Axed Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice eyed for ‘£100,000 stint’ on rival ITV show

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice could be back on TV screens later this year, as ITV are reportedly eyeing him for one of their biggest shows.

Giovanni, 33, has been a hot topic of conversation for weeks after his ex-Strictly partner, Amanda Abbington, 50, raised a complaint with the BBC, accusing him of ‘bullying’ in the training room.

Amanda – who quit Strictly last series after five weeks – has since given interviews in which she claimed there was behaviour of a ‘humiliating sexual nature’.

Meanwhile, several other former dance partners of Giovanni’s have allegedly raised concerns, with Sherlock actress Amanda claiming she spoke to women with similar experiences.

Giovanni has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to ‘clear [his] name’, refusing to keep a low profile since the scandal began, having been photographed on numerous occasions and remained active on social media.

In the latest development, it seems rival channel ITV wants to sign him for the next series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Not only that, but he could rake in a whopping £100,000 fee for the stint Down Under.

Speaking to Mail Online, a source claimed that Giovanni has declared he will never go back to Strictly, which celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year.

The insider added: ‘Gio is looking forward to getting his career going again.

‘His Strictly one may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean it’s over for him.

‘There are some very exciting things in the pipeline.’

They added: ‘He is really popular and there is a huge appetite for him elsewhere.

‘He will never go back to Strictly, too much has happened.’

I’m A Celebrity bosses are no strangers to casting public figures who have endured some high-profile scandals in their careers.

Previously, the show – hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – has caught heat for signing disgraced politicians Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage.

Down in the jungle, plenty of A-listers have also opened up to cameras about rough patches in their careers, whether it be Caitlyn Jenner discussing the reaction to her transition, or comedian Seann Walsh revisiting his snog with Strictly’s Katya Jones.

Meanwhile, the BBC’s investigation into the alleged training room incidents involving Giovanni is due to conclude shortly.

Giovanni’s team previously claimed that he had ‘bombshell evidence’ that would shut down Amanda’s allegations, while she maintains that his camp is ‘blocking’ the release of 50 hours of footage that would unveil the truth.

That so-called bombshell evidence was revealed this week to be a 28-minute audio recording of him in conversation with Amanda, which supposedly proves he was supportive of her.

According to the Daily Mail, the Italian dancer also gave the inquiry a dossier of WhatsApp messages between him and the Doc Martin actress in which she spoke of her fondness for him.

In the clip, it has been alleged she told Giovanni that if she were him she ‘would have thrown me out of the window by now’ and referred to herself as a ‘nightmare.’

Amanda also allegedly said that she ‘self sabotages’ and thanked Giovanni for his support when she struggled with Strictly.

It’s been reported that, after Amanda spoke publicly about the complaints she’s made, Giovanni was ‘so cross’.

‘He just can’t work out why she would come out and say these things. She didn’t give any further detail, it’s like she drops a bomb and then doesn’t follow it through,’ they continued.

‘The verdict is just days away now, it’s the home straight for him but he is absolutely determined to clear his name.

‘He and his team are adamant that there is something concrete which will prove that Amanda is telling lies. He can’t wait for the truth to come out, it will be a huge relief for him.

‘Giovanni is not going let this go. It is basically war now. He will clear his name with all the evidence he has.’

The fallout of the ‘toxicity’ scandal has been immense, to say the least, as many other former Strictly contestants have come forward with allegations against either their partners or the BBC.

Olympian Anthony Ogogo compared the show to a ‘pressure cooker’ and Will Bayley criticised it for not taking his initial complaints seriously.

Musician Sophie Ellis-Bextor also said her marriage ‘paid a heavy price’ and Rachel Riley called Strictly a ‘trauma bonding, hostage situation’ that gave her PTSD.

Graziano Di Prima was axed shortly before rehearsals began for this year’s Strictly, with allegations that he kicked and hit Love Island’s Zara McDermott when they rehearsed together last year.

The fellow Italian said in an initial statement that he ‘deeply regrets’ the behaviour that led to his firing, while Zara later admitted her fears around vocalising her feelings in case she was ‘victim blamed’.

In contrast to Giovanni, Graziano has maintained a low profile since he was sacked. He’s believed to be in Sicily and under medical supervision as his loved ones are concerned for his well-being.

Ahead of the conclusion of their investigation, the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie apologised to Strictly contestants who had an experience that ‘hasn’t been wholly positive’.

He added: ‘We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’

ITV and reps for Giovanni Pernice have been contacted for comment.

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