Giovanni Pernice’s Strict exit confirmed as BBC announces 2024 professional dancers

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice will not take part in the series this year.

The professional dancer’s name was missing from the list of Strictly 2024 dancers, judges and hosts shared today (June 10), which sees Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mbuse and Anton Du Beke back. to the jury.

Pernice is the only star not returning for this year’s series, with her name missing from the cast list.

No new dancers are joining the show, but the 2024 series will see the return of longtime actress Amy Dowden, who took a break last year after being diagnosed and receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Related: All the rumors about Strictly Come Dancing 2024 celebrity line-up

The list of professional dancers for 2024 reads: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy. Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

Pernice’s future on the show has been called into question after reports of an internal investigation at the BBC following complaints about her behavior during training on the show.

The Strictly star responded to the allegations in an Instagram post at the time, rejecting “any suggestion of abusive or threatening behavior”.

Related: Strictly’s Oti Mabuse shares adorable update on his daughter’s dancing

The TV channel released a statement in late May calling on “people not to indulge in speculation” amid ongoing reporting about Pernice’s Strictly future.

“Recently we have seen a number of media reports regarding a high-profile show,” it reads. “We urge people not to engage in speculation. Anyone involved in a complaint has the right to confidentiality and a fair process.”

The BBC has assured that any complaints made will be taken seriously, with the channel saying it takes “all necessary steps to establish the facts, whether there is a case to respond to and, if so, what action should be taken “.

Pernice appeared in the 2023 series with Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, who left the show mid-season for “personal reasons”.

While Abington has since spoken out about his struggles on Strictly, Pernice refused to comment on their partnership other than in a statement released after his departure.

Strictly Come Dance will return later this year on BBC One, while the spin-off Strictly: it takes two is broadcast weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Tickets for Strictly Come Dancing: the professionals live tour is available now.

Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dance? Visit our dedicated subforum

You might also like