Giovanni Pernice has made a major career announcement while hoping to return to Strictly Come Dancing after the Amanda Abbington bullying row.

Next year, the Italian professional dancer, 34, will embark on his new 2025 dancing tour Together Again alongside his “best friend” Anton Du Beke, who is one of the judges on Strictly. The announcement comes after Giovanni left Strictly and joined the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, where he is paired with actress Bianca Guaccero.

Announcing the tour, Giovanni wrote on Instagram: “BREAKING NEWS! If you were wondering now is confirmed !!the double act is back on the road ! Me and my best friend @mrantondubeke are back on tour next summer ! www.antonandgiovanni.com See you all there.”

Giovanni will embark on a new tour with Anton Du Beke
Giovanni will embark on a new tour with Anton Du Beke 
Image:
instagram/@giovannipernice)

Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke
The pair made the announcement on social media today 
Image:
Instagram)
Anton also shared the post, saying: “Exciting news my loves! I’m so happy to announce the double act is going back out on the road! @giovannipernice and I are going on tour again next summer.” The Strictly judge added that tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am, adding: “See you all there! Lots of love, Anton XX.”

It comes after sources revealed that Giovanni has told pals he hopes to return to Strictly next year. The long-awaited BBC report, released last week, cleared the former star of violence, but issued an apology to Amanda Abbington after upholding a series of her bullying claims.

But sources close to the pro dancer told us that he has not given up hope of returning to the Strictly stage next year despite signing up for the Italian version of the BBC show. Giovanni told friends he has only signed for one series of Ballando Con Le Stelle, and has “unfinished business” on the UK version.

One source said: “Giovanni has not given up on appearing on the Strictly stage. As far as he is concerned, he has been cleared and there is no reason why he couldn’t return. He has told his pals he is hoping to be back next year and is keen to speak to the BBC about it. He still feels very much part of the fold, and has a massive fan base who would no doubt welcome him back. But of course the final decision will be made by BBC bosses.” A spokesperson for Giovanni declined to comment.

Giovanni is paired with Bianca Guaccero on Ballando con le Stelle

Giovanni is paired with Bianca Guaccero on Ballando con le Stelle 
Image:
Instagram/ @giovannipernice)

Giovanni Pernice
Sources say that Giovanni hopes to return to Strictly next year 
Image:
PA)
 

Speaking in a bombshell interview on Newsnight on Wednesday last week, Amanda said she has “no regrets” about lodging complaints against Giovanni, despite receiving “hundreds” of d3ath and rape threats. “It’s been one of the worst years of my life,” she shared on the BBC show.

“I’ve been through a lot, women go through a lot, but it has been a very unpleasant, turbulent, relentless time in my life. I’ve had to deal with a myriad of horrible things.”

The 50-year-old said that, in the last eight months, the number of threats she has received had “gone into the hundreds”. In August, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were investigating after they were called to the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park to an alleged d3ath threat sent to Amanda, who was starring in When It Happens To You.

“I had a credible d3ath threat sent to my place of work, a theatre that I was working at, which was credible and the police had to be called,” the Sherlock actress told host Victoria Derbyshire. “I had a bomb threat sent to my place of work, threatening to blow the building up because I was pursuing this. I’ve had d3ath threats sent to me, my family.

“I’ve had rape threats sent to my 15-year-old daughter, saying ‘I’m just laughing at the moment thinking about you having to watch your daughter get raped for what you’ve done to Giovanni Pernice’. They were every day I’d be getting those and I have screenshots that have been handed over to the Met Police.”