Giovanni Pernice’s Strictly Come Dancing replacement revealed

Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly unveiled the identity of one of the two new dancers joining the 2025 professional line-up.

The BBC’s hit Latin and ballroom competition will return later this year with a host of famous faces hoping to waltz their way to the Glitterball Trophy, with the celebrities set to be confirmed nearer the time.

Earlier this month, Strictly revealed the majority of the pros who will battle it out on the ballroom floor, including Johannes Radebe’s surprise return and Amy Dowden, who was forced to pull out last year due to a foot injury.

Also on the line-up are Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola and reigning champion Dianne Buswell, who won the 2024 show with Chris McCausland.

However, Strictly executive producer Sarah James also revealed there would be ‘two new pros’ who will ‘help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance.’

While they have not been officially confirmed, it has been claimed that Simone Arena, 33, is one of the new dancers and is set to replace Giovanni Pernice, who left the show last year after being accused of ‘bullying’.

A source told The Sun: ‘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 [Tsiakkas] loved her time on the series last year.’

Metro has contacted the BBC for comment.

Strictly fans will recognise Simone as the boyfriend of Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, who will also compete as a pro in the 2025 show.

Born in Catania, Italy, Simone has been a professional dancer since childhood, becoming the Vice Italian Latin Champion at the age of 16.

Outside of competitions, he has performed in the Broadway touring production of Burn the Floor and was also announced as part of the cast of Somnium: A Dancer’s Dream with Strictly Come Dancing stars, Katya Jones and Neil Jones, in 2019.

Simone joined the Strictly family in 2021, winning the Belgian version of the show with artistic gymnast Nine Derwael.

He has also been a pro in the Italian and Irish Strictlys. In the latter, he was partnered with RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Blu Hydrangea, as well as Kin actress, Yasmin Seky.

Last year, Giovanni, 34, exited the BBC show after his partner Amanda Abbington, 51, accused him of ‘inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying’ and claimed she was subjected to a ‘toxic environment’.

Following an investigation, the dancer was cleared of serious allegations regarding his behaviour, while six bullying complaints were upheld.

Graziano Di Prima, 30, also left Strictly after allegations of ‘physical incidents’ during his training with Zara McDermott, 28.

His rep later admitted that Graziano had kicked former Love Island star McDermott and said in a statement that he ‘apologised at the time’ and knew he had ‘made a mistake’.

However, he later claimed his foot ‘brushed’ Zara after he ‘kicked the floor in frustration’ due to the ‘pressure of the show.’

Strictly Come Dancing is returning to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

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