Giovanni Pernice opens up about his gruelling 18-hour training sessions and strict attitude to losing after dividing fans amid Amanda Abbington drama

Giovanni Pernice explained his intense rehearsal schedule while his former celebrity partners opened up about their experiences with the Strictly pro.

The dancer has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after his 2023 partner Amanda Abbington claimed the show left her with PTSD and reportedly demanded footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni.

His alleged feuds with 2016 partner Laura Whitmore and 2020 Ranvir Singh have also resurfaced, while 2021 Rose Ayling-Ellis and 2017 Debbie McGee have spoken out in his defense.

Speaking to Spencer Matthews on his Big Fish podcast last May, Giovanni, 33, gave insight into his grueling training regime when he revealed that his key to success as a dancer was: ‘Practice, about 20 hours a day.

He continued, “The studio is open 24 hours a day. Well, sleep 18 hours a day and go back to the studio to practice. Lots of lessons.’

Giovanni also credited his can-do attitude and refusal to accept defeat with his success.

The star explained how he feels about losing: “I don’t want to sound cliché, but when you lose, when something doesn’t go your way, I’m one of those people who gets back up, just like Rocky Balboa, one of my idols, you go down, but you get right back up.

‘For me there is no point if you lose to cry about those things, you are the person who chooses your future. No one else can do it for you, so you have to find a way to make it better.”

When asked if he ever feels emotionally vulnerable, he replied: ‘I stay away from that, the reason why I think is a waste of time.

‘I think vulnerability is good, it’s beautiful, but in my head it’s just not right, because there is always a solution to do better.

“I have a million problems, but I always find a way to make things better, I’m not one of these people who cry. That vulnerable is not a word I can use to describe myself.’

The podcast has resurfaced after stern judge Craig Revel Horwood defended Giovanni amid the ongoing scandal.

The judge praised the show’s dancers as ‘the backbone of the show’ after it was reported that BBC bosses were backing Giovanni amid Amanda’s claims.

The Sherlock actress is said to have sought legal advice over the dancer’s alleged behavior towards her and believes video footage could ‘support’ her claims.

Speak with The sun Ahead of the Strictly tour, Craig said: ‘The professionals not only have to be creative and be good choreographers, they have to be psychiatrists and doctors, they have to be nurses, they have to be wellbeing counselors. It’s not just teaching dance.’

It comes after Amanda revealed she had received ‘death threats’ from Strictly Come Dancing fans in a new interview.

The star was linked to Giovanni but quit the BBC One program mid-series last year due to ‘personal issues’.

It was subsequently revealed that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following her participation on the show.

Speak with The sun on SundayAmanda thanked her fans as well as other Strictly stars for their support.

She explains: ‘I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for various reasons and I confidently told a few people about it, including things that were happening in my life at the time, both professionally and personally.’

Amanda continued: ‘I am deeply sorry that people felt the need to threaten me with death, threaten my children and bring up my past, healthy relationship with an ex-partner as an indicator of my current mental health. I wish those people the best.’

She has two children with her actor ex Martin Freeman, daughter Grace, 15, and son Joe, 17.

It was recently claimed that the show had left her with PTSD and footage of rehearsals was demanded to highlight the Italian’s ‘tense’ and ‘full-on’ training methods, which are said to have caused her a lot of distress.

Amanda left Strictly in week five of October and did not return for the final, where eliminated celebrities took part in a group dance.

Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances on the show, but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes.

After her departure, it was claimed that she struggled with Giovanni’s ‘militant approach to training’, with her time on the show said to be ‘plagued by difficulties’.

An internal source said this The Telegraph: ‘It could be that she didn’t know what she was indulging in.

‘He (Giovanni) was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn’t doing so well, it wouldn’t have helped.’

They continued: ‘She was with a partner who had a certain training style that she couldn’t cope with. I don’t know whether that has come to a head or whether something else is going on.’

It has been reported that she is seeking footage of their rehearsals to substantiate her claims while she seeks legal advice.

A source on set said this The sun: ‘The BBC has received a request for the images they hold of Amanda and Giovanni. This is known as a data subject access request.

‘There is a feeling that the filming will lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes of Strictly. Things can get very exciting during rehearsals.

‘Giovanni is a perfectionist and can be incredibly full-on.’

A friend of Amanda’s told the publication that it took her months to recover from her Strictly experience and she needed therapy.

They said: ‘Amanda has been left heartbroken and saddened by the whole experience. She needed therapy and was shocked by the behavior she was exposed to.

‘Everyone had a fantastic time, but she was really stressed because she had to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She cried a lot and couldn’t sleep or eat properly.’

The friend added that Amanda found the negative reaction she received on social media for not mentioning Giovanni in her exit statement difficult, but stressed that her family and friends had been there to support her.

It was reported that she left the show after a clash with Giovanni, but she dismissed claims of a fallout at the time.

Sources at the BBC are ready to fight the Sherlock star over her claims the show traumatized her, saying she told them at the time she was quitting for another medical reason.

A source told the Mail: ‘Amanda’s reason for quitting Strictly was a completely different reason than her PTSD.

‘She told production about a completely different medical condition and they were very supportive and did everything they could to help.

“Nobody seems to quite understand what’s going on here.”

It is understood the first BBC chiefs were aware of her PTSD late last year when they received a request for the tapes.

There is added confusion as Amanda quickly shot down suggestions – made before the show aired in September – that she and Giovanni had had a falling out.

On Instagram, she dismissed the claims as “bulls****” and told people: “Shut up, they’re b******s.”

During broadcasts, she and the Italian dancer – who has worked on the show since 2015 – were seen hugging each other and appeared to be friends.

A Strictly source said: ‘All you saw in the studio was them hugging and kissing.’

Sparkling star Giovanni reportedly only got the news of Amanda’s departure a few hours before the official statement was released.

A source told the Daily star: ‘Amanda didn’t tell Giovanni that she had decided to leave the show. The first thing he heard was a call from a producer.

‘This really irritated him. He has barely heard from her in ten days. She hasn’t responded to messages or told him what’s going on.

‘He complained about it to friends. He’s frustrated. He fears the drama will harm his career and make him look bad.”

However, according to reports, BBC bosses continue to stand behind Giovanni in the wake of the feud.

According to The sunbosses arranged a phone call between Giovanni’s management and Strictly executives, where they offered him their full support and checked his mental health.

Giovanni is said to be assured that his place on the show is secure.

A source said: ‘It’s no secret that Gio and Amanda had a difficult relationship, but there are two sides to every story.