Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter revealed the one thing people don’t realise about Strictly Come Dancing amid Giovanni Pernice’s axe.

This week the professional dancers taking part in the 2024 series were announced. Fans immediately noticed that Giovanni, 33, was missing – and it has now been confirmed he won’t be returning for the 20 year celebrations.

The professional dancer hit the headlines during the 2023 series amid allegations of training room rows with his then celebrity dance partner Amanda Abbington and he has since denied allegations of “threatening and abusive” behaviour. Responding to the speculation, Giovanni said in a statement: “Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.”

Talking about the drama and line-up news on Tuesday’s Loose Women, Janet, 77, pointed out that a lot of people who go into reality shows underestimate how tough it can be. The TV star said: “Personally, when I go into something like that, you’ve signed a contract and you’re going to be taking part in something, particularly in the jungle that’s going to test you to the limit of what you’ve experienced before.

Loose Women's Janet Street-Porter revealed the one thing people don't realise about Strictly Come Dancing amid Giovanni Pernice's axe
Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter revealed the one thing people don’t realise about Strictly Come Dancing amid Giovanni Pernice’s axe ( 
Image:

ITV)

“In my experience of doing I’m A Celebrity, a lot of people who go in just haven’t got any idea. They somehow don’t realise they’re going to be filmed 24 hours a day, somehow the message hasn’t got through but the truth is… reality shows are our modern version of gladiatorial sport, what the ancient romans used to do. We love watching people not being able to cope!

“All reality shows involve pushing people further than they’ve ever been pushed before whether it’s dancing, skating, cooking, which I also did MasterChef and lost my rag on numerous occasions. It pushes you beyond what you thought you could do before but that’s the sport for us viewers at home.”

Talking particularly about Strictly, Janet added: “I think that the people who take part in Strictly, some of them don’t realise they are going to be filmed in rehearsals for example. No one’s going to look great, you’re going to be pushed to your physical limit and you’ve got to remember a lot of stuff. So it’s really really challenging.”