Giovanni Pernice‘s new glamorous dance partner on the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing has broken her silence after being paired with the scandal-hit pro.

Television presenter and singer Bianca Guaccero, 43, has been paired with the Italian on his first major dance series since he quit Strictly in May amid allegations of bullying and coercive behaviour.

Last week Giovanni, 34, revealed his excitement at getting back into the studio with his new partner, claiming Bianca was willing to give her ‘best’ before adding defiantly: ‘Ready to make you have fun and dream.’

But now Bianca has spoken out about being partnered up with the Italian following his controversial exit from Strictly and, thankfully for Giovanni, she’s unperturbed by his axing.

Speaking about her first dance with Giovanni when the show – Ballando con le Stelle – kicks off next week, Bianca said: ‘I think the best dance for me and also for Giovanni is Tango.

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Giovanni Pernice’s dance partner Bianca Guaccero has broken her silence as the professional dancer begins training on the Italian version of Strictly amid BBC misconduct investigation

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Giovanni has been battling to save his career after actress Amanda Abbington accused his teaching methods of being ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean,’ all of which Giovanni denies

‘For me Tango is how I feel about life, how I feel about love and how I feel about a relationship, so for me Tango is in my soul and I hope to do the best Tango with my great Giovanni Pernice.’

Bianca also revealed she has received huge support from Giovanni’s British fans, who are willing them on to win the show.

She added: ‘I want to say thank you to Giovanni’s fans – you are a lot of people – and I want to say thank you also for all your love that you are showing to me in these days.

‘It’s incredible and so I want to show you my gratitude for all these feelings that are around me in this moment and I hope to visit you very, very soon in London, maybe with Giovanni or with my best friends.’

Giovanni is currently single after splitting with former Love Island star Molly Brown in July.

And fans will be speculating whether the lothario, who’s previously dated dance partner Georgia May Foote, plus fellow Strictly star Ashley Roberts, may fall for Bianca, too, after she confirmed in an interview she is also unattached.

Indeed, Bianca split from director husband Dario Acocella – the mother of her daughter Alice – in 2007 after four years of marriage.

Confirming her relationship status, she said: ‘After the end of my marriage with Dario I had some relationships, but today I am still single.’

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Bianca has spoken out about being partnered up with the Italian following his controversial exit from Strictly and, thankfully for Giovanni, she’s unperturbed by his axing

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He was suspended while the BBC launched a probe into the allegations by Amanda, plus two other former celebrity partners, but quit in May after nine years on the show

Giovanni, 34, revealed his excitement at getting back into the studio with his new partner, claiming Bianca was willing to give her ‘best’ before adding defiantly: ‘Ready to make you have fun and dream’

She also hinted her ‘explosive’ nature may have played a part in the breakup.

Bianca added: ‘We were very different. I was explosive, he was strict, but we deeply loved each other.’

Giovanni has been battling to save his career after actress Amanda Abbington, his Strictly dance partner in the 2023 series, accused his teaching methods of being ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean,’ all of which Giovanni denies.

He was suspended while the BBC launched a probe into the allegations by Amanda, plus two other former celebrity partners, but quit in May after nine years on the show.

Giovanni’s fellow Italian Graziano Di Prima was sacked by Strictly in July after bosses conducted a wider investigation into dancers’ behaviour.

He was axed for ‘gross misconduct’ after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott was brought to the attention of the BBC.

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Giovanni is currently single after splitting with former Love Island star Molly Brown in July

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Giovanni’s fellow Italian Graziano Di Prima was sacked by Strictly in July after bosses conducted a wider investigation into dancers’ behaviour after he allegedly kicked his partner Zara McDermott

Show chiefs have since introduced new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.

Speaking about the cleaning up the image of the BBC One juggernaut – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – director general Tim Davie said: ‘Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.

‘At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us.

‘Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.’