Giovanni Pernice's Strictly exit confirmed as BBC announces 2024 pro dancers
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice will not be competing in this year's series.
The pro dancer's name was missing from the Strictly 2024 dancer, judges and host line-up shared today (June 10), which sees Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mbuse and Anton Du Beke returning to the judging panel.
Pernice is the only star not to return for this year's series, with his name missing from the line-up list.
No new dancers are joining the show, but the 2024 series will see the return of long-standing cast member Amy Dowden, who took a break last year after being diagnosed and receiving treatment for breast cancer.
Related: All the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 celebrity line-up rumours
The professional dancer list for 2024 reads as: 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 was called into question after reports of an internal inquiry at the BBC following complaints of his behaviour during show training.
The Strictly star responded to the allegations in an Instagram post at the time rejecting "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour".
Related: Strictly's Oti Mabuse shares adorable dancing update on daughter
The broadcaster released a statement at the end of May urging for "people not to indulge in speculation" amid ongoing reports about Pernice's Strictly future.
"Recently, we have seen a number of media reports about a high profile show," it read. "We would urge people not to indulge in speculation. Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process."
The BBC assured that any complaint made is being taken seriously with the broadcaster saying it is taking "any necessary steps to establish the facts, whether there is a case to answer, and, if appropriate, what action should be taken".
Pernice appeared in the 2023 series with Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, who quit the show mid-season for "personal reasons".
While Abbington has since spoken about having difficulty on Strictly, Pernice has declined to comment on their partnership other than in a statement released after her exit.
Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Tickets for Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals live tour are available now.
Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dancing? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
You Might Also Like
