BBC Strictlys Giovanni Pernice could become show judge after Amanda Abbington exit

Giovanni Pernice would make a strong Strictly Come Dancing judge, according to ex-pro Joanne Clifton.

The 40-year-old told Betway Slots: "Many of us would like to have a go at judging. I completely get why Anton [Du Beke] wanted to. I can see Giovanni Pernice going for it in a couple of years' time.

"He could definitely be a type of Bruno Tonioli on the panel as him and Anton have [docuseries Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Sicily] together. He has a great personality."

It comes as the 33 year old choreographer's Strictly 2023 came to a surprising end, with Giovanni's celebrity partner Amanda Abbington quitting the competition this week due to "personal reasons".

The 49 year old Sherlock star's goodbye announcement read: "It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue.

"It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside.

"I want to thank the incredible Production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It’s a wonderful bunch of people and I’ll miss all of them. I'm so sad that I am unable to go any further.

"Thank you to everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support. You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you."

Following this twist, Anton, 57, discussed the situation on This Morning with presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

"That was terribly sad. She was terrific, she could have made it all the way to the final. I thought she was very, very good," he stated, before explaining why this series in particular has been a rollercoaster.

"It’s up and down, people are having good weeks, not so good weeks and I think that is the real magic of the show that we don’t have an overall sort of winner every week. We have up and down, up and down."

This comes shortly after Amanda opened up about her split from The Hobbit actor Martin Freeman, who she was with up until 2016 and shares two children with.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, she recalled: "When we broke up nobody knew, we didn't tell anybody except for a few key people because they had to know, because of the logistics of hotels and stuff.

"It took six months for it to get out and a lot of that was while we were working on Sherlock… We were professional and we were going to get on and make a show and be civil to each other. We still get on really well, we still really both admire each other as actors… he's a great guy, but we just couldn't live with each other anymore."

Strictly Come Dancing resumes this Saturday on BBC One, with the elimination episode airing on Sunday.

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