Here you’ll find out more about BBC One Strictly Come Dancing stars Giovanni Pernice and Joanne Clifton. Learn about Pernice on this year’s series of Strictly, and discover how you could soon be dancing with Giovanni!
BAFTA Award Winner and Strictly Champion Giovanni joined the show back in 2015 and has been charming viewers ever since.
Giovanni’s also pretty good at the Strictly Pro Challenges with two Guinness World Records under his Italian belt.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni Pernice latest news – In Sept ’24 Gio announce he was starring in The Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing; Ballando con le Stelle, saying he was “excited” to be back on the dancefloor.
In ‘Ballando con le Stelle’, Gio is partnered with actress and singer Bianca Guaccero
Earlier this year Giovanni & Anton stared in a second series of BBC ONE Travel series Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Spain
In the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni lifted the Glitterball trophy
Rose was thrilled to be showing viewers that those who are deaf can still dance and feel the rhythm.
In 2017 Giovanni retained his ‘Pro Challenge Title’ by achieving the most Charleston swivels danced in 30 seconds – congrats. In 2016 Giovanni achieved the most Jive flicks & kicks in 30 seconds – achieving a record breaking 55!
Learn all about Giovanni & Joannes’s glittering dancing achievements, dance partners, relationships, awards, photos, facts, age, height, and read their latest news, announcements and tours below
5* Weekend Breaks Starring Giovanni Pernice
Who better to teach you to dance than Strictly Come Dancing Champion Giovanni
Not only can you learn to dance with these amazing professional dancers but you’ll hear all the back stage gossip from the latest series, plus see them perform their stunning dance showcase for you up close and personal.
Fri 28th – Sun 30th March 2025
Final 20 bedrooms remaining – don’t miss out!
4* De Vere Beaumont Estate Hotel
Windsor, Berkshire
⭐ Join Strictly Stars Anton Du Beke, Giovanni Pernice, Lauren Oakley, Aljaz Skorjanec & Janette Manrara, Irish Professional Latin Champions Aaron Flynn & Niamh Curtin, Argentine Tango Stars Letitia & Andres, Strictly Vocalist Lance Ellington, plus The Tony Greenwood 15-piece Big Band ⭐
Fri 25th- Sun 27th April 2025
Final 45 bedrooms remaining – don’t miss out!
5* Celtic Manor Resort Hotel
Newport, South Wales
⭐ Join Strictly Stars Anton Du Beke, Giovanni Pernice, Lauren Oakley, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Nadiya Bychkova, British, European & World 10 Dance Champions Glenn & Caroly Boyce, Former World Professional Ballroom Champions Warren & Kristi Boyce, British Dance Champion Finalists David Cockram & Rosie Ward, Argentine Tango Stars Leandro Palou & Maria Tsiatsiani, Strictly Vocalist Lance Ellington, plus The Tony Greenwood 15-piece Big Band ⭐
Fri 20th – Sun 22nd June 2025
5* Celtic Manor Resort Hotel
Newport, South Wales
⭐ Join Strictly Stars Amy Dowden MBE, Giovanni Pernice, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystal, Nikita Kuzmin, Katya Jones, British, European & World 10 Dance Champions Glenn & Caroly Boyce, Former World Professional Ballroom Champions Warren & Kristi Boyce, British Dance Champion Finalists David Cockram & Rosie Ward, Strictly’s Argentine Tango Stars Leandro Palou & Maria Tsiatsiani, and The Tony Greenwood 15-piece Big Band ⭐
Giovanni Pernice chats about Donahey’s 5* Weekend Breaks…
Strictly Stars Giovanni Pernice & Joanne Clifton
© Photo By Duncan Young
Giovanni Pernice Facts – Height, Age, Dance Partners, Relationships, Awards, Tours
How old is Giovanni Pernice?
33 years old (born 5th September 1990)
What is Giovanni’s height?
Giovanni stands at 1.78m tall
Where is Giovanni Pernice from?
Sicily, Italy
Is Giovanni Pernice in a relationship?
Currently Giovanni is in a relationship with model Molly Brown.
What are Giovanni’s greatest dance achievements?
Giovanni started dancing at a young age and relocated to Bologna aged 14 in order to pursue his dance ambitions. During his career he has competed all over Europe and won the Italian Championships in 2012. He’s also the current Guinness World Record holder for Jive kicks and flicks, and Charleston swivels, thanks to the Strictly Pro Challenge.
Who is Giovanni’s professional dance partner?
Giovanni will be performing with amazing Pro dancer Lauren Oakley at Donahey’s Star Breaks in 2024, so get ready for some amazing routines.
What’s Giovanni’s favourite dance?
Giovanni loves the Jive.
When did Giovanni Pernice join Strictly?
Giovanni arrived in all his dazzling glory in 2015.
Who was Giovanni’s celebrity partner in the 2023 series?
At the launch show, it was announced that professional dancer Giovanni was partnered with award-winning stage and screen actor and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.
Amanda has starred in some of the UK’s top drama TV series, including Sherlock, Mr Selfridge, Wolfe, and Desperate Measures. She also had a lead role in the series The Net and feature film The Lost King. Her illustrious television acting career spans three decades and she has also performed in various plays in well renowned theatres across the country, recently starring in the West End transfer of Steven Moffat’s The Unfriend.
Her role as Mary Morstan in Sherlock won her the Best Supporting Actress gong at the Crime Thriller Awards, alongside nominations for this role at the Critic’s Choice Television Awards.
On joining Strictly, Amanda said: “I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things! Plus, I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about. I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you. I can’t wait to start!”
Gio and Amanda were almost Out Of Reach with a score of 30 in Movie Week for their racy Rumba – it got the judges feeling hot under the collar!
Sadly they missed week 5 due to medical issues.
Amanda quit Strictly Come Dancing on 23rd October due to medical reasons. It Takes Two host Fleur East confirmed on Monday’s episode of the spin off show that the Sherlock star would no longer be participating in the BBC dance competition due to medical reasons.
Who has Giovanni danced with on Strictly?
Giovanni’s dance partners on Strictly include; Richie Anderson, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Georgia May Foote, Laura Whitmore, Debbie McGee, Faye Tozer, Michelle Visage, Ranvir Singh and Amanda Abbingdon.
Has Giovanni Pernice ever won Strictly?
Of course, in the 2021 Strictly series, Giovanni topped the strictly leaderboard to become the Glitterball Winner.
After appearing in 3 Strictly Finals, Gio was finally crowned the 2021 Strictly Come Dancing Champion with his amazing partner Strictly’s Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Giovanni and Rose’s highlight was their stunning performance to “Symphony” as Rose shared her heart and soul in the beautifully choreographed couples choice in week 8. A silent interlude was a wonderful representation of what it’s like to dance for Rose – receiving a well-deserved score of 39.
Previously Giovanni had made it to the final with former dance partner and celeb star’s Faye Tozer in 2018, Debbie McGee in 2017 and Georgia May Foote in 2015.
Find out who has won BBC Strictly Come Dancing with our full list of past Strictly winners from 2004 here – Strictly Winners
Latest News – What is the name of Giovanni & Anton’s television show
Giovanni & Anton will star in a second series of BBC ONE TV Travel series Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Spain – due to be shown from Monday 18th March 2024.
Coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2024, this brand new three part entertainment travel series will see Giovanni and fellow dancer Anton Du Beke tour Spain.
Has Giovanni ever had a wardrobe malfunction on Strictly?
Let’s just say there’s limited opportunity for a wardrobe malfunction as Giovanni tends to wear minimal clothing on the dance floor.
Find out more about Giovanni’s dancing profile on the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing profile page.
Joanne Clifton Facts – Height, Age, Dance Partners, Relationships, Awards, Tours
How old is Joanne Clifton?
Age 40 (born 26 October 1983)
What is Joanne’s height?
Joanne stands at 1.58m tall
Where is Joanne from?
Grimsby, England
What’s Joanne’s favourite dance?
Quickstep
Joanne Clifton Fact
Joanne is currently presenting Clifton’s Choreography Corner on BBC TWO It Takes Two every Monday & Tuesday evening
What are Joanne’s greatest dance achievements?
Joanne was born into a dancing family and danced her first competition at the age of 3 with her brother Kevin.
Joanne started out at Cliftons Dance Academy in Grimsby, which is run by her parents (Former International Latin Champions). She has competed in both Ballroom and Latin for over 26 years and in that time has become: 5 time British Champion, 3 time Italian Champion, Professional Ballroom European Champion 2012 and Professional World Dancesport Games Champion 2013.
In 2014 Joanne won the World Ballroom Showdance Championship, following this Joanne retired from competing with her partner Paulo Bosco
Joanne has toured the UK with Burn the Floor, and is due to perform once again with Burn The Floor in 2022. Joanne Clifton has starred as Janet in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show, Alex Owens in the UK tour of Flashdance, and Dale Tremont in Top Hat. She is also a model, presenter, actress and singer.
When did Joanne join Strictly?
Joanne Clifton joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2014
Joanne’s brother Kevin Clifton joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013
Who has Joanne danced with on Strictly?
In the 2014 series of Strictly, Joanne famously partnered Radio presenter Scott Mills…who could forget the crab dance! In 2015 Joanne performed in the pro group dances, plus joined Zoe on It Takes Two as one of the resident Dance Experts.
Joanne’s 2016 celebrity partner was BBC Olympic & sports presenter Ore Oduba. Joanne & Ore created some fabulous performances, going on to with the Strictly Glitterball in 2016.
Ore makes regular appearences on BBC Breakfast & Radio 5 Live as sports correspondent, in 2013 Ore danced on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.
Has Joanne ever won Strictly?
Of course, 2016 Strictly Glitterball Winner with Ore Oduba.
Find out who has won BBC Strictly Come Dancing with our full list of past Strictly winners from 2004 here – Strictly Winners
Is Joanne in a relationship?
Joanne Clifton has been dating boyfriend AJ Jenks since Summer 2020
Joanne Clifton Theatre Tours
Joanne Clifton was most recently seen starring in Shrek UK. Prior to this Joanne played the roles of “Bertha” and “Fastrada” in Pippin, at The Garden Theatre.
Prior to this, Joanne starred as “Janet” in the No. 1 UK Tour of The Rocky Horror Show, “Alex Owens” in the No. 1 UK Tour of Flashdance, and “Dale Tremont” in Top Hat, where she received her second Offie nomination. Her first was for her acting debut as the Streetwalker in Iriving Berlin’s Face the Music.
Find out more about Joanne’s dancing profile on her official BBC Strictly Come Dancing profile page.
BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Find out more information about the BBC TV programme Strictly Come Dancing
by checking out the BBC Strictly Come Dancing website www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing
Donahey’s Dance Lessons & 5* UK Weekend Breaks have no association with BBC Studios
Giovanni Pernice Tour Dates & Venues
Find out all about Giovanni 2025 show-stopping tour ‘The Last Dance’
www.giovannipernice.com/2025-tickets
Find out all about Giovanni Pernice & Anton Du Beke 2025 ‘Together Again’ Tour
www.antonandgiovanni.com
Find out all about Giovanni Pernice new perfume Vita
Joanne Clifton Tour Dates & Venues
Find out all about the UK & Ireland 2024 Hairspray tour starring Joanne Clifton
Meet all the Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers
Learn more about all your favourite Strictly Pro’s here;
– Aljaz Skorjanec
– Amy Dowden
– Dianne Buswell
– Gorka Marquez
– Janette Manrara
– Johannes Radebe
– Jowita Przystal
– Kai Widdrington
– Karen Hauer
– Katya Jones
– Luba Mushtuk
– Nadiya Bychkova
– Nancy Xu
– Neil Jones
– Nikita Kuzmin
– Jowita Przystal
– Lauren Oakley
Meet all the Strictly Come Dancing Judges
Learn more about all the Strictly Judges here;
– Anton du Beke
– Shirley Ballas
– Motsi Mabuse
– Craig Revel Horwood
