Strictly bosses 'move Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal to different training room after they bumped into her ex-boyfriend Giovanni Pernice rehearsing next door'
- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com
View
comments
Strictly Come Dancing bosses moved Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal to a different training room, reportedly after discovering her ex-boyfriend and former co-star Giovanni Pernice was rehearsing next door.
The TOWIE star, 36, and his dance partner, 30, were hard at work training for Saturday night's Halloween special, when they bumped into Giovanni, 34, who was rehearsing for the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, at the same South London studio.
According to The Sun, bosses decided to move the couple to another location after this discovery, made awkward by the fact that Jowita and Giovanni had previously dated.
A source told the publication: 'Pete bumped into Giovanni outside the rehearsal room and he told Jowita he had seen Gio when he went back in.
'It was awkward for Pete but even more so for Jowita who dated Giovanni a couple of years ago. No one likes bumping into an ex.'
Strictly Come Dancing bosses moved Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal to a different training room, reportedly after discovering her ex-boyfriend and former co-star Giovanni Pernice was rehearsing next door (pictured Saturday)
The TOWIE star, 36, and his dance partner, 30, were hard at work training for Saturday night's Halloween special, when they bumped into Giovanni, 34, who was rehearsing for the Italian version of the show at the same South London studio (pictured last week)
According to The Sun , bosses decided to move the couple to another location after this discovery, made awkward by the fact that Jowita and Giovanni had previously dated (pictured together in 2022)
They added: 'The production team were notified that Giovanni was at the studio and bosses made the decision to move Pete and Jowita elsewhere. They were taken to a studio in North London for the rest of the day but luckily it didn’t cause too much disruption.'
A spokesperson for Strictly confirmed the couple had moved studios, but told MailOnline the decision had been made for logistical reasons, as they were also shooting Halloween content at another location.
They clarified: 'Pete and Jowita moved training rooms as they were filming a Halloween VT in a separate location in the morning.
'It is not unusual for contestants to change rehearsal rooms in the week depending on personal and show commitments.'
Jowita and Giovanni previously dated last year, following her split from her long-term partner and fellow dancer Michael Danilczuk in 2022.
Rumours of a relationship between the pair began to circulate in December that year, with reports that the pair were the 'worst kept secret' at the BBC, and were even said to be kissing backstage at Strictly.
While the pair were also leaving supportive comments on each other's social media posts - before being snapped out together on Valentine's Day in February 2023.
However, they called it quits the following month, due to their 'hectic work schedules'.
Meanwhile, Pete has also fuelled romance rumours with Jowita, saying: 'Jowita is just... I could not have got a better partner'
However, he has since confirmed his romance with Maura Higgins, by sharing a sweet kiss with the Love Island star at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday (pictured)
The day before the pair locked lips, Pete showed off his impressive Strictly moves as he danced with Maura in a new TikTok video
Sources have allegedly confirmed the split to The Sun, sharing: 'As time has passed they have found it increasingly difficult to build on their relationship because of their hectic work schedules.
'Giovanni is on tour for the next five months and trying to make time for each other has proved absolutely impossible.
Continuing that things are civil, they added: 'Although their relationship has ended Giovanni and Jowita said they will stay good friends. It is just a shame they couldn’t make it work.'
Meanwhile, Pete has also fuelled romance rumours with Jowita, saying: 'Jowita is just... I could not have got a better partner.
'I can’t sit here and go "she’s my life". We don’t know each other that well. But what I do know is that she makes me feel good.
'And that is really important and hopefully I make her feel good and that’s a really nice place to be, you know what I mean?'
However, he has since confirmed his romance with Maura Higgins, by sharing a sweet kiss with the Love Island star at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday.
The couple, who were first linked back in August, have been keeping a low profile, but shared a tender moment in the corner of an afterparty following the ceremony.
Pete and Maura were previously seen together enjoying a night out at The Ship in Wandsworth alongside his Strictly friends (pictured)
Maura, 33, was seen planting a kiss on Pete's nose before the pair packed on the PDA and kissed in the Red Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The day before the pair locked lips, Pete showed off his impressive Strictly moves as he danced with Maura in a new TikTok video.
Pete and Maura were previously seen together enjoying a night out at The Ship in Wandsworth alongside his Strictly friends.
An onlooker exclusively told MailOnline that the pair were inseparable, whispering in each other's ears and even interlocking legs as they enjoyed a drink alongside Wynne Evans, Tom Dean and Jamie Borthwick.
The eyewitness shared: 'They were all over each other, I was surprised to see them looking so close because I thought he had real chemistry with Jowita.
'At one point they were basically straddling each other and didn't seem to care at all that people could see them.
'You'd think Pete would be more concerned about Tom given he'd just been given the boot on Strictly but he only had eyes for Maura all night!'
Complicating their relationship further is the fact that Maura also previously dated Giovanni, with the couple going public with their romance in July 2021 with a loved-up Instagram post, captioned: 'I’m yours.'
Complicating their relationship further is the fact that Maura also previously dated Giovanni, with the couple going public with their romance in July 2021 with a loved-up Instagram post, captioned: 'I’m yours' (pictured together)
But the Italian ended the relationship just four months later, leaving Maura 'blindsided', after he admitted he was 'not ready to settle down'.
It comes after Giovanni appeared on Lorraine last week after he was cleared of the majority of Amanda Abbington's bullying allegations in a BBC probe.
The BBC upheld six of the 17 complaints and apologised publicly to Amanda, though Giovanni was cleared of the more serious allegations.
On Lorraine, Giovanni admitted if he was in the same room with the actress now, he would have a 'nice cup of tea' with her so that they could talk things through.
But he denied that the pair ever fought in the rehearsal room, claiming they 'never had an argument' and he was unaware she was uncomfortable until she made the allegations months later.
In response, Amanda's team shared a statement with The Sun, claiming the dancer is 'gaslighting' her and that she still has 'concerns about the way the inquiry was handled by the BBC'.
BBC bosses finally published their report into Giovanni's behaviour this month, and it cleared him of the most serious allegations of physical aggression, but upheld verbal bullying and harassment.
It comes after Giovanni appeared on Lorraine last week after he was cleared of the majority of Amanda Abbington's bullying allegations in a BBC probe (pictured)
The BBC upheld six of the 17 complaints and apologised publicly to Amanda, though Giovanni was cleared of the more serious allegations (seen on Strictly)
The report also told how they had upheld six out of 17 allegations from Amanda. The report said that Giovanni - a perfectionist - 'was swearing and using what could be described as belittling language' which it said amounted to bullying behaviour.
The BBC apologised to the former Sherlock actress and also thanked her for coming forward to raise her grievances.
They said: 'The BBC has now concluded its review into the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice. We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made.
'We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.'
