Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice once shared such a close bond that fans speculated they might be more than friends on Strictly Come Dancing . After clinching the Glitterball trophy in 2021, Giovanni, 34, declared that Rose, 29 - Strictly's first deaf contestant - had transformed his life. The triumphant duo went on to thoroughly enjoy their time on the nationwide tour, frequently sharing videos of their playful rehearsals, much to the delight of their followers.
In 2022, the pair reunited for a mental health awareness campaign, releasing a striking black and white photograph that highlighted their strong connection, reports the Mirror . Rose even travelled to Giovanni's homeland of Sicily, where she met his sister Angela during an episode of Gio's BBC One travel show with Strictly judge Anton Du Beke. However, recent reports suggest that their friendship has cooled, with claims that the EastEnders actress is distancing herself from the Sicilian dancer.
Although nothing has been confirmed, let's take a deep dive inside the possible fallout between the Strictly champs. Rose has remained quiet about Giovanni amidst an investigation into his behaviour behind the scenes of the BBC show last year. Actress Amanda Abbington accused the Italian dancer of being 'abusive' during last year's rehearsals, a claim which Giovanni refutes.
In the wake of these shocking allegations, many expected Rose, like Giovanni's former partner Debbie McGee, to come forward in his defence. Through .