Giovanni Pernice is officially set to return to UK screens after an investigation cleared him following allegations about his behaviour while taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
The 34-year-old professional dancer will appear on Channel 4 show Celebrity Hunted, in which celebrities must go on the run and remain undetected for 28 days while a team of experts try to find and capture them.
Italian-native Pernice had already filmed the show back in 2022, but it was shelved after Sherlock actress Amanda Abington, 50, accused him of bullying, and sparked the six-month BBC probe.
It had been reported by The Sun that Channel 4 producers had considered cutting Pernice’s scenes but it has now been decided the series will air in January after he was cleared of 11 out of 17 of Abbington’s complaints.
A source told the publication: “It was absolutely right to shelve Hunted while the BBC took the time to unravel the claims against Giovanni. It was filmed in 2022 and due to screen last year, but will now air in early 2025.”
He will go on the run on Celebrity Hunted alongside his 2022 dance partner, Radio 2’s Richie Anderson.
The BBC report cleared Pernice of violence and physical abuse and said he did not make threats and was not intimidating.
However, it did find moments of “inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace” plus the use of swear words and “belittling, dismissive and insulting” language.
Afterwards Pernice posted a video online saying he was “happy” to finally be able to draw a line under a “difficult time”.
He said: “I’m happy because, you know, at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as none of the serious allegations have been upheld.
“All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld.”
He continued: “I’m happy because today I can carry on to do what I was born to do, and I love to do which is entertain all of you, because this is my life.”
The BBC apologised to Ms Abbington and also thanked her for coming forward to raise her grievances.
She told Newsnight that the ordeal after working with Pernice had been the most difficult of her life and said she was considering further action against the corporation
Elsewhere, Pernice and his friend, Strictly judge and veteran, Anton Du Beke, 58, have recently announced a new joint theatre tour, Together Again, next summer
He has also announced his own solo headline tour The Last Dance, which will run from January to May. He wrote online: ‘I’m back baby!’
Pernice is currently working on Ballando Con Le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly, where, on Saturday, he made show history with five tens.
