Giovanni Pernice says 'this isn't goodbye' as he stuns fans with major announcement

Giovanni Pernice(Image: Giovanni Pernice Instagram)

Giovanni Pernice has told fans 'this isn't goodbye' as he made a huge announcement alongside his former Strictly Come Dancing co-star.

The professional dancer is currently touring the country with his friend and Strictly judge Anton Du Beke. The show, titled Together Again, sees them perform together across the UK.

It's not the first time the pair have taken to the stage together, having previously headed out on the popular Him and Me tour in 2021 and 2023.

But it's been confirmed that fans won't have the opportunity to see the pair take to the stage next year, despite the huge popularity of the duo's show.

Talking on stage at Guildford's G Live venue, the pair admitted they'll soon be taking at least a year out, reports the Express.

That's in spite of Anton joking about the huge financial consequences of fathering twins and suggesting during the performance that he'd still be touring to pay off their school fees when he was "1,000 years old".

Giovanni and Anton are currently touring the country with their 'Together Again' tour(Image: Giovanni Pernice Instagram)

He told disappointed fans: "We call [our show] Together because we like spending time together and we've had a lot of fun over the last few years - but we're not going out on tour next year, we're having a year off."

The pair insisted that "this isn't goodbye", admitting that they "can't stay away from each other" and intend to reunite after "a bit of time off". Giovanni said: "Obviously we are taking a break, but it's not a goodbye - it's an arrivederci."

He added: "I can't really stay away from this man because we all know he is the showman!" Anton reciprocated the compliments by calling Gio "the most wonderful boy in the world".

It comes after Giovanni spent months touring the UK in his own headline show earlier this year. The Last Dance was, as he had previously said, his last tour - for now - having headed out across the country with his own show for a number of years in a row.

The tour came after Giovanni wasn't invited to take part in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 after an investigation into his behaviour on the show was conducted before he was cleared of the most serious allegations.

The BBC apologised to Sherlock star Amanda Abbington as they upheld some of her complaints against her former dance partner during the 2023 series.

Giovanni then went on to be crowned the winner of the Italian version of the BBC One dance contest and America's Dancing with the Stars alongside actress and singer Bianca Guaccero, who he is now in a relationship, following the show's final back in December.