Giovanni Pernice pays tribute to Strictly family Anton du Beke

Giovanni Pernice calls mum on trip to Sicily with Anton Du Beke

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Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Sicily sees the Strictly Come Dancing stars travelling across Italy giving viewers an insight into where Giovanni Pernice grew up. The professional dancer took Anton du Beke to some of his favourite places before they made their way to Giovanni’s hometown to meet his dad and the rest of his family.

Speaking to Express.co.uk and other press about the series, Giovanni paid a sweet tribute to his co-star, describing him as “family”.

Giovanni explained Anton was one of the first people he met when joining the BBC dance competition.

“Anton has always been the person I look [up to],” Giovanni beamed.

“Since I started Strictly Come Dancing, we ended up good friends and then we did our show together for two years and this is our third, so we know each other very well.

“And I already classified Anton as a friend, so it was nice to share this experience with a friend.”

Recalling the emotional moment Anton met his family, the Strictly winner continued: “It was nice watching as an outsider when you met my family.

“Anton has always been my family away from home, so combining my real family and my family away from home which is Anton, it was beautiful.

“It was a moment in my life I felt proud of myself and happy. That’s how I felt when I saw my dad and Anton hugging, it was a special moment.”

During one moment in the series, the professional dancer could be seen shedding a tear when having a heart-to-heart with Anton while they chatted around a fire.

“We get to open up and talk about, well in my case, what I want from the future and Anton asked, ‘Do you want to be a dad one day?’ and it was really the first time I ever opened up about it,” Giovanni admitted.

“I haven’t even talked to my own dad about it. When I saw for the first time my dad meeting Anton du Beke, my dad is the biggest fan of Anton du Beke.

“When I saw the friend I admire and my dad being together it was beautiful. Very happy to shed tears of joy,” he added.

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During their show, Adventures in Sicily, Anton and Giovanni take part in several challenges including fishing, ballroom dancing and paddle-boarding.

Tonight’s episode will see the pair travelling to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano.

Along the way Giovanni takes Anton to a traditional Sicilian barber to get beach ready before trying paddleboarding in the Ionian Sea.

When they reach the volcano, the pair hike halfway to the summit with some help from some unexpected furry friends before deciding to camp overnight.

Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Sicily is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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