Want to know more about Giovanni Pernice?
Discover Giovanni’s latest television work and bestselling memoir, plus Joanne Clifton’s happy family news, their glittering achievements and how you can dance with Giovanni at Donaheys.
Learn all about Giovanni Pernice’s glittering dancing achievements, latest news, dance partners, awards, tours and family updates below
Who is Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing?
BAFTA Award winner and Strictly Champion Giovanni Pernice joined Strictly in 2015. Gio starred in Strictly for 9 series, charming audiences with his passion, technique, and Italian flair. Giovanni holds two Guinness World Records from the Strictly Pro Challenge and continues to wow fans with his performances off the show.
Giovanni is not appearing on BBC Strictly Come Dancing in 2026, but he continues to delight audiences in Italy through Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly. His international television success, live performances and appearances at Donaheys Dancing With The Stars Weekends keep him firmly in the spotlight.
Did Giovanni Pernice ever win Strictly?
Yes, Giovanni won Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 with Rose Ayling-Ellis, delivering a memorable silent dance to “Symphony” that earned near-perfect scores.
Find out who has won BBC Strictly Come Dancing with our full list of past Strictly winners from 2004 here – Strictly Winners
What is the latest news about Giovanni Pernice?
- September 2026: Giovanni is appearing on Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle partnered with Noemi Bocchi .
- August 2026: Giovanni published his first memoir, Gio: Taking the Lead, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.
- 2025: Giovanni partnered television presenter Francesca Fialdini on Ballando con le Stelle and finished as runner-up.
- December 2024: Giovanni won Ballando con le Stelle with actress and television presenter Bianca Guaccero.
See Giovanni Pernice Live – Dance Lessons & Shows
Looking for tickets to see Giovanni Pernice live? Join Giovanni at one of Donaheys fabulous Dancing With The Stars Experiences in 2027, where you can enjoy a dance lesson with him, enjoy fabulous live dance shows from our performing stars and a weekend full of ballroom glitz and glamour.
Giovanni will be joining us at Alton Towers and Celtic Manor Resort in 2027. Our weekend experiences include 7 hours of dance lessons with the stars, spectacular live performances, fabulous evening entertainment, fun Q&As, Black Tie Ball and a 4-star or 5-star Resort Hotel stay.
- When
- Friday 5th – Sunday 7th March 2027
- Where
- 4* Alton Towers Resort Hotel, Staffordshire
✨ Star Studded Line-Up ✨
- ✨ Kai Widdrington & Lauren Oakley
- ✨ Julian Caillon & Alexis Warr
- ✨ Aljaz Skorjanec & Janette Manrara
- ✨ Giovanni Pernice
See the full star-studded line-up
- ✨ British Showdance Champions David Cockram & Rosie Ward
- ✨ Team Warren & Kristi Boyce
- ✨ Argentine Tango Stars Leandro Palou & Maria Tsiatsiani
- ✨ Tony Greenwood 15-Piece Big Band
- When
- Friday 16th – Sunday 18th April 2027
- Where
- 5* Celtic Manor Resort Hotel & Spa, Newport
✨ Star Studded Line-Up ✨
- ✨ Kai Widdrington & Lauren Oakley
- ✨ Julian Caillon & Alexis Warr
- ✨ Anton Du Beke
- ✨ Giovanni Pernice
See the full star-studded line-up
- ✨ British Showdance Champions David Cockram & Rosie Ward
- ✨ Team Warren & Kristi Boyce
- ✨ Argentine Tango Stars Leandro Palou & Maria Tsiatsiani
- ✨ World, European and British U21 10-Dance Champions Benjamin Turner and Lilia Fleming
- ✨ Tony Greenwood 15-Piece Big Band
Please note, we do not sell individual Giovanni Pernice tickets – Giovanni’s dance lessons and the live performances by our other stars are included as part of our Dancing With The Stars residential experiences.
Giovanni Pernice chats about Donahey’s 5* Weekend Breaks…
Strictly Star Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni Pernice Facts – Height, Age, Dance Partners, Relationships, Awards, Tours
How old is Giovanni Pernice?
Giovanni Pernice is 36 years old, born on 5th September 1990.
How tall is Giovanni Pernice?
Giovanni stands at 1.78m tall
Where is Giovanni Pernice from?
Giovanni Pernice was born in Sicily, Italy, and moved to Bologna at age 14 to pursue his dance career.
Is Giovanni Pernice in a relationship?
Yes, Giovanni is currently in a relationship with Italian actress and television presenter Bianca Guaccero, whom he met whilst competing on Ballando con le Stelle.
Has Giovanni Pernice written any books?
Yes. Giovanni’s first memoir, Gio: Taking the Lead, tells the story of his childhood in Sicily, his drive to succeed, his years on Strictly and the resilience behind his return to the spotlight.
Published on 27 August 2026, the warm and candid autobiography went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller. Find Gio: Taking the Lead on Amazon.
What are Giovanni’s greatest dance achievements?
Giovanni Pernice has enjoyed an exceptional career both in competitive dance and on television. He became Italian Open Latin Dance Champion in 2012 before going on to compete at the highest international level.
On Strictly Come Dancing, Giovanni reached four finals and won the coveted Glitterball Trophy in 2021 with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis. He also holds two Guinness World Records achieved during the Strictly Pro Challenge.
Following his success in the UK, Giovanni joined Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle, winning the 2024 series with Bianca Guaccero and finishing runner-up in 2025.
Alongside his television success, Giovanni has starred in numerous sell-out theatre tours and remains one of the most popular professional dancers of his generation.
What’s Giovanni’s favourite dance?
Giovanni loves performing the Jive, showcasing his energy and precision, he is also a fan of the Argentine Tango.
When did Giovanni Pernice join Strictly?
Giovanni joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2015.
Who did Giovanni dance with on Strictly?
| Year | Celebrity Partner | Position |
| 2015 | Georgia May Foote | Runner-up (finalist) |
| 2016 | Laura Whitmore | 9th place (eliminated Week 7) |
| 2017 | Debbie McGee | Runner-up (finalist) |
| 2018 | Faye Tozer | Runner-up (finalist) |
| 2019 | Michelle Visage | 7th |
| 2020 | Ranvir Singh | 5th |
| 2021 | Rose Ayling‑Ellis | Winner (Glitterball champion) |
| 2022 | Richie Anderson | 14th (early exit, Movie Week) |
| 2023 | Amanda Abbington | Withdrew week 4 |
What TV shows has Giovanni Pernice appeared in?
Giovanni stars in:
- Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Spain (BBC One)
- Celebrity Hunted (C4)
- Ballando con le Stelle (Italy)
Does Giovanni Pernice teach dance classes?
You can join Giovanni for exclusive dance workshops at Donaheys Dancing With The Stars Weekends, learning directly from the Strictly champion himself.
Did Giovanni ever have a wardrobe malfunction on Strictly?
Giovanni often keeps wardrobe malfunctions at bay, although his minimalist costumes on the dancefloor leave little room for error!
Find out more about Giovanni’s dancing profile on the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing profile page.
© Photo By Duncan Young
Joanne Clifton Facts – Latest News, Age, Dance Partners, Awards and Tours
How old is Joanne Clifton?
Joanne is 42 years old, born on 26th October 1983.
What is Joanne’s height?
Joanne is 1.58m tall.
Where is Joanne from?
Grimsby, England
What’s Joanne’s favourite dance?
Quickstep
What is the latest news about Joanne Clifton?
Joanne and her fiancé, actor AJ Jenks, announced in 2026 that they are expecting their first child, a baby boy. It is a wonderful new chapter for the former Strictly champion, who continues to combine her love of dance with a successful musical theatre career.
What are Joanne’s greatest dance achievements?
Joanne is a:
- 5-time British Champion
- 3-time Italian Champion
- Professional Ballroom European Champion (2012)
- World Dancesport Games Champion (2013)
- World Ballroom Showdance Champion (2014)
She has toured with Burn The Floor and starred in The Rocky Horror Show, Flashdance, and Top Hat.
When did Joanne join Strictly?
Joanne Clifton joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2014
Joanne’s brother Kevin Clifton joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013
Who has Joanne danced with on Strictly?
| Year | Celebrity Partner | Position |
| 2014 | Scott Mills (DJ) | 11th place (eliminated Week 6, Halloween Special) |
| 2015 | No celebrity partner | No celebrity partner (appeared in Children in Need and won Christmas Special with Harry Judd) |
| 2016 | Ore Oduba (TV presenter) | Winner (Glitterball champions) |
Has Joanne ever won Strictly?
Of course, 2016 Strictly Glitterball Winner with Ore Oduba.
Find out who has won BBC Strictly Come Dancing with our full list of past Strictly winners from 2004 here – Strictly Winners
Is Joanne in a relationship?
Joanne Clifton is engaged to actor AJ Jenks. The couple announced in 2026 that they are expecting their first child together.
Joanne Clifton Theatre Tours
Joanne has most recently been starring as Polly in the UK tour of Fawlty Towers: The Play. Her stage career also includes Shrek the Musical, The Addams Family, Pippin and many more leading productions.
Prior to this, Joanne starred as “Janet” in the No. 1 UK Tour of The Rocky Horror Show, “Alex Owens” in the No. 1 UK Tour of Flashdance, and “Dale Tremont” in Top Hat, where she received her second Offie nomination. Her first was for her acting debut as the Streetwalker in Iriving Berlin’s Face the Music.
Find out more about Joanne’s dancing profile on her official BBC Strictly Come Dancing profile page.
BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Find out more information about the BBC TV programme Strictly Come Dancing
by checking out the BBC Strictly Come Dancing website www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing
Donaheys Dance Lessons & 5* UK Weekend Breaks have no association with BBC Studios
Giovanni Pernice Tour Dates & Venues
Unstoppable is Giovanni’s 2027 UK tour. A live theatre show featuring professional dancers and West End performers. View dates, venues and ticket availability on Giovanni’s official tour website Giovanni Pernice tour tickets.
Joanne Clifton Tour Dates & Venues
Find out all about the UK & Ireland Hairspray tour starring Joanne Clifton
https://hairspraymusicaltour.com/
Meet all the Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers
Learn more about all your favourite Strictly Pro’s here
– Aljaz Skorjanec
– Alexis Warr
– Amy Dowden MBE
– Carlos Gu
– Dianne Buswell
– Giovanni Pernice
– Gorka Marquez
– Jowita Przystal
– Julian Caillon
– Kai Widdrington
– Karen Hauer
– Katya Jones
– Lauren Oakley
– Luba Mushtuk
– Michelle Tsiakkas
– Nadiya Bychkova
– Nancy Xu
– Neil Jones
– Nikita Kuzmin
– Vito Coppola
– Aleksandra Isaeva
– Cristian Priori
– Lethabo Monametsi
– Maddie Ingoldsby
– Mark Karmalita
Meet the Strictly Come Dancing Presenters
Learn more about Strictly presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe
Meet all the Strictly Come Dancing Judges
Learn more about all the Strictly Judges here;
– Anton du Beke
– Shirley Ballas
– Motsi Mabuse
– Craig Revel Horwood
