Giovanni Pernice shows support for BBC Strictly finalist with rare show reference after axe: 'You got this!'
WATCH HERE: Giovanni Pernice addresses Amanda Abbington scandal upon UK TV return
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Giovanni Pernice has publicly declared who he wants to win this year's Strictly Come Dancing following his exit from the competition.
The Italian pro dancer and the BBC dance contest parted ways after he found himself at the centre of a highly-publicised misconduct investigation after complaints by Amanda Abbington.
The BBC ended up upholding some but not all of the complaints made against Pernice although the dancer took the findings as a victory as none of the most serious allegations were upheld.
Pernice had lost his role on Strictly before the show returned for its 2024 series but he's been enjoying life as part of the cast of the Italian edition of the show - where's he even found love in the form of a new girlfriend.
Now no longer part of the cast, Pernice has rarely referenced the ongoing Strictly series since his exit, although he bucked the trend on Saturday ahead of the finale.
In doing so, Pernice took to Instagram to publicly endorse the couple he'd like to see lift the Glitterball Trophy - and it's someone who still holds a close bond with the Italian pro.
Giovanni Pernice is currently competing on the Italian version of Strictly
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Pernice has thrown his backing behind Lauren Oakley and her celebrity dance partner JB Gill.
Although not initially paired with Oakley at the start of the series, an Amy Dowden exit paved the way for the Brummie dancer to return to the ballroom.
Showing his support for the duo, Pernice reposted one of Oakley's Instagram updates and provided his own caption.
"Good luck to this fantastic duo tonight! but especially to Our dancing queen @laurenmayoakley," he penned before concluding the post with: "You got this! You got this! You got this!" (sic)
Giovanni Pernice has shown his support for Lauren Oakley and JB Gill
The post he reposted from Oakley was of her and Gill in the rehearsal room for the final time ahead of Saturday's extravaganza.
Oakley and Pernice may have worked together on Strictly but their friendship transcended the BBC dancefloor.
Oakley accompanied Pernice on his solo stage tour earlier this year as he toured up and down the country while the aforementioned investigation into his conduct continued.
In order to lift the Glitterball Trophy, Gill and Oakley will have to overcome Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.
The pair will be taking on a Viennese Waltz to Let’s Go Fly A Kite from Mary Poppins, Show Dance to a Motown Medley, and a Samba to Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes.
They may have the backing of Pernice but Gill and Oakley look like they face an uphill battle if they stand any chance of emerging victorious on Saturday night.
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That's because McCausland has been priced as the most likely Strictly winner ever in the show's history by some bookmakers.
Meanwhile, the likes of Gill, Hadland and Ghouri are priced as rank outsiders with several bookies.
Elsewhere, Ghouri and Skorjanec will be performing a Couple’s Choice to What About Us by P!nk, a Show Dance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman, and an American Smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi.
Hadland and Coppola have an American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small, a Show Dance to Cabaret by Metropole Orkest, and a Cha Cha to Like A Prayer by Madonna to pull off.
And McCausland and Buswell will be taking on a Couple’s Choice to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon, a Show Dance to You Get What You Give by New Radicals, and a Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
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