A new Italian star who is dating one of the Strictly Come Dancing professionals could be joining the 2025 line up as bosses search for a replacement for dancer Giovanni Pernice

Giovanni Pernice is not retuning to Strictly Come Dancing following his scandal

Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly signed up a hunky new Italian dancer as Giovanni Pernice continues to stay away from the BBC show. The professional dancers taking part in this year’s competition have slowly been revealed, with two new stars yet to be announced.

Amid reports of a cull, all the current Strictly dancers will be making their comeback to the 2025 series. However, Giovanni won’t be returning, despite his hope that he would be back on the show after winning the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle.

The fan-favourite sensationally quit after his celebrity dance partner Amanda Abbington made a string of allegations regarding his “abusive” behaviour, with the Italian dancer later cleared after a BBC investigation.

His comeback would have likely been supported by the likes of judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, who have remained close to the Italian dancer.

Dancer Simone Arena could be joining the Strictly cast(Image: I

Yet, there could be a new Italian star on the Strictly dancefloor in a matter of months as show bosses. According to reports, show bosses have eyed up Simone Arena, who is the boyfriend of Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas.

“Simone blew the Strictly bosses away when he auditioned as a new professional on the show,” a source told the Sun. “He is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the series.”

They added: “Simone is well known among the pros and his girlfriend Michelle loved her time on the series last year.”

Earlier this month it was confirmed Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will all take to the floor later this year.

Two new pro dancers – who are yet to be revealed – will also join them. Not all the pros will receive celebrity partners this year, so fans will have to wait until the autumn to find out if their favourites will be in the main line-up.

It was claimed last year that five pro dancers were set to leave the show, with Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones among the names on the chopping block. Yet, this has now been confirmed to not be the case.

Strictly has had tumultuous year, which along with Giovanni’s abrupt exit also saw Graziano Di Prima axed by show bosses. A video had emerged of the pro dancer kicking his 2023 celebrity partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals, which he admitted to.

2024 contestant Wynne Evans was axed from the Strictly Live Tour this year after a video emerged of him making a vile sexual remark at his co-star while at the launch of the tour in Birmingham.

He had apologised for the comment and told the Mirror: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”

Wynne was recorded making an inappropriate sexual comment to Janette Manrara, who acts as host on the tour, as he used the hugely demeaning term “spit roast” in reference to a lewd sexual act.

The Mirror has contacted the BBC for comment.