Giovanni Pernice gushed that girlfriend Bianca Guaccero was ‘was exactly what he needed’ following the bombshell allegations made by Amanda Abbington last year.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, and actress Bianca, 43, were the winning couple on the Italian version of the BBC show, Ballando con le Stelle. 

And after revealing his ‘world collapsed’ when his friends abandoned him following the allegations, Giovanni explained how Bianca was ‘very supportive’.

He told Heat magazine: ‘She came into my life during not the greatest time, so I needed some security. 

‘She was aware of the situation that was going on with me in the UK, but she was very supportive. She was there for me from the get-go, she was just what I needed. 

‘She is exactly what I wanted, a nice person next to me, I needed it. I needed the support and she has given that to me.’

Giovanni Pernice gushed that girlfriend Bianca Guaccero was ‘was exactly what he needed’ following the bombshell allegations made by Amanda Abbington last year

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, and actress Bianca, 43, were the winning couple on the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle

Giovanni debuted on Ballando Con Le Stelle after leaving the British series after almost 10 years because of a BBC investigation into Amanda Abbingdon’s claims that he bullied her during the 2023 series (Giovanni and Amanda pictured)

Giovanni revealed the pair have had to make ‘sacrifices’ to ‘make their relationship work’ as Bianca is currently busy working in Italy, where she is based, while the dancer prepares to tour the UK for the next seven months. 

In July last year, more than six months after Amanda quit Strictly citing ‘personal reasons’, the actress accused Giovanni of ‘unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour’ during their time dancing together on Strictly.

Giovanni rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld.

But complaints of verbal bullying and harᴀssment meant the BBC issued an apology but Giovanni said he was ‘pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour’.

Now cleared by the investigation and a dancer on the Italian version of Strictly, Giovanni will head out on tour again later in the year with best pal Anton Du Beke.  

It comes after Giovanni and Bianca looked every inch the loved-up couple as they enjoyed a day out in London earlier this month.

The pair spent quality time together away from the dancefloor as they enjoyed a trip to the UK capital over the festive period.

Bianca shared a pH๏τo of Giovanni wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss with Big Ben in the background.

And after revealing his ‘world collapsed’ when his friends abandoned him following the allegations , Giovanni explained how Bianca was ‘very supportive’

Read More Strictly star Giovanni Pernice speaks out as he is cleared of ‘overwhelming majority’ of allegations

The couple also stopped by Buckingham Palace with Bianca wrapping up in a black coat and a red scarf and later enjoyed a romantic evening at The Ritz H๏τel.

The pair confirmed their romance in November, with Bianca at the time claiming she had ‘difficulty believing in true love’ until she met him. 

Bianca also declared that she had ‘never felt as secure and loved’ as she does with the dancer, who is almost 10 years her junior.

‘After a long time, there is someone who takes care of me and cares about me,’ Giovanni said.

‘A woman like her has been missing from my life.’

‘He’s goofy and crazy, and that made me fall in love with him. It had been a long time since I felt happiness in my heart,’ Bianca added. 

The two met when he joined the Italian dance show, Ballando con le Stelle, last year following his exit from Strictly Come Dancing amid the Amanda Abbington bullying row.

And it wasn’t long before the two were setting tongues wagging thanks to their sizzling chemistry both on and off the dancefloor.

It comes after Giovanni and Bianca, who confirmed their romance in November, looked every inch the loved-up couple as they enjoyed a day out in London earlier this month

The new romance comes off the back of a string of high profile romances for the star.

When paired with Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote in 2015 – Giovanni’s first year on Strictly – they began dating.

He also found love with singer Ashley Roberts who appeared on Strictly in 2018 though they were not a pair – she danced with Pasha Kovalev.

He dated Love Island stunner Maura Higgins for four months in 2021, while in 2022, Giovanni was linked to fellow Strictly professional Jowita Przystal.

Meanwhile, Bianca split with her director husband Dario Acocella in 2017. The couple have a daughter called Alice.