Watch moment Craig Revel Horwood hugs Giovanni Pernice as they reunite ahead of results of Strictly bullying probe
STRICTLY’S Craig Revel-Horwood had some things to say to Giovanni Pernice as they reunited on stage.
With days to go before the results of the investigation into Giovanni’s backstage conduct are revealed, judges Craig and Motsi Mabuse joined Giovanni in London.
Special guests at a Ballando dance class run by Giovanni, the celebrity duo seemed delighted to be spending time with the Italian dancer, who left Strictly in May amid official complaints made against him by Amanda Abbington.
In a video clip of the class shared online by Gio, Craig is introduced onto the stage to a massive round of applause, before wrapping his arms around the former Strictly star.
Craig then asks Gio: “Where have you been, Giovanni?”
Putting on a cockney accent, Gio joked: “I’ve been eating pasta and pizza, mate!” referring to his new star turn on the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle.
In a mock whinging tone, Craig responded: “Yeah, but where have you been? You’re not in my life anymore…” prompting a round of “awwws” from the class students.
“I know!” Craig declared to the guests, before the clip cuts out.
Later on, Motsi also took to the stage, teaching the class and dancing in front of them.
While Giovanni exited the show in May in light of the investigation, Craig and Motsi are back on our screens behind the judges desk.
They have never officially commented on the probe into Gio’s behaviour – which was labelled “disastrously unworkable” by his 2023 partner Amanda Abbington.
Giovanni has vehemently denied the allegations, which include “sexually humiliating” behaviour and “bullying”.
Since then, the BBC has spent a reported £500,000 to dig into the matter, employing chaperones for all rehearsals in this year’s competition, and letting go pro Graziano Di Prima after footage of him “kicking Zara McDermott” was brought to their attention.
A source said neither Giovanni nor Amanda — who left the series last October and appointed a lawyer in May — is likely to be happy with the outcome of the inquiry.
The source added: “The BBC plans to update all sides on the outcome of the review early next week.
“The process has taken longer than many in the Corporation wanted, but there’s reasons for that.
“Timing has also been very difficult for the Beeb.
“They’re still reeling from the fallout of the Huw Edwards scandal so they didn’t want to be juggling two major crises at the same time.
“But they now feel in a position to announce what they’ve decided.”
According to the source, only a few details are likely be made public.