Giovanni Pernice is already being tipped as a potential winner for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, as bookies back him to bounce back from his crushing early exit from the ballroom last year.
Arriving back on the Strictly dancefloor as reigning champion the autumn, having lifted the Glitterball alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis the previous Christmas, Giovanni was one half of an all-male partnership for 2022, dancing with One Show and Radio 2 host RIchie Anderson.
After a steady start to the Strictly journey, Giovanni and Richie shot up to the higher echelons of the leaderboard in week two, thanks to their fantastic Quickstep, but were then brought back to earth a week later when they were given the boot by the judges, becoming just the second couple to leave the series.
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That meant that viewers didn't get to see too much of Giovanni last year, with him relegated toi appearances in professional group numbers and performing with fellow pro Katya Jones as Lewis Capaldi performed in the ballroom.
While he didn't take part in the Strictly live tour this year, Giovanni will be back for 2023 and experts think that after an earlier than expected departure last year, he'll be back on form this time round.
Months before the line-up for the new series will; even be announced, they've made Giovanni early favourite to lift the Glitterball tis year, on odds of 8/1, ahead of Johannes Radede.
Interestingly, Lauren Oakley, who is yet to have a celeb partner on Strictly and has been Giovanni's leading lady for his Made in Italy tour, is third favourite to win this year.
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