Gio: Taking the Lead: The Sunday Times Bestseller and Must-Read for Strictly Fans

by Giovanni Pernice

'At thirty-three, after a lifetime of striving to be the best dancer I could be, I was a man at the top of his game. Fresh from lifting the Glitterball and winning a BAFTA I was living my wildest dreams.
This is the story of how quickly it can fall apart, and how, when it felt like everything was against me, I fought to find a way back and take the lead in my own life once more ...'

From Sicily to Strictly, Giovanni Pernice tells his story for the first time, revealing the journey that shaped him both on and off the dance floor.

Growing up in Sicily, Giovanni began dancing as a child, training at the renowned Paladanze school before joining the elite Team Diablo, famed for its rigorous approach and world-class Latin champions.
When Giovanni joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, he quickly won audiences over with his talent, ambition and charisma, building one of the most loyal fanbases in the show's history and becoming one of its most adored stars.

In 2021, Giovanni reached the pinnacle of his Strictly career, winning the series with Rose Ayling-Ellis and delivering an unforgettable performance that was awarded Must-See TV Moment at the British Academy Television Awards.
Then came the headlines.

After years at the heart of Britain's biggest entertainment show, Giovanni's journey on Strictly came to an unexpected end. The events that followed tested his resilience and reshaped his perspective on life. Through it all, one thing never the connection with his audience, who supported him and got him through those tough times.

Warm, candid and inspiring, Taking the Lead is a story of ambition, sacrifice, reinvention and finding strength when the music stops.

This is Giovanni - in his own words.


* Taking the Lead by Giovanni Pernice was a Sunday Times Bestseller Sunday 6th September 2026

Genres: Autobiography

Audible Audio

Published August 27, 2026

Reviews

[Tracy Larner-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan of Giovanni will love this book. You can really feel the words are from his heart and can hear his voice reading it to you. Such a shame one nasty person (b%/ch) could have ruined this super talented person.

[Mrs J M Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from the heart. Found this to be an interesting read

[Wendy Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story x
A must read to get Giovanni’s story x

[Celeste1984 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My opinion about this honest story about a man with a dream In this story, as a reader, you follow Giovanni who, at the age of seven, living in the Italian town of Scillie, already knew what his passion was, namely dancing, and that was because he danced with his mother, who was a big fan of the dance show Ballando con le Stelle. He went to dance classes with his cousin, and at fourteen, he moved from his hometown Scillie to the town of Bologna thanks to funding from his father, who was working as a police officer in the 90s, and with perseverance, he ended up in 2015 on the English dance show Strictly. Have I made you curious about a man who did everything to pursue his dream? I recommend you read this inspiring story.
I really enjoyed this book for the following reason: On Strictly Come Dancing, I thought he came across as an arrogant little guy, but through his journey and perseverance, I started seeing him very differently. He is a hardworking man who knew from a young age what his dream was and did everything to make it happen, and some people could learn a thing or two from that. I learned from his story what dancers have to endure to be noticed, but I also laughed while reading his story, and I found out how Gio got to know his Strictly friends, as well as how he teaches a famous Brit a new dance every time, with the highlight being that he taught Rose Ayling-Ellis (a deaf young woman) to dance, and then I saw Gio's softer side, and through Rose he did not... not only won the program, but also other prizes, but you also read how it really goes in the television world. As someone who doesn't live in England, I found this story, really told by him, delightful to read. I got to know some of those crazy (Kai Winddrington) dancers better through his story and got to know Giovanni better. He’s not an arrogant man, but a sweetheart who has stolen my heart and who’s on my list of people I would love to learn to dance from. From me, this story gets 5.0 ⭐️a

[Achtung Englander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watched the occasional series of Strictly and not being an avid fan like others, I first noticed Giovanni when his dancing was head and shoulders above other pros. After completing the book, I came away with a huge admiration for Giovanni.

This is a man who dedicated his life to his passion of dance and who continues to this day to strive for perfection. The single-mindedness and dedication for perfection in his career has brought him a huge fanbase (who love him) but at the same time it brought jealousy from other dancers, all Primadonna’s.

His book is relatively light on his early life and his championship in Italy as Giovanni is keen to get to his days at Strictly, the fallout with Amanda Abbington and to get his side of the story out.

The behind-the-curtains look into the politics of the show is fascinating and it came to no surprise to discover Strictly, and especially the BBC is run by people afraid of their own shadows (probably because the corporation is still coming to terms with its complicity from decades of abuse). The problem is now the pendulum has now swung so far the other way that many of the pros and the showrunners are fearful of losing their jobs or livelihoods if they speak out or lend support. The fact that the Abbington saga left Giovanni with health problems and socially isolated from people he once considered friends is the most shocking. The BBC has come off very badly in this book and quite rightly so.

I got a feeling the book was most likely worked with a ghost writer but that does not matter but what you get is an honest voice. A voice that is hardworking, passionate and dedicated to excellence. Its good and easy read. It is like Giovanni being right there talking to you.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I on audiobook and really enjoyed it. It gives a very interesting slant on perspectives of how one person can see bullying whilst another can just see this as requiring what it takes to succeed in a high pressured, competitive environment and Gio’s background shows how he is driven and wants to showcase those he has been chosen to teach. It does raise some questions for me as to how the BBC are paring contestants and are they checking that contestants can cope with the relentless schedule of dancing? I do feel this was written in a genuine, authentic manner and you can totally see how the problems he had came about, and probably could have been prevented. Hopefully the BBC has learned lessons from this for the future. Well done Gio for still being ‘standing’ and for reinventing yourself. Keeeep dancing!

[Bev newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just wonderful 🙌
Written from the heart and tells Gio’s story from childhood to present day

Gio is completely honest about his experiences on the dance competitions as a teenager to strictly.

Was good to read his side of the story that was to end his Stricty story in the most unfair and completely unpleasant time.

Great to read the way he has come back to the king of the dance floor with ballando con le stelle in Italy

Good on you Gio - never give up

[Avril Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always liked Giovanni in Strictly but was determined to read this with an open mind .I found it very moving and was left appalled at the treatment to him meted out by the BBC and the vitriol spouted by his adversary who I refuse to give the honour of naming. Beautifully written, very emotional. Excellent read

[Janet Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed to finally hear Gio’s side of the story in full! Also enjoyed his journey from a young boy with his ambitions from Sicily to London. Really enjoyable. I was always a big fan, but even more so now.

[Michael Gillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gio

What a lovely young man Giovanni is superb read first class would definitely recommend this book
Written from the heart

[Gemma Bott · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.5 star