Giovanni Pernice ‘QUITS’ Strictly Come Dancing: Under-fire pro ‘ends eight year stint’ after ‘torrid’ five months following Amanda Abbington feud

Giovanni Pernice has quit Strictly Come Dancing, according to reports.

A source told The Sun: ‘Gio feels the criticism leveled at him has become too much, and now it’s time to make a fresh start.

‘He wants to concentrate on other TV projects and feels he has achieved all he can with Strictly, after winning the trophy in 2021 and reaching the final an impressive four times.

He remains adamant that he has done nothing but be a tough taskmaster, but knows his style of training is not to everyone’s taste, especially in this day and age. He has many other exciting projects in the pipeline right now, and he’s just super excited to get started on them. This is his priority now.”

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Giovanni’s representatives for comment.

Amanda Abbington, 52, quit the series midway through last year for ‘personal reasons’ amid claims of a feud between her and the dancer, before reportedly demanding footage of their rehearsals after the competition experience left her with PTSD .

But despite fresh allegations that he left a fourth celebrity in tears, MailOnline revealed that the BBC were ‘totally’ supporting Giovanni and that he would return to the show later this year after the broadcaster offered him a new contract.

The allegations, attributed to sources close to his most recent dance partner Amanda, made it clear that Giovanni was “abrasive” with his partners and had reduced some to tears.

While strict insiders agree Giovanni pushes his partners hard to give them the best possible chance of winning the glitterball, they insist he is not a bully.

And that is why, despite the accusations of Amanda and three of his former partners, Giovanni was “offered a contract” during the meeting, which he immediately accepted.

“He’s very happy,” an insider said on the BBC One show. “Although there are dots and crosses that still need to be written, it all seems to be happening for him. Being the twentieth anniversary, it’s a big year for the show and everyone involved wants Giovanni to be a part of it.

‘It’s been a very difficult few months for him. To be confronted with such allegations – but not having anything to respond to – has been very, very tough.”

Both the BBC and Team Giovanni say this is not the case officially complaints about his behavior.