Ready to work some #Strictly magic on the dance floor, it’s @thedebbiemcgee and @pernicegiovann1! ✨ pic.twitter.com/jeTNIp4qvy
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 9, 2017
Debbie McGee’s dancing partner in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contest has been revealed as Giovanni Pernice.
Giovanni jumped for joy when he was revealed as Debbie’s partner during a special reveal show broadcast on BBC One on Saturday night. He then rushed to give the BBC Radio Berkshire presenter a big hug, sweeping her off her feet.
He later tweeted that he was “super happy” about the pairing.
This is his third year in the contest – in his debut series he was partnered with Coronation Street actor Georgia May Foote and they reached the final.
Hopefully, his partnership with Debbie will be just as successful.
You can tell I am super happy!!!!! @thedebbiemcgee can’t wait to start !! ❤️❤️ https://t.co/b0iLFthitv
— Giovanni Pernice (@pernicegiovann1) September 9, 2017
Debbie has pledged to continue presenting her Sunday morning radio show during her Strictly run and is looking forward to taking part in the contest.
Earlier this week she told the Daily Telegraph that she hadn’t danced for 35 years, and feels that her classical ballet training would do little to help her in the show.
She said: “I haven’t danced for 35 years and when I trained I trained as a ballet dancer which is very rigid and different to this.”
And Debbie is following in the footsteps of her late husband Paul Daniels, who was a contestant in the 2010 series.
“He had such a good time,” Debbie told the Telegraph.
Now Debbie has a fortnight to prepare for her first competitive evening on the show – she will take part in the first dance on Saturday, September 23.
