Giovanni Pernice has seemingly addressed a subtle dig at the BBC after he was axed from the 22nd season of Strictly Come Dancing, set to be launched in a matter of days.
Months after being booted out of the BBC One show amid claims around his allegedly "abusive" behaviour backstage, the choreographer, 34, has recently taken to Instagram to share a video, announcing his return to the small screen.
But while UK TV fans will not see him back on the box, Italian viewers of Ballando con le Stelle will be able to catch up with him as Giovanni Pernice told his followers he would be rekindling with his birth country to take part in the programme.
Taking to the social media platform, where he is followed by 1.1 million Instagram users, the 34-year-old shared the news with a subtle dig at the BBC series, which he joined in 2014, making him one of the longest-standing dancers in the show, which he failed to name correctly.
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Giovanni penned: "Hey guys !!I’m delighted to announce that from next week I will be joining the cast of @ballandoconlestelle - the Italian Dancing with the Stars. I can’t wait to get started and to get back to dancing for all of you! Thank you for all of your continued support!"
The dancer's decision to refer to his new show as "the Italian Dancing with the Stars" rather than the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing didn't go unnoticed. Fans were quick to praise the Giovanni on his new gig in the comment section, although many took a dig at his old bosses over at the BBC.
One user wrote: "Strictly's loss is their gain," with another agreeing and saying: "Yes! My thoughts exactly." A third hit out at the UK version too in a hidden dig, saying: "SCD are going to loose an awful lot of viewers now your not on it," and another jibing: "Hopefully not as many snowflakes in Italy and understand hard work and discipline."
Hannah Waddingham and Michelle Visage, who was Giovanni's dancing partner in 2019, both took to the comment section themselves with the former writing: "Buona fortuna Bello! Xxxx", while the other added: "Go win and DON’T VOGUE."
This comes after a TV source told The Daily Mail this Saturday, September 7, 2024: "Gio is thrilled, he has been hoping that it would happen, he had everything crossed. He is so excited that he can keep on dancing and what makes it all the more lovely is that it will be in his home country." And the transition is a welcome boost in his career as the investigation he was targeted with at the BBC over reports branding him "abusive" is due to come to an end.
"The deadline has been looming and the BBC has been on pause with its result but the Ballando bosses love him, they adore him, and they have now signed him. It is absolutely horrendous for Gio. He has been stuck in limbo and has been unable to move on with his life. It will be a lovely, lovely boost for him."
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