Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice reveals major career change after admitting he thought Amanda Abbington bullying row would be ‘the end of his career’

Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni Pernice has revealed his new job plans after going through a ‘dark time’ which he feared would end his dancing career.

The professional dancer, 34, was forced to quit the hit BBC dance show last year amid an investigation into his conduct after he was accused of abuse by his former celebrity partner, Amanda Abbington.

Giovanni was cleared of ten of Amanda’s sixteen allegations when the BBC investigation concluded in September, but remained absent for the current edition of the series.

The BBC report cleared him of the most serious allegations of physical aggression, but confirmed some of verbal bullying and intimidation.

Looking back on the year, he said The mirror in a new interview that he was looking forward to a big career change and had his sights set on waltzing off the dance floor.

He told the publication that he hopes to pursue an acting career and would also be interested in singing, but added that there is one major obstacle to achieving his ambitions.

The professional dancer was forced to leave the hit BBC dance show last year amid an investigation into his conduct after he was accused of abuse by his former celebrity partner, Amanda Abbington (pictured July 2024).

the professional dancer revealed he would like to pursue an acting and singing career, but not before joining Channel 4’s Channel 4 Celebrity Hunted (pictured left)

He explained that because English is not his native language, he would have to go back to school.

The star said: ‘That’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but obviously English isn’t my first language so we’ll have to see.

‘I have to go to English school first to learn English properly.

‘And I also love singing, so maybe a singing lesson to improve my singing.’

Giovanni’s comments come after he revealed he had to endure some “dark times” in the wake of the bullying allegations against him.

He confessed, “I’m not going to lie, there were dark moments in terms of, you know, this is over, this is the end of my career. That was one of my down moments.

‘Sorry for my language, but 2024 can hurry. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the back of it.’

Commenting on Amanda’s claims, he continued: “Every time she came out with a new interview, I always felt calm inside. Believe me, it wasn’t easy, there were dark times.’

Giovanni’s comments come after he revealed he had to endure some ‘dark times’ in the wake of the bullying allegations against him

Commenting on Amanda’s claims, he continued: “Every time she came out with a new interview, I always felt calm inside. Believe me, it wasn’t easy, there were dark times’

And the star has proven he’s looking forward to pastures new as he took on a new show with his Strictly co-star Kai Widdrington in Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted.

The Italian dancer also explained that he was excited to be back on British TV and admitted that he took the show very seriously.

Viewers may have been shocked by Giovanni’s tactics on the hit Channel 4 show, as the star admitted he decided to take the hunt on the hunters and showed up at the door with a pizza, which he delivered himself.

And the reality show is just the latest in a series of major TV commitments for the star, who is also embarking on a nationwide tour.

Giovanni added that he was both excited and sad to be heading out on the Strictly show, as he confessed it would be his last and that he needed a break, but added that he was looking forward to rejoining to be his fans and reconnect with them.

And the star will definitely need a break after his impressive stint on Celebrity Hunted.

The show sees a group of stars, AKA Fugitives, go on the run across mainland Britain for 14 days as they are pursued by the Hunters – a hand-picked team of police and military personnel.

Hunters have access to all the celebrity’s personal information and use the ‘powers of the state’ to locate and capture it, including cyber forensics technology, ANPR, CCTV, helicopters, drones, dogs and call tracking.

The reality show sees a group of stars go on the run across Britain for 14 years as they are chased by the Hunters. This series also stars Danielle Harold (left) and Kimberly Hart-Simpson (right)

They even use social media to bribe members of the public or captured participants with cash rewards in exchange for information about the whereabouts of the celebrities.

Those who manage to evade capture for 14 days must reach a designated ‘extraction’ point on the final day before winning £100,000 for Stand Up To Cancer.

The Strictly pros are among six celebrity pairings including Loose Women’s Denise Welch, 66, and her husband Lincoln Townley, 52, pop star Duncan James, 46, and model Christine McGuinness, 36.

Podcasters David “Sideman” Whitely, 33, and Zeze Millz, 35, soap actresses Danielle Harold, 32, and Kimberly Hart-Simpson, 38, and news anchors Simon McCoy, 63, and Lucrezia Millarini, 48, will also all participate.