Giovanni Pernice is set to be a part of a same-sex pairing on Strictly Come Dancing 2022 after soaring to victory last year with Rose Ayling-Ellis, it’s been reported.
The line-up for this year’s competition was recently announced, with stars including Kym Marsh, Helen Skelton and Tony Adams joining the roster of celebrities.
Radio personality Richie Anderson is also among them, who said in a statement that it’ll be an ‘honour’ to be a part of the second all-male partnership on the show.
Giovanni, who’s been on Strictly since 2015, recently said he was ‘more than ready to be partnered with a man’, saying: ‘It would give me a chance to challenge myself with new routines, you have to think more about it.’
It’s now been claimed that bosses have moved forward with the decision to pair the professional dancer up with a male celebrity.
According to The Sun, those in charge of the programme are eyeing Giovanni, 31, up to compete with Richie, 34.
However, no pairings have been officially confirmed as of yet.
If Giovanni and Richie are to pair up, this would make them the third same-sex couple to have participated in the show.
Nicola Adams and Katya Jone were the first in 2020, but they were forced to drop out after Katya tested positive for Covid-19.
Nonetheless, they returned to perform a special, sizzling Tango to Feeling Good in the grand finale.
Last year, Johannes Radebe and former Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite made it all the way to the final, but it was Giovanni and Rose who lifted the Glitterball Trophy in the end.
A source recently told The Sun that Giovanni is ‘really keen for the challenge’ or being put in an all-male pairing ‘and wants to show fans he can dance just as well with a man as with a woman’.
‘He is extremely competitive and already has lots of ideas for the choreography,’ they added.
When it was announced that Richie was joining Strictly, the BBC Radio 2 presenter wrote on social media: ‘Can’t believe I’m typing this.’
He continued: ‘My dream has come true. I can’t wait to get in the iconic ballroom. Good luck to my pro partner, as my dancing skills have previously been compared to Bambi on ice. Bring it on.’
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by Metro.co.uk.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
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