Anton Du Beke, Strictly Come Dancing judge and former professional dancer, 

found himself in an uncomfortable position when questioned about his support for Giovanni Pernice’s return to the BBC dance competition. 

During a live TV interview, Du Beke attempted to sidestep the discussion, shifting the focus onto his upcoming projects instead.

Backing a Controversial Return

The conversation arose following a BBC investigation into allegations made by actress Amanda Abbington 

regarding Giovanni Pernice’s behavior during the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing. 

The inquiry upheld six out of seventeen complaints against Pernice, primarily related to verbal bullying and harassment. However, he was cleared of more serious accusations, including those concerning physical aggression.

Despite the controversy, Pernice, who has since left the UK version of Strictly Come Dancing to compete in the Italian edition, has received public backing from Du Beke. The two dancers have a long-standing friendship, having toured together and co-starred in a BBC travel documentary series.

Awkward Exchange on Live TV

Appearing on Good Morning Britain to discuss his new golf-themed podcast, Du Beke was unexpectedly pressed on his support for Pernice. Host Richard Madeley wasted no time in addressing the subject, asking, “It’s been reported that you personally would welcome Giovanni Pernice back onto Strictly… Why are you doing that?”

Caught off guard, Du Beke initially laughed off the question, attempting to divert the discussion to golf instead. “Me personally, as opposed to me…” he stammered, seemingly struggling to formulate a response.

However, Madeley refused to let him evade the topic, reiterating that the BBC had upheld several complaints against Pernice and questioning why Du Beke had still publicly supported his return.

A Flustered Response

After hesitating, Du Beke finally responded, though he carefully avoided directly addressing the issue. “Errr… ha ha, that’s a very good question. I would have preferred talking about golf,” he admitted. He then deflected the conversation towards Pernice’s recent success in Italy, where he won Ballando con le Stelle, the country’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.

“I was delighted for Giovanni this autumn because he went over to Italy and did Strictly Come Dancing in Italy, and he won that with the lovely Bianca Guaccero. And he was delighted to win that…” Du Beke trailed off before being interrupted by co-host Susanna Reid, who pointed out that he and Pernice were set to embark on a tour together later in the year.

Du Beke confirmed the upcoming performances, saying, “We’re going off on tour in the summer, so I’ll be seeing him when we go back out on the road. I love being on stage with him and performing with him, and I’ve known him for a long time.”

As the interview continued, Du Beke steered the conversation toward the positive aspects of their working relationship and upcoming shows, seemingly eager to avoid discussing the controversy any further. “We’ve got a wonderful company as well, so all in all, it’s a great show,” he added before abruptly ending the discussion.

A Long-Standing Friendship

The pair’s close bond has been evident for years, having starred together in two BBC travel series, Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily and Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain. In these programs, they explored Pernice’s roots, visited his hometown, and shared personal stories about their careers.

Their professional relationship and friendship appear to be unwavering, with Du Beke standing by Pernice despite the controversy surrounding him. However, his reluctance to directly address the allegations suggests an awareness of the potential backlash.

More Awkward Moments for Du Beke

The interview didn’t end there, as the conversation took another embarrassing turn when Du Beke was reminded of his recent blunder on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

During a celebrity special of the quiz show, Du Beke incorrectly answered a question about musicals, mistaking Moulin Rouge! for The Book of Mormon. His mistake cost £15,000 in prize money meant for charity, but in a generous act, he personally covered the loss.

When asked about the slip-up, Du Beke groaned, “Don’t start with that now, why did you have to bring that up? Do you know what time of the morning it is?”

Despite the moment of embarrassment, he stood by his decision to donate the money himself, acknowledging, “I donated the money I lost, £15,000. Don’t show it, it’s humiliating! I was so stunned, I can’t believe it.”

Madeley commended him, calling him “a good man” for making up the shortfall, but Du Beke jokingly dismissed the praise. “Well, I’m an idiot is what I am,” he said, revealing that he had even incorporated the incident into his upcoming musical tour.

A Difficult Interview for Du Beke

While Anton Du Beke had intended to promote his latest projects, the interview became an unexpectedly challenging experience as he navigated difficult questions about Giovanni Pernice and his own game show mishap.

His clear discomfort in addressing Pernice’s controversy suggests that, while he remains supportive of his friend, he is cautious about how his stance is perceived. With the duo set to tour together soon, their partnership remains strong, but Pernice’s future with Strictly Come Dancing remains uncertain.

For now, Du Beke appears content to focus on his own career while doing his best to avoid being drawn into further discussions about his embattled colleague.

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