It has been confirmed that Giovanni Pernice will not be returning to Strictly Come Dancing.

The Italian dancer hinted at a return to the show despite of the findings of the BBC’s misconduct report into his behaviour.

The professional dancer, 34, left the show after his former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington made numerous complaints about his behaviour and has since joined and won the cast of the Italian version of the show Ballando Con Le Stelle.

Out of 17 allegations, the BBC upheld six, some of which are for Giovanni using swear words. The report found that his language could be ‘belittling’.

Revealing the cast of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing which will air later this August, Giovanni was notably absent from the list.

Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przysta are among those returning to the dance floor this September.

It has been confirmed that Giovanni Pernice will not be returning to Strictly Come Dancing

The Italian dancer hinted at a return to the show spite of the findings of the BBC’s misconduct report into his behaviour (pictured in 2019)

They will be joined by Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola who will all take to the floor once more alongside two new stars.

Meanwhile, Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington will be returning after not appearing in the 2024 edition.

Rumours recently swirled around Johannes’s future on the show too, with some suggested he was set to quit.

The South African dancer, 37, who has become a fan-favourite since he joined the show in 2018, has landed two huge projects in 2025, set to star in Kinky Boots: The Musical for the first seven months of the year, and is also working on a movie adaptation of his life story.

But it appears he isn’t going anywhere and will still have time for Strictly.

In an interview with The Mail in January, Giovanni said he’d ‘love’ to be back on the show.

He said: ‘I would love to go back to Strictly because Strictly changed my life. It is a mᴀssive show, but I don’t think they’re going to have me back. They’re not.

‘It’s been a great, great, great 10 years. I achieved everything. But it’s not my choice, it’s not my decision. Everybody has moved on.

‘Maybe I might come back in a few years like Aljaz, (a fellow dancer who had a break from the programme for several years before returning for the last series]. I think this is the path we take. And don’t forget, I’m the reigning Italian champion.’

Revealing the cast of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing which will air later this August, Giovanni was notably absent from the list 

The professional dancer, 34, left the show after his former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington made numerous complaints about his behaviour 

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE There’s no way back for me on Strictly, a heartbroken Giovanni reveals to KATIE HIND

Speaking on the How To Be Famous podcast with former Strictly contestant Debbie McGee’s nephew James Phelan in December last year, Giovanni added: ‘As I said before, you never know what is going to be next.

‘Strictly, like every other of those jobs when you have to give your life 100 per cent – they are quite tiring you know?

‘When I said I need a break, I need a break, but never say never?’

Giovanni also hinted at the end of his Adventures In travel series with Strictly judge and close pal Anton, 58.

The pair previously visited Giovanni’s native Sicily and Spain, however Giovanni admitted they are unsure of the show’s future.

He confessed: ‘No we don’t know yet. I think the budget for the BBC is quite low so we just keep doing what we are doing.

‘It’s a shame because it was a successful show, I think it had over four to five million viewers.’  

Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios says: ‘The excitement is already building ahead of the new series.

‘In addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new Professional Dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.’ 

Out of 17 allegations, the BBC upheld six, some of which are for Giovanni using swear words. The report found that his language could be ‘belittling’ (Amanda pictured in 2023) 

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.

Addressing an audience in January, the first night of his tour, Last Dance, at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe, Giovanni said: ‘I like to think I became quite successful. I was selling out everywhere.

‘I was on a TV show with my best friend [Anton Du Beke] so I felt like I was at the top of my game.

‘I was untouchable – a superhero. I felt like I had my army… my audience. But fate did have different plans for me.’

He admitted: ‘I didn’t have anybody around me. People who were supposed to be my friends disappeared.

‘I felt left alone. Nobody wanted to see me. They didn’t want to be seen with me, because people would be like, ‘Oh you’re with him’.

The dancer went on to say there was always a voice in his head telling him he would be vindicated one day and the scandal would be over.