Giovanni Pernice vows to remain on Strictly Come Dancing despite backlash from 'tearful' female celebs and threat of 'formal' complaint over his interactions with them

Giovanni Pernice has vowed to stay on Strictly Come Dancing amid backlash from ex dance partners who held a ‘summit’ to discuss his behaviour.

The Italian dance pro has been embroiled in crisis as a trio of celebrity women have reportedly ‘shed tears’ and discussed the possibility of ‘formally’ complaining to the BBC about his interactions with them.

However, the 33-year-old dancer has remained defiant, telling the Radio Times last week that he’s not quitting the BBC show.

When asked, alongside Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, if they would quit the ballroom series, he said: ‘Why would we do that? We love our jobs. It’s one of the best shows on television and we get to do our own shows, too.’

Pernice had been partnered with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, 52, last year before she sensationally quit the series five weeks later for ‘personal reasons’.

Giovanni Pernice has vowed to stay on Strictly Come Dancing amid backlash from ex dance partners who held a ‘summit’ to discuss his behaviour

The Italian dance pro has been embroiled in crisis as a trio of celebrity women have reportedly ‘shed tears’ and discussed the possibility of ‘formally’ complaining about his interactions

She later claimed that she had been ‘suffering from PTSD’ after her time on the show and made a complaint to the BBC , which she has since withdrawn.

She recently held an ‘emotional summit’ with Pernice’s former partners Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore where they ‘compared notes’ about their time being paired up with him, reports the Sun on Sunday.

Abbington was also considering instructing an experienced lawyer to help her prepare a legal letter to the BBC to aid her obtaining the rehearsal footage, the paper claimed.

‘There is every possibility all three could take it further and formally complain to the BBC, but for now they’re comforting each other,’ a source told the publication.

‘Only a handful of people will understand what it’s like to be trained by Giovanni and in the industry he is regarded as a “perfectionist”.’

The revelations come on the heels of Pernice telling The Sunday Mirror of Abbington’s exit from the show: ‘It’s a shame because, in my opinion, she could have gone all the way…

‘I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring. I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place.’

But while he’s under fire in some quarters, the BBC has thrown its support behind him by promoting his new prime time travel show with Du Beke.

Pernice had been partnered with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington (pictured)  last year before she sensationally quit the series five weeks later for ‘personal reasons’

Three of his former celebrity partners, including Laura Whitmore (left) and Ranvir Singh (right) reportedly met to discuss their difficult experiences working with him

While he’s under fire in some quarters, the BBC has thrown its support behind him by promoting his new prime time travel show with Anton Du Beke (pictured)

Today the broadcaster advertised Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain on Instagram where they shared a video of the two dancing and talking about the new programme.

They captioned the clip: ‘Dancing, singing, Anton and Giovanni know how to perform! But what happened in Benidorm… stays in Benidorm…

‘Watch Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain on BBC One from Monday 18 March at 9pm.’

Pernice shrugged off his latest Strictly crisis as he arrived for his live show on Sunday afternoon, as his rift with actress Amanda Abbington shows no signs of going away.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional was in great spirits as he arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre for his matinee performance of his live dance show Let Me Entertain You.

Beaming and waving, the dancer greeted fans and happily posed for photos, showing little sign of the latest development in his feud with his ex Strictly partner.

Abbingdon left the show during week five in October. It has reportedly taken months for her to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the ‘behaviour she was exposed to.’

Speaking about her condition, she told The Sun: ‘I was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons and I told a few people about that, in the utmost confidence, among other things that were happening in my life at the time both professionally and personally.’

A BBC spokesman declined to comment at the time.

The Mail has reached out to the BBC and Amanda Abbington’s representatives for comment.

Pernice shrugged off his latest Strictly crisis as he arrived for his live show on Sunday afternoon, as his rift with actress Amanda Abbington shows no signs of going away