There were shockwaves on the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor as reigning champion Giovanni Pernice and his celeb dance partner Richie Anderson became the second pair to leave the competition early in the series. Last year Giovanni, 32, lifted the coveted glitterball trophy after winning hearts with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Fans flocked to Twitter in outrage following the shock dance-off on Sunday October 9, as the red light of doom fell on Giovanni and Richie and they were in a dance-off with Fleur East and Vito Coppola. Manty viewers blamed their elaborate cuddly costumes for their departure as they performed the samba to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King.
Richie dressed as mischievous meerkat Timon, while Gio dressed as warthog Pumbaa. One fan @liv_liv_liv__ tweeted: "The stupid outfits didn’t help Richie and Giovanni one bit #strictly."
READ MORE:
And now Giovanni, who joined Strictly in 2015 and was partnered in his first series with former Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote, has reminded fans exactly why he's so missed in the competition. The pro dancer from Sicily responded to 'demand' by sharing a throwback video of his spine-tingling Halloween performance from 2018 with Steps singer Faye Tozer.
Their spookily slick dance saw the pair perform the first jazz routine in Strictly history to Fever by Peggy Lee while dressed as skeletons wearing tuxedos. "This post was on high demand!!" he exclaimed as he posted the video on his Instagram. "Here you go … HAPPY HALLOWEEN."
"So proud of this one!!" replied Faye. And fans flocked to thank him for reminding them of this stunning performance. kristinasworld_10 gasped: "Wooo I forgotten about this one wow, wow it came back to me watching this again!"
olivebaldry said: "Omg it was awesome, great to see it again thanks." donna_l_x_exclaimed: "Wow remember this one!" And beckygotheridge commented: "I'd almost forgotten this dance!"
carlyquirke declared: "And that’s how u do Halloween." lisa_superjambo said: "Not sure this will be beaten." And yorkshirerosecandles told Giovanni: "Pure Genius, Halloween week was not the same without you."
boots_of_geekdom commented: "We missed you Halloween King!" jmillar7 echoed: "Genius, Strictly not the same without you!" And alison5092 said: "We missed you this week."
Giovanni reached the final for the third time in four series with Faye, finishing as runners-up alongside Joe Sugg and his professional partner Dianne Buswell and Ashley Roberts and her professional partner Pasha Kovalev to winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
READ NEXT:
- ITV This Morning's Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pause show for 'breaking news' announcement
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Fleur East reveals gruesome injury before dance-off as Vito sends public message
- BBC Strictly's Amy Dowden consoled as she's left in tears and unable to speak on It Takes Two over James Bye's comment
- ITV I'm A Celebrity fans divided over line-up amid Boy George 'change' that has been explained
- Gemma Atkinson has to explain BBC Strictly results to Mia after she asks why her dad Gorka Marquez didn't get cheered
