AS scandal-struck Giovanni Pernice lifted the oversized winner's trophy on Italy’s version of Strictly Come Dancing with a glamorous beauty by his side, he appeared to breathe a sigh of relief.
For the Sicilian performer, 34, has faced a truly tumultuous year that saw him quit the BBC show amid claims of harrowing behaviour towards Amanda Abbingdon in 2023.
The Sherlock actress and others who danced with Giovanni complained about his antics, leading to an investigation that upheld six of 16 claims against him.
They included “belittling” remarks, “inappropriate” sexual ‘banter’, swearing and unfairly negative feedback, leading to stars struggling, including Amanda who claimed she was left with PTSD.
However, Giovanni was also cleared of the most serious allegations of violence and physical abuse, with the BBC report finding he did not make threats and was not intimidating.
Now he looks set to put an end to his year of chaos after being named winner of Ballando con le Stelle - Italy’s Strictly - alongside beauty Bianca Guaccero.
Much has been made of his three-month romance with the TV presenter and actress, 43, with the pair regularly seen snogging in rehearsals and barely able to keep their hands off each other in incredibly intimate footage shown to viewers.
The pair has sparked speculation marriage could be on the cards, with Gio having already met Bianca’s mother, who claimed he could be “the love of her life”.
But the Strictly lothario - who has dated Pussycat doll Ashley Roberts, Love Island’s Maura Higgins, Tasha Ghouri, TOWIE’s Jess Wright, Corrie star Georgia May Foote and more - has kept his cards close to his chest about popping the question.
“If we win the show, I'll seriously think about it,” he said, ahead of being crowned show winner with Bianca last night to a cheering crowd.
The victory comes at the end of a difficult year for Giovanni, who singled out his fans in “the UK and Ireland” for their support which he said “hasn’t gone unnoticed” in an online post.
In fact, both stars have faced their fair share of heartache and strife in recent times, mostly notably the professional dancer being ousted from Strictly over claims from Amanda and others and leaving the UK.
It led to Giovanni signing up for Italy’s version of the dance show, Ballando con le Stelle, where he was paired with talented Bianca, a 43-year-old mum-of-one in September.
She appeared to still be reeling from the end of her relationship with film director husband Dario Acocella, who she was married to for four years until 2017.
Bianca, who is a well-known actress with recurring roles in dramas Capri 3 and Il Bene e il Male, said: “Separation is a tsunami that hits you and messes everything up. There was a balance and I had to create another one.
“I formed a new family unit, and it was me and my daughter. Alice [then three years old] has always been the priority, she is the most important person in my life.”
Their split in April 2017 was followed by months of speculation before Dario finally confirmed they had broken up in Autumn of that year.
He fumed: “We are not in crisis, we are not in any difficult moment, nor do we no longer live under the same roof. Simply and peacefully, we have no longer been together for over six months.”
In her own statement in 2018, Bianca revealed they had been growing “further and further apart” for sometime, adding: “Until the distance becomes unbridgeable. It's no one's fault if it happens, if it happened to us."
I think my daughter has met the love of her life, I hope that Giovanni becomes my son-in-law
Bianca's mum Rosa, according to an insider
Bianca explained that they put aside their differences for their daughter Alice, now 10, including posing together for her First Communion.
“We love each other very much and we will always remain Alice's family,” she said, but in recent months her tune has changed towards her ex-husband.
It follows Bianca, described as a doting parent, talking of the heartache her daughter faced over the split when she was three years old and needing to form “a kind of bubble… protection from everything”.
Touchingly, when times got tough, the mum recalled to stop her daughter from crying she would relax her by putting on a “shadow play…with the light on my phone and my hand”.
Bianca added that seeing her daughter “peaceful” was the reward for “all the efforts and sacrifices I have made”, referring to her lost career opportunities.
She said: “I have always wanted to make my dreams come true but, at the same time, be a present mother.”
In these past few months, Bianca has finally been able to step back into the spotlight and embrace her dreams again - much in the way Louise Redknapp did on Strictly back in 2016.
And with the renewed empowerment and confidence, in part thanks to Giovanni, the mum hasn’t held back in making scathing comments about her ex.
Bianca sniped: "Sometimes in life you meet people who damage your self-esteem and you have to recover it bit by bit with time.
"Now I've met someone who has helped me recover. It's 60-70 percent thanks to Giovanni.”
Earlier this month she gushed about their romance, saying: "I had a heavy stone on my heart, I had difficulty believing in true love.
"When I met Giovanni I felt at home and I was in London with him and then 24 hours with my parents. I wanted to introduce him to the country and the people I love."
While their future is unclear, Giovanni has already won over Bianca’s mum Rosa and her husband, who he visited in Puglia, which is more than five hours away from where the reality show is filmed in Rome.
“I like him as a person,” she said, before giving her telling verdict on the romance.
“Bianca has never said it to me explicitly but love doesn't need to be announced, you see it and you feel it and that is enough."
Ahead of the stars’ victory in the show last night, a TV host added: "Maybe Bianca doesn't know this, but behind the scenes Rosa said to me, 'I think my daughter has met the love of her life, I hope that Giovanni becomes my son-in-law.'"
Bianca has also spoken out about how Giovanni puts her first, after he said: "Bianca is my priority... She has been my priority from the beginning... and will be until the end of the show and beyond."
She said: "Being someone’s priority is something new for me. I have always been the one taking care of others.
"It’s an amazing feeling. It’s something I’m discovering at the age of 43.
"Having someone next to me who is proud of me and is happy for my happiness is something new to me. This had never happened to me in my life."
As for Giovanni, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest, adding: "I don't know what will happen in the future but we are on the right track."
It seemed to be an attempt to row back his previous comment where he appeared to vow that he would pop the question if they won Ballando con le Stelle.
Mum Rosa has clearly noticed the positive impact the show has had on her daughter, adding that it “is giving her so much, as a woman”.
She added: "My daughter has always been very sensitive, she has faced many challenges with courage and I am proud of the woman she has become.”
And as the couple proudly lifted the Italian show’s giant trophy last night, with yellow and white confetti falling from the ceiling, they beamed at each other with glee.
Later online, Giovanni thanked fans not only from his home country but also in the UK and Ireland, saying: “I see you all and I’m so grateful to each and every one of you for being there last night and voting when needed - I know it was a lot,” he said.
“It felt amazing to be in the final again doing what I love - and then to win as well was a dream and definitely something I will never forget! Thank you for being there and being part of that with me.”
Then in perhaps a telling comment that could hint a future UK return, Giovanni added: “I can’t wait to see you all again very soon!”
What is in store for Italy’s Strictly sweethearts is yet to be seen, but their love story serves as the perfect tale of redemption for them both that will undoubtedly see them return to our screens considerably more in the coming months.
