Giovanni Pernice set to 'return' to Strictly Come Dancing 20th anniversary special

Rumours are swirling that Giovanni Pernice might waltz back into the spotlight on for a special one-off episode dedicated to the glitterball's 20th anniversary this December.

The grapevine has it that clips of the former pro could be shown as part of this iconic instalment, which is set to feature standout moments and fan favourites over the years. The 2024 celebrations are all geared up to take a trip down memory lane with "iconic performances and familiar faces past and present".

Insiders say the show will add clips of the shiniest highlights from its two decades on television. This may include Giovanni's moves alongside star Rose Ayling-Ellis from their stint in 2021. An insider divulged to The Sun: "Giovanni made history when he won with Rose, so footage from their emotional silent performance is set to feature."

Meanwhile, the has kept quiet confirming Giovanni's rumoured appearance in the anniversary special, with no official statement released yet as per the report. While waiting for an official announcement reports , who also reached out to the BBC seeking insights.

This news comes hot on the heels of the fallout from the broadcaster's investigation into Giovanni's behaviour with his 2023 dance cohort Amanda Abbington after she lodged several complaints against him. The Beeb confirmed that while not all accusations were substantiated, enough had the merit to warrant an apology, acknowledging Amanda's courage in raising the concerns and for being part of the inquiry process.

Following the release of the report results, Giovanni admitted that the past six months had been "difficult". He elaborated: "Today I'm happy because at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as of today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld. All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld."

In the meantime, Amanda has also voiced her thoughts after the report. "Despite this vile abuse, I've never regretted coming forward, and today's apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint," she expressed.

She continued: "It's not just a vindication for me; it's a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed."

Away from the Strictly Come Dancing spotlight, Giovanni recently unveiled his latest career move and announced he's "back baby" while hyping up his forthcoming tour. The dancer is set to tour the UK early next year with his Giovanni The Last Dance tour.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday at 6:25pm on BBC One