STRICTLY Come Dancing has signed up a new Italian dancer to replace Giovanni Pernice on the BBC1 series.
, 33, whose girlfriend Michelle Tsiakkas, 29 is alsoon the show, is set to be a new dancer after BBC producers revealed that two new pros would join the line-up this autumn.
It comes after , 34, quit the scandal-hit show last summer after nine years on as he faced allegations over his training methods with previous celebrity partners — including 51-year-old actress .
A source said: “Simone blew the Strictly bosses away when he auditioned as a new professional on the show.
“He is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the series.
“Simone is well known among the pros and his girlfriend Michelle loved her time on the series last year.
“Fans will be delighted with Simone because he is very easy on the eye and certainly charming.”;
In 2020 Simone joined the cast of Giovanni’s This Is Me Tour – but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Simone won the Belgian Dancing With The Stars with Olympic gymnast Nina Derwael, 25, in 2022.
In the same year his girlfriend Michelle joined the cast of Strictly and received her first celebrity partner last year with actor , 30.
Simone and Michelle met on the live dance tour – Burn The Floor – which has toured across the world – including Broadway in New York City and London’s West End.
Fellow Italian pro dancer , 30, was axed from the hit BBC show amid claims he
Last week Strictly bosses revealed the list of pro dancers who would be returning to the show this year.
The list included , and as well as last year’s winner , who took home the 2024 glitterball with her celebrity partner, comedian
, , , , , , , , , , , and Michelle are all returning for the 2025.
Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said: “The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new professional dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.”;
