STRICTLY’S future is under threat as the Giovanni Pernice storm leaves the show facing the biggest crisis in its glittering 20- year history. For the first time, The Sun can today lift the lid on allegations being launched by the pro dancer and some of his former celebrity partners . The parties at the centre of the toxic fallout are compiling rival dossiers amid a full-on legal war — and will hand it over to the BBC via their £700-an-hour lawyers.
A group of ex-dance partners, represented by Carter Ruck, allegedly have images to back claims of injury. Gio, who is working with Schillings, is expected to supply transcripts which he says prove he acted fairly. Whatever happens, the talons are out.
We can reveal that at least two of Gio’s dance partners accuse him of “brutal” training methods that left them “black and blue”. They claim to have photographic evidence of their injuries — ones which allegedly go well above and beyond the “occupational hazards” of dancing, which Gio’s friends have cited. We can also reveal the women believe another ex-dance partner of Gio — US singer Michelle Visage — could help their case, based on her own alleged treatment.
In turn, Sicilian Gio, 33, is understood to have audio transcripts of at least one partner apologising to him for her “difficult behaviour”. His lawyers believe this will prove he was not the sole protagonist. They are also likely to include PDF files of gushing post-exit interviews conducted with .
