Latest news with #GiovanniPernice
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly winner and former soap star signs up for Celebrity Bake Off after milestone role
A STRICTLY Come Dancing champ is swapping choreography for cake after signing up for Celebrity Bake Off. The Sun can exclusively reveal how the actress has ticked off a "bucket list" moment by stepping foot in the iconic Channel 4 tent for its Stand Up To Cancer special. 6 6 6 Rose Ayling Ellis, who scooped Strictly 's Glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pernice, 34, in 2021, is now among a host of famous faces in the mix for a very different telly title - and the chance to impress judge Paul Hollywood, 59. A TV insider told The Sun: "Rose is a huge fan of the show so she jumped at the chance when she was asked. It's a bit of a bucket list moment for her. "It's a massive show, like Strictly, but without all the pressure. "With this one, she can just relax and enjoy herself - even if things go haywire in the tent, it's all for charity at the end of the day." The source added of her latest show: "It marks the latest show in what is proving to be a stellar post soap career for Rose. "She received some of the best reviews of her career in the recent ITV drama, Code of Silence, which broke barriers for having a deaf lead. "She also won Strictly, of course, which she is still loved in the eyes of the public for. "People still talk about her silent dance with Giovanni as being one of the show's greatest moments of all time." During her time on the show she relied on counting and the beat for each of her sensational performances. In her BBC documentary Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs For Change she said about her appearance on the BBC stalwart programme: 'The message I wanted to come across is that there's nothing wrong with being deaf and to show how joyful it is to be deaf." The Sun has approached a rep for Bake Off for comment. Previously, The Sun exclusively told how comedian Jon Richardson had signed up after his divorce. Other celebs who will seek Paul Hollywood's coveted handshake include Rag 'N' Bone Man, Molly-Mae Hague, comedian Babatunde Aleshe and Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Arlene Phillips reflects her 'tough' axe from Strictly amid ageism row as she weighs in on show's bullying scandal and her own 'strict' teaching style
Arlene Phillips has opened up about her 'tough' departure from Strictly Come Dancing and the accusations of bullying on the show. The former judge, now 82, was replaced with a then 30-year-old Alesha Dixon in 2009 with no explanation, despite having decades of experience as a dancer and choreographer. The BBC was subsequently accused of ageism after Arlene, who rose to fame with the dance troupe Hot Gossip in the 1970s, found out she had been axed on the radio instead of being approached directly. The controversy surrounding the long-running TV staple was amped up a gear in 2023 when Amanda Abbington, 51, accused her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, 34, of bullying. Arelene told The Sunday Times: 'I loved my time on Strictly and it was tough when I left, but I got up and carried on with life. 'I wasn't there when accusations of bullying were made against some of the dancers, but I was quite strict when I started teaching.' Arlene, who had two children at ages 18 and 47, explained that her offspring taught her how to communicate without losing her temper. She said: 'I realised there was a different way to talk to people when I had a child - I didn't want to lose my temper. 'There are ways to get people to do as you want without shouting.' Arlene, who most recently worked as a choreographer on Guys and Dolls, made the revelations in a new interview when she reflects on her life a decade and a half after her Strictly departure. Describing her granddaughters as the biggest joy in her life now, she said that when her mother passed away when she was just 15, she quickly learned that she had to fight for the life she wanted. Arlene said the best piece of advice she has ever been given is to 'think carefully about what you say and do to others.' Her comments come after the accusations against Giovanni were partially upheld and others came forward to share similar stories that painted a picture of a toxic working environment on Strictly. Giovanni later admitted that while he is a strict teacher, he is not a bully, telling ITV's Lorraine in September: 'Bully is a big word and there's a difference between being a bully and caring about what you do.' After six months of investigating the Sherlock actress' claims after she previously branded Giovanni 'abusive, cruel and mean', in September, the BBC announced that they did not find him physically abusive, but upheld some claims of verbal bullying and harassment and did issue an apology to Amanda. Out of 17 complaints, they upheld six, some of which are for Giovanni using swear words. The report says that his language could be 'belittling.' Sources say they found 'instances of it.' The BBC also agreed with Amanda that at times he appeared to be giving her overly negative feedback. It also concluded that there were two moments of 'inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace' which were found to be made and received as jokes, humour and compliments of Amanda's dancing. The review has found this was a two-way, consensual way of talking and behaving. However, her complaint that he sent her a video on WhatsApp which she deemed to be inappropriate was also not upheld. The BBC did not find anything sexually inappropriate either. Arlene claims to this day that the broadcaster has still never given her a reason for axing her from the show.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic British Olympian in talks to join Strictly Come Dancing as BBC bid to clean up scandal-hit show
OLYMPICS running legend Sir Mo Farah is in talks to appear on this year's Strictly Come Dancing. BBC chiefs are courting his team in a bid to restore the scandal-hit show's family-friendly image, it is understood. 3 Its reputation was dented when actress Amanda Abbington accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying in 2023. Team GB hero Sir Mo, 42, however, is seen by BBC bosses as a 'genuine national treasure' whose squeaky-clean image and profile would be popular with viewers and rebuild trust. A source said: 'His personality would provide the perfect tonic to the toxicity that's overshadowed Strictly. "Bosses would love to sign him up but the talks are at a very early stage.' Sir Mo won 5,000 and 10,000m golds at the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2012 and 2016. He came fifth in I'm A Celebrity . . . in 2020 when it filmed in Wales because of Covid. Asked if he would consider Strictly, Somalia-born Sir Mo replied: 'Hopefully, when the time is right,' before joking he had 'two left feet'. He would not say if he had had an approach. A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Controversial Strictly star forced to slash ticket prices by 50% after show scandal meant tour failed to sell out
STRICTLY Come Dancing pros have slashed tickets to one of their upcoming shows after failing to sell out. The performance, scheduled at New Theatre Oxford tomorrow (Tuesday 17th June), will see two faces join forces as part of their joint tour. 3 3 Giovanni Pernice, who famously left Strictly after Amanda Abbington triggered a probe into his backstage behaviour, has teamed up with Anton Du Beke for a tour they've named 'Together Again'. However, tickets have now been slashed to 50% off via the Show Film First in order to fill seats, with £43 tickets now going for £20.91. At their most expensive, tickets were going for £143 each, but now available for just £53. The entire balcony has also been closed off in order to bring ticketholders down to lower (and typically pricier) seats. The Together Again tour will continue across the UK through to the end of July. Giovanni and Anton have been longtime collaborators, with their travel show being axed in the wake of the Giovanni scandal, despite earning a Bafta nomination. Giovanni has since been cleared of all but six allegations made against him by former partners, including Abbington. Whilst Giovanni was cleared of being physically abusive to Amanda Abbington, he stressed that it made last year 'a dark year'. He said previously: 'I'm not going to lie, there were dark moments in terms of, you know, this is finished, this is the end of my career. "That was one of my down moments. Sorry for my language but 2024 can f**k off," he added. "I've been looking forward to seeing the back of it.' Giovanni Pernice stands by strict methods as he reveals upset at not winning the Glitterball with 'brilliant' Amanda Despite the Sicilian dancer sharing his hopes to rejoin the series, The Sun recently revealed that Simone Arena is set to replace him. The hunky Italian, 33, is the boyfriend of Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, who is also on the show, will join in the Autumn as one of two new pros. But all is not lost for Gio, who managed to bag over £1million in the last financial year – his most lucrative to date – via other television appearances, dance workshops, and moving to the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle. 3
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne reveals show's two new pro dancers have been signed up after Gio and Graziano's sackings
DIANNE Buswell has confirmed Strictly Come Dancing has signed up two new professionals after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima's exits from the show. Giovanni, 34, sensationally quit Strictly in May last year following allegations about his behaviour in rehearsals from former partner Amanda Abbington. 3 3 3 Months later Graziano, 31, was sacked after an altercation with Zara McDermott during her time on the show. Now fellow professional Dianne, 36, has revealed two new dancers will join the competition when Strictly returns later this year. Speaking on her podcast with Chris McCausland, she told her co-host: 'You were in my dream the other day. 'We've got two new pros this year on Strictly - don't know who they are yet - a new boy and a new girl.' Comedian Chris, 48 - who won the show with Dianne last year - asked: 'Who are they getting rid of?' Dianne replied: 'Nobody, but we're adding two more. I dreamt that you were the new pro male. But I was fake happy, and it's really mean for me to say that, but I wasn't really happy for you. 'I was like, 'what the hell? He's going to think he's better than me now'. 'And to make it worse you won the series, so you were a double winner and I was like, 'this isn't fair, now everyone's going to think it wasn't me who made him win it was actually himself that won it the first time'.' Last month The Sun revealed one of the new dancers in talks to join the show after he was seen in rehearsals with the team. We told how dancer and choreographer Luke Miller is hotly tipped to be announced as one of professionals. An insider revealed: 'Luke has so much experience and is already loved by everyone so he seems like a very obvious fit. 'There have been some very big clues recently that haven't gone unnoticed. Everyone thinks it's just a matter of time before Luke is announced.'
