Giovanni Pernice: 'I Dont Know If I'm Coming Back To Strictly'

The Strictly Come Dancing hottie talks to Now about Len’s successor and who’s tickling his fancy right now…

- Sarah Robertson

Giovanni Pernice is the smooth Sicilian pro dancer who whisked former Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote off her feet on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015. He was then accused (falsely) of putting the moves on his next Strictly dance partner Laura Whitmore and since the show handsome Gio has been linked to a series of pretty starlets. So when we speak, we’re waiting for the dashing 26-year-old to charm us.

Sadly, that’s not exactly what happens, as Giovanni is not in the mood for talking about the ladies or romance. He is, however, very excited to talk about his new show Dance Is Life and who’s going to take over from Strictly head judge Len Goodman, so over a cup of tea we get down to business – the business of dancing, that is…

Hi Giovanni! Do you ever get used to wearing so much make-up and fake tan on Strictly Come Dancing? [

Laughs] I’ve never actually had a spray tan because I don’t like the idea of them. Yeah, we have make-up, but I always ask for less because I’m still a man and I don’t like going around in too much of it.

How long does it take you to get ready for a Strictly performance?

Personally, I will spend about 10 minutes.

Really, that’s it? Are you sure?! 

Yes, I don’t need a lot because I am beautiful like this already [cackles]. I’m joking, I’m joking! I go on the sunbed once a week. I am from Sicily, darling – we have the sun inside us…

You’re a smoothie… Who takes the longest out of the men on Strictly to get ready? 

I would say Anton du Beke – he spends so much time on the chair. Brendan Cole, too. They both spend about 30 minutes in make-up. They don’t have spray tans. Boys don’t like the idea of spray tans.