BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer details 'massive surprise' over 2024 series amid exit

Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer has admitted Giovanni Pernice's exit was a 'massive surprise'. In June, the BBC confirmed the professional dancer line-up for the upcoming 2024 series, due to start in the autumn, which didn't include the Italian dancer.

Giovanni had been a part of the dancing show since 2015 when he reached the grand final with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote. Later, in 2021, he lifted the Strictly glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf contestant to win.

The 33-year-old was last paired with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, who withdrew from the competition in 2023 citing “personal reasons” but Giovanni has since been subject to a number of allegations regarding his conduct in the training room which he rejects.

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Karen, meanwhile was among those confirmed for a return alongside reigning champion Vito Coppola and Amy Dowden, who returns to the show after being unable to compete last year after being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and undergoing treatment.

Speaking about Giovanni's exit from the show to the Mirror, Karen said: "We will miss him. It was a massive surprise. Things can happen that we don’t know about. I don’t want to say anything that’s not right, and I don’t want to hurt anyone.

"But it’s not a nice feeling for anyone. We are all so busy during the show doing our own thing. We are all in a bubble with our own celebs. I wouldn’t be able to comment (on the allegations). I haven’t spoken to him - he’s busy doing his thing on tour. I don’t know what