Shirley Ballas has defended Giovanni Pernice following reports of a 'feud' between him and actress Amanda Abbington, who he was paired with on Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
Shirley, 62, who is head judge on Strictly, threw her support behind professional dancer Giovanni, 33, during an interview on ITV's Lorraine on Monday, 15 January.
After discussing her appearance on The Masked Singer, Shirley addressed the reports that have been circulating regarding Amanda, 49, and Giovanni's time on the BBC One show, which claim the actress has allegedly demanded footage of her Strictly training sessions with the pro dancer from the BBC.
As Lorraine questioned Shirley about the rumoured 'feud', Shirley responded: "I have known Giovanni for many, many years and he is an absolutely splendid teacher. "My only ever experience with him is that of an absolute gentleman.
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