge – Anton Du Buke used a racial slur to describe his partner Laila Rouass, which he said was ‘backstage banter’.
Former host Sir Bruce Forsyth came to his defence, but this only made the situation worse.
Sir Bruce said: ‘We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing.’
But he was later forced to issue a statement saying: ‘To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable.’
At the time, a BBC source described Anton as a ‘dead man dancing’ and calls rose for him to be sacked from the show.
But Rouass defended him after he apologised and when asked if she wanted him axed from the series, the Footballers Wives star said: ‘Absolutely not. Anton has apologised and I’ve accepted it.
Anton Du Beke makes an on-air apology to Laila Rouass for the slur in 2009 as the pair hoped to ‘move on’ from it
‘This happened a couple of weeks ago now and we are having a good time.
She added: ‘We just want to move on from it.’
Meanwhile Anton quickly released an apologetic statement, reading: ‘I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language.
‘There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react.’
Strictly veteran Anton since recovered from the incident and in 2021 even joined the judging panel.
2014: James Jordan is ‘sacked’ from the show
Outspoken dance professional James Jordan was sacked from the main line-up of the show in 2014 and offered to continue on the show as a backing dancer, while his wife Ola Jordan remained (pictured together)
James is known for his outspoken nature and took to Twitter to confirm he would not be returning
Outspoken dance professional James Jordan was sacked from the main line-up of the show in 2014 and offered to continue on the show as a backing dancer, while his wife Ola Jordan remained.
James later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, where he accused the rest of the professionals of being ‘beige’ and ‘not massive characters’.
At the time, a Strictly spokesperson said: ‘James Jordan was offered a role still on [Strictly Come Dancing].
‘It wasn’t to be partnered with a celebrity, but it was to be involved in specials such as Children in Need, that sort of thing.
‘But he declined that. He was offered a reduced role on the show.’
James responded on Twitter: ‘Yes, it’s true I WILL NOT be retuning to ‘BURN THE FLOOR’…. Sorry, I mean ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
He added: ‘….do not believe everything the BBC have written in their statement.’
2015: Sexy calendars are banned
‘Sexy calendars’ were banned in 2015 over fears the show was veering away from being family friendly (Ola Jordan is pictured before entering the I’m A Celeb camp in 2016)
Strictly dancers will often launch side projects as a means of extra income – often through posing up a storm for their ‘sexy calendar’ photoshoots.
Ola Jordan for example would often strip down to her lingerie and pose almost naked for her racy photoshoots.
But in 2015 bosses decided this was at odds with the ‘family friendly’ image of the show and decided to ban them.
Ola’s photoshoot the following year was the steamiest one yet – and it came after she followed her husband James in quitting the show.
2015: Race discrimination row
Anthony Ogogo and Oti Mabuse were second contestants eliminated in 2015 – but afterwards, they said they stood less chance of winning because they were black
Anthony Ogogo and Oti Mabuse were second contestants eliminated in 2015 – but afterwards, they said they stood less chance of winning because they were black.
Oti said: ‘It’s no wonder that I got partnered with Anthony and that we got voted off second week, obviously people at the BBC don’t want to see a black person win.’
Later Oti seemed to take back her statement as she returned to the contest in 2016.
Speaking to The Sun after being axed, boxer Ogogo said he was ‘surprised he’d been paired with Oti.
He said: ‘I didn’t think that the BBC would put us together because we’re black or mixed race. I honestly thought they would spread the minorities around.’
He also claimed that because he wasn’t a ‘BBC face’, he knew he wasn’t going to get that far in the competition.
He said: ‘I’m entering the show with the smallest fan base, I’m quite young, I’m not Jeremy Vine.’
2018: Seann and Katya fall foul of the curse
In 2018 Seann Walsh and his partner Katya Jones were spotted kissing – and both had partners at the time
The 2018 drunken kiss between Seann Walsh and his professional partner Katya Jones showed the Strictly curse at its most damaging.
2018 saw The Curse strike early on in the season, with drama escalating just three weeks into the live shows.
In a new twist, a love square formed when Katya Jones, who was married to fellow show professional Neil, was snapped kissing her celebrity partner, comedian Seann Walsh, on the street outside a pub in London. This took part on Sean’s girlfriend’s – actress and writer Rebecca Humphries – birthday, no less.
The pair brushed it off as a ‘one-off mistake’, despite them kissing and laughing brazenly in public. But days later Rebecca ‘dumped’ Seann via a Twitter statement.
However, in August 2019, just ahead of series 17, Neil and Katya announced their split after 11 years of marriage, the break-up coming just 10 months after her kiss with Seann.
In April this year Seann revealed he felt traumatised even when he sees a ‘Strictly no parking sign’ and that he’ll never dance again due to the intense fallout from the kiss.
2019: Craig is slammed over ‘sleep with your partner to win’ comments
Craig was forced to apologise in 2019 after he said ‘sleeping with your partner’ can help secure a Strictly victory
Documentary presenter Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton won Strictly Come Dancing together in 2018
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton now share a daughter together, but they first came together after winning the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Ahead of the following series in 2019, Craig – who has often been known as the ‘nasty’ judge over the series – joked to host Tess Daly while giving advice to the new contestants: ‘Of course, if you sleep with your dance partner that helps.’
Craig was slammed over the comments and was forced to issue an apology.
‘I’m deeply sorry for the offence caused to Kevin and Stacey and everyone who works on the show,’ he said.
‘I recognise that what I said was hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful. It was a huge error of judgment that I very much regret.’
2022: Head judge Shirley Ballas caught in sexism row over scoring
Low marks? Shirley Ballas was criticised by Strictly Come Dancing viewers for giving the show’s female celebrity contestants low scores
Head judge Shirley Ballas found herself at the centre of a sexism row after she was accused of favouring the male contestants over the females during the 2022 series.
The series judge was also been accused of having ‘favourites whether they have ability or not’, with some viewers calling for her to be sacked on Twitter as they claimed she has ‘no credibility as a judge’.
It came after the twinkle-toed star called for the television audience at home to have ‘respect’ after she received a flurry of ‘hurtful messages’ on social media.
In August 2022, Shirley revealed how she was forced to seek counselling after receiving a torrent of vile abuse during the last series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Though Shirley eventually returned to the 2023 series, she previously told how she even toyed with the idea of not coming back.
2023: Amanda Abbington quits the show after ‘feud’ with Giovanni Pernice
Amanda Abbington, 52, who withdrew from the series last year, has led the charge in accusing him of ‘difficult behaviour’ during training. She now has reportedly accused him of ‘stamping on her foot’ during his sessions
The professional dancer vehemently denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour
Amanda has led the charge in accusing him of ‘difficult behaviour’ during training and is currently speaking with the BBC to discuss possible workplace misconduct
The dancer, 33, released a statement on Instagram on Saturday night after he reportedly quit the show – which was notably met with silence from his co-stars on the dancing show
Sherlock actress Amanda Abbingdon dramatically quit Strictly Come Dancing last year due to ‘personal reasons’.
The actress, 52, is said to have demanded footage of their rehearsals after struggling with Giovanni’s ‘militant approach to training’. She was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Amanda then met with Laura Whitmore, 39, and Ranvir Singh, 46, for an ’emotional summit’ recently, with the trio speaking about their ‘difficult’ experiences with him.
Ranvir complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, while Laura said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while dancing with him in 2016.
The BBC said earlier this year that they would not be investigating Giovanni’s behaviour with Amanda, with a spokesperson saying: ‘There is a constant dialogue between the senior production team and contestants to ensure any concerns are addressed swiftly.’
It’s also thought that Giovanni clashed with his 2018 celebrity partner Faye Tozer.
Now, a source told The Sun that the speculation has meant Giovanni has quit Strictly for good after eight years on the show.