Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice has responded to claims his partner Rose Ayling-Ellis has 'changed him'.
For the 2021 series, the Italian professional dancer is partnered with EastEnders' actress Rose, who is the first deaf contestant to appear on the BBC show.
Throughout the competition, Rose and Giovanni have gone from strength to strength, often topping the leaderboard.
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But a number of viewers have commented to say Giovanni has 'changed' during the course of this series.
Responding to the claims, Giovanni told the Radio Times: "People on social media think that I've changed, that I’m a different person.
"It's changed completely the way I teach and how I make the choreography. It's a different world. And I'm glad that I'm the one who's discovering this…"
He added: "What I've learnt from Rose is that you can be positive and happy every day, really. She comes to the studio, and if it's a difficult dance or if it's an easy dance, she's positive.
"Whatever's going on with my own life, I go to the studio and spend time with Rose, and I just relax."
Rose said: "I had a gut feeling you were going to be a good partner for me because in the deaf community, we're really, really expressive. We are very direct. And you're direct.
"Also, you've got a record of being in the final so many times, and of turning a bad dancer into a good dancer, which you've done with me."
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