STRICTLY judge Shirley Ballas has revealed her thoughts on whether pro dancer Giovanni Pernice should return to the BBC show.
Giovanni, 34, last appeared on the BBC celebrity ballroom dancing competition in 2023 with celebrity partner Amanda Abbington.
Amanda, 51, soon quit the show accusing Gio of bullying and a string of complaints, some of which were upheld.
The Italian dancer was suspended while the investigation took place - costing a reported £250k - and eventually left the show completely to join the Italian version Ballando con le Stelle.
Since then Giovanni won the Italian version of Strictly and found love with his celebrity partner, Italian star Bianca Guaccero.
Shirley, 64, previously stood by the Italian dancer and said he has always been a “perfect gentleman”.
The head judge has now insisted that the BBC will do the right thing when it comes to picking professionals for the new series.
When asked if Giovanni will be returning to the TV show later this year, Shirley said: "I think the BBC will go out there and pick the best people for the job that they feel are appropriate at the time."
Shirley also revealed that the new series is set to be bigger and better - with some big changes.
"You'll have to wait and see, I would absolutely love to be back," she told us at Nikita Kuzmin's Midnight Dancer tour in London.
"I stay in my line, I just do the judging.
"I'm sure the BBC will do all the things they need to make the show just as exciting every year.
But you'll see a few changes."
She added: "I'd like to see a member of the public there, that would be amazing. Like a non-celebrity version. So they can feel how they feel they think they would."
Shirley was the first of the Strictly panel to speak in support of Gio.
She said: “I just spoke to Giovanni 30 minutes before coming here and I am going to one of his ballando classes to teach the jive.
“He is coming to my party on Sunday.
“You know, I can only talk from my own perspective.
“I have known Giovanni for ten years.
“He has always been to me, — and I will make that clear, to me — a perfect gentleman.
“I know he is a hard worker.
“He wants people to do the very best that they can do.
“Obviously, in my life, I was bullied a lot.
“I don’t condone bullying on any path.
“But I don’t believe gossip because things are blown way out of all proportion and it can turn into a great big snowball.
“So my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation and the truth will come out.
“So we don’t judge anybody until I know absolutely, 100 percent.”
Shirley went on: “I have never ever, ever, ever experienced any ill will, bad feeling or bad sportsmanship or rudeness from him.
“My mother loves him.
“It does not matter when he is on tour, or where he is or what he is doing, he will make his way across and he will say ‘Lovely to see you Shirley.
“Lovely to see your mum.’”
Shirley was the first of the Strictly panel to speak in support of GioCredit: PA
