‘Giovanni’s a tough guy but this has really hurt him. He’ll NEVER go back to Strictly.’ The dancer’s friends reveal to KATIE HIND why he believes he’ll be exonerated – and why he’ll fight back against his accusers…

Few Strictly pros were as excited as Giovanni Pernice about the show’s 20th anniversary.

A three-month celebration of dance, sequins and celebrity, it would also be Pernice’s tenth appearance on the BBC’s most-watched show. He couldn’t wait to get started.

But yesterday, weeks after the Mail revealed the under-fire Italian would not return for the series, the BBC published its list of dance professionals for the Class of 2024 – and Giovanni was conspicuously absent.

It came after news that his partner from last year, Amanda Abbington, has hired leading lawyers Carter-Ruck to represent her and two other women in a complaint against him.

And today the Mail can reveal there is ‘no way back’ for him and for Strictly, the show that made him one of the most recognizable faces on television.

BBC bosses had hoped he would return next year, once the scandal that had engulfed their beloved show had blown over. But even if he is acquitted – which he and his team expect – he will not rekindle his relationship with Strictly, sources close to him say.

“This is the end of Gio and Strictly,” a friend of the star tells me. ‘It’s a shame, but there is no way back; it is over. He’s a tough guy, but all this really hurt him. Gio absolutely loved entertaining the show’s loyal audience for years, but he also loves teaching his partners how to dance.

“It was his dream job, observing their journey and seeing it improve. But even if this all goes away and the investigation turns out in his favor, he won’t be able to return next year.’

It’s been a torrid six months for Pernice, who became a household name after winning the 2021 series with the show’s first deaf contestant, Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Last November, after numerous reports that he and Ms Abbington had been at odds (which she officially denied), she quit the show after nine weeks.

The Sherlock actress told the Strictly production team that she was leaving for medical reasons. However, a few weeks later she asked them for the rehearsal footage of her and Pernice.

In January, she claimed in The Sun that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after taking part in the much-loved show. She reportedly told friends that the dancer’s behavior was “abrasive.”

Giovanni vehemently denies the accusations and emphasizes that he is a ‘hard taskmaster’ and a ‘winner’.

As for yesterday’s announcement, it came a month after the Mail revealed Pernice left the show when it became clear Ms Abbington would not give up her allegations of misconduct against him. For Pernice it was a devastating decision to have to make.

After all, the BBC had offered him a contract a few weeks earlier, which he was more than happy to sign. Friends say he is ‘sad’ about how his Strictly journey has ended. “It’s all left a very bad taste,” said one.

Regardless of whether 33-year-old Pernice is cleared of everything alleged against him, this year’s Strictly – the 22nd series – must now certainly be marred.

The rest of last year’s cast returns, including Neil Jones, who is tipped to get a celebrity partner again after spending two years without a partner on the sidelines. Cypriot dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas also joins the group and has a leading role.

But despite this, Pernice’s absence will be a weekly reminder to his millions of fans of the scandal that has engulfed the flagship show.

Behind the scenes at the BBC, many who work on Strictly are ‘gutted’ by his decision to leave. They stood by him for months. As well as being a star of the show, he is also good friends with many members of the ‘Strictly family’.

A BBC employee tells me: ‘This series would be a lot more enjoyable for everyone if Gio were involved. There was a huge amount of loyalty towards him from his BBC colleagues. We all thought it would go away, but Amanda wouldn’t let that happen. Nobody wanted this. Gio is adored by the show’s viewers.’

The investigation into the dancer’s behavior is ongoing behind the scenes at Strictly HQ.

We can reveal that Pernice has contacted the BBC in recent weeks to share his side of the story.

I’m told he is ‘fully involved’ in the process and is ‘positive’ about the outcome.

He insists he asked the BBC to record his rehearsal sessions with Amanda – not the other way around – and provided proof of this.

Regarding the accusations leveled against him, he vows to fight back. Last month he appointed London-based law firm Schillings to represent him as he vowed not to be terminated. Schillings insists Pernice will ‘clear his name’ and ‘cooperate fully’ with the BBC’s investigation.

In a statement to the Mail, they said: ‘Schillings is working with the BBC studios to provide Giovanni’s evidence to strongly refute the claims being made about him and confirm that Giovanni is fully cooperating with that process.

‘As with any reality TV programme, when decisions are made for entertainment reasons, the producers have a duty of care to all participants. Giovanni is fully committed to clearing his name and defending his reputation against any false or misleading allegations against him.” Some say it’s a move that effectively means “war.”

His decision to hire the ‘hardcore’ company came after Amanda claimed Giovanni left her bruised after stomping on her foot.

Sources close to the star say that, should he be acquitted, he will “consider his options” to take legal action against the baseless insults against him.

“Don’t expect this to just go away,” said a friend. ‘Anyone who knows Gio knows that he will always stand up for himself, that he will always tell the truth.’

I was also told he would be ‘disappointed’ that robust psychological testing is not carried out on the celebrity contestants.

But for now, Pernice remains optimistic.

On Friday he begins his UK dance tour with Strictly Judge Anton du Beke – Anton and Giovann Together – at the Beck Theater in Hayes, west London.

He also has a movie out called Man And Witch: The Dance Of A Thousand Steps (I’m told its title has caused a lot of amusement among his friends considering recent events). He attended the premiere of the film, which also stars Jennifer Saunders and Eddie Izzard, earlier this month, along with his model girlfriend Molly Brown.

And he also launched a fragrance for his new brand, Vita.

A friend tells me: ‘Giovanni is so happy with the support from his fans. They keep a smile on his face.”