Former Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice will return to our screens tonight on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted – months after he left the BBC show

Giovanni’s remarks have been seen as a sly dig at his accusers (Image: PA)

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has made a cryptic “real people” comment in the wake of the scandal that saw him leave the show.

Giovanni, who will be back on TV screens tonight for Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted, left the BBC show in the wake of “numerous serious complaints” about his behaviour while coaching his celebrity dance partners. He has denied all allegations made against him.

And the 34-year-old from Palermo, in Sicily, took a defiant tone as he talked about his departure on James Phelan’s How To Be Famous podcast.

He explained: “I’m not going anywhere, I’m not giving up, I’m just taking a rest,” he said. He added that his recent trials made it clear who really had his back, adding: “It’s been a year and you understand who the real people close to you are.”

Giovanni was paired with Sherlock’s Amanda Abbington – but the partnership soon went sour (Image: PA)

He added that along with the loyalty of a few true friends, he was grateful for the support of his fans. “The audience …realistically I’m not very close to them, but even a small message or a like on my post on social media or something – it it just will give you the strength to go forward which is is great,” Giovannia added.

In a previous interview, he described former dance partner Amanda Abbington’s complaints against him as “an attempt to destroy me”. Giovanni said he “wanted to punch the television” when he heard the Sherlock star tell Channel 4 news that the allegations against him were of a “sexual nature.”

While the BBC upheld “some, but not all” of Amanda’s allegations, that specific claim could not be substantiated by investigators.

Giovanni launched his own tour soon after his Strictly exit (Image: WireImage)

Giovanni added: “It was the first time there was talk of anything sexual. Of course, I was worried it could destroy my career – the people that come to my shows are kids and women.

“I was painted as a person I am not. It seemed like the only point was to destroy me.”

The 34-year-old star added that to cope with that kind of stress, “you have to surround yourself with people that really care about you, genuinely care about you”. He continued: “That is the most important thing.”

Giovanni won Italy’s version of Strictly with new love Bianca Guaccero (Image: Getty)

He said he was grateful for “true friends” such as fellow Strictly star Anton Du Beke, who stood by him. “I was lucky to be on stage with my own show having the audience giving a good response every night, and then I went on tour with Anton again – with my best friend having a laugh and a joke,” Giovanni continued.

After his departure from the UK’s Strictly, he went on to appear in the Italian version of the show – Ballando con le Stelle – going on to win in December 2024 after being partnered with Italian actress Bianca Guaccero.

It’s since been confirmed that Giovanni has embarked on a relationship with the 43-year-old star.