Former Strictly star Giovanni Pernice wins Italian dance show

Giovanni Pernice has won the Italian mentation of Strictly Come Dancing months aft a BBC interior probe into complaints astir his behaviour connected the show.

Professional dancer Pernice said his Ballando Con Le Stelle triumph with spouse Bianca Guaccero, who is besides his girlfriend, was a dream, adding: "After a hard twelvemonth I'm back".

In September, the BBC upheld complaints of harassment and verbal bullying made against him by his 2023 spouse Amanda Abbington, but cleared him of allegations of carnal aggression.

It had been confirmed successful June that Pernice would not beryllium featuring successful this year's Strictly.

Pernice and Guaccero, who is an histrion and singer, won the 19th play of Ballando Con Le Stelle, aft performing dances including the Argentine Tango and the Charleston.

The brace had precocious confirmed their presumption arsenic a romanticist couple.

Italian-born Pernice shared respective posts connected Instagram astir his triumph and thanked UK fans for their support.

The BBC apologised to Pernice's erstwhile spouse Amanda Abbington successful September. Abbington, who played Mary Morstan successful Sherlock, has since said she felt vindicated and that she had "no regrets" aft making the complaints.

In effect to the BBC's findings, Pernice said helium was "relieved" allegations helium was threatening and abusive were recovered not to beryllium true.

He said helium was a "strict teacher" but not a bully successful a TV interrogation successful October, admitting vexation is commonplace for some contestants and the professionals with the unit "to execute perfectly connected the Saturday night".

On Instagram connected Sunday, Pernice said: "We did it!! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS !! aft a hard year."

He added: "It felt astonishing to beryllium successful the last again doing what I emotion - and past to triumph arsenic good was a imagination and decidedly thing I volition ne'er forget!"

On Saturday helium had addressed his "dear friends successful the UK, saying helium and his spouse could archer wherever the votes for the amusement were coming from arsenic it is "all astir likes connected societal media".

Pernice wrote: "We conscionable privation to accidental a monolithic convey you, due to the fact that realistically, we couldn't bash thing without you.

"We tin wholly spot which portion of the votes are coming from the UK and you are being unbelievably amazing."