ENGULFED in Strictly biggest scandal yet, Giovanni Pernice finally bowed out of the ballroom this week, as the BBC investigate bullying claims made by three of his previous partners.
Starring on the Beeb's flagship show which is watched by millions, Giovanni is one of many pros who’ve become household names, over Strictly Come Dancing's 20 year history.
But success outside the juggernaut can be difficult to sustain, as each year a shiny new crop of professional dancers, pushes the public interest in those departed pros further down the leader board.
So who are the movers and shakers in the strictly graveyard whose fortunes have dimmed at the turn of the glitterball?
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Kevin Clifton
Adored by fans, Kevin was given the name “Kevin from Grimsby” by the late beloved host Sir Bruce Forsyth soon after he joined in 2013. He went onto become one of the most successful professional dancers ever, appearing in the semi-finals 5 out of 7 years he was on the show, eventually winning with his now girlfriend, TV presenter, Stacey Dooley with whom he has a daughter.
Leaving in March 2020, Kevin has since starred in a number of stage productions including Dirty Dancing the Musical and can currently be seen in the UK tour of Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, but he is yet to match the TV success of Strictly.
Joanne Clifton-
A year younger than her brother, Joanne waltzed to victory with TV presenter Ore Oduba in 2016 then promptly left after just three years on the show.
Known as a triple threat for her ability to sing, dance and act, Joanne has had starring roles in Flashdance in the West End and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She is currently starring as Princess Fiona in the UK tour of Shrek the Musical.
AJ and Curtis Pritchard
Wavy hair and boyish good looks, AJ starred on Strictly for three years from 2016 and his brother Curtis appeared on the Irish version of the show.
For a time it looked as though they were going to give Ant and Dec a run for their money. In 2020, AJ appeared on ITV's I am a Celeb, but was eliminated midway through.
The pair also received widespread criticism after being cast in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks were their acting skills were panned. Since then the media landscape has looked somewhat sparse for the ballroom brothers.
Brendan Cole
Known as the bad boy of the ballroom, Brendan was one of the original stars to launch the show back in 2004.
One of the longest serving professional dancers the 48- year-old was famed for his spicy routines and clashes with the judges, before he quickstepped away from the show following a row with head judge Shirley Ballas in 2017.
Since then Cole who lives in his family in Spain, has kept a relatively low profile.
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In 2022 he appeared on ITV's Dancing on Ice, finishing in second place. Later this year he’ll be seen in the West End starring in a Latin ballroom extravaganza alongside former pros, Ian Whaite, Vincent Simone and Pasha Kovalev.
Kristina Rihanov
She recently spoke out in defence of Giovanni, calling him ‘the best dancer and choreographer on the show, saying it was a ‘blow’ for the BBC.
The Siberian Siren, 46, had a bewitching effect on her dance partners, enjoying a much-publicised relationship with boxer Joe Calzaghe, 52, in 2009.
She was also dubbed a marriage wrecker when she began an affair with her married dance partner, former England rugby player Ben Cohen, 45, in 2013. But 11 years on they are engaged a seven-year-old daughter Mila. Based on Northampton the couple run a successful dance and yoga academy.
Having dominated the headlines for several weeks, Giovanni is probably Strictly's most recognisable face.
But whether he can now reinvent himself to enjoy a lucrative TV career away from the dancefloor, is anyone's guess.
