Strictly fans predict huge change to show line-up after Giovanni Pernice's exit

Strictly Come Dancing favourite Giovanni Pernice's loss is being mourned by many fans of the BBC show - but they're now convinced that a new male pro dancer will be drafted in to replace him. There is currently a gender imbalance on the show, with more female than male professionals confirmed to be returning.

Does this mean that Strictly could opt to add to their list with a new arrival, and make an announcement in the weeks to come? Over on Twitter, fan theories were introduced, with one quizzing: "Does anyone else suspect that we are getting a new male pro?"

Another agreed: "Having two extra female pros doesn't seem like a very Strictly thing." A third chimed in: "Yes! They won't go with just 8 male pros, too much chance of all of them getting partners and no reserves."

Meanwhile, a fourth theorised: "I reckon they'll announce a new guy in July (probably mystery new male gets a partner and Neil [Jones] stays as reserve)." Currently, in the ladies' corner, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas will all be returning to coach the next series of celebrities.

Amy Dowden will also be making a triumphant return following her recovery from stage three breast cancer. She was diagnosed just over a year ago and underwent a mastectomy and gruelling rounds of chemo and radiotherapy, but is now raring to go back on the dancefloor.

Meanwhile, the men set to return to the show include Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, and 2023 Glitterball trophy winner Vito Coppola.

With the celebrity line-up yet to be announced, it seems likely another male will be introduced before the shows kick-off.

Giovanni announced this month that he had decided to quit the show, while a BBC probe is ongoing into complaints over his allegedly "harsh" training techniques.

It comes after he claimed in March that he had no intention of leaving, during a TV interview with Anton du Beke, and the latest update has been a disappointment for loyal fans, some of whom called for a boycott of the show.

However, several of those who worked with him are understood to have enlisted the services of a legal firm, including Amanda Abbington, who withdrew early from last year's competition citing medical and personal issues and "mild PTSD".

Giovanni has strenuously denied any claims of wrongdoing on his part, and says that his "competitive" training methods come from a "place of love" and a desire for himself and his partner to succeed.

Meanwhile, the BBC recently recruited a Duty of Care Executive and new measures to ensure celebs are "robust" enough to cope with being on a primetime TV show.

In a recent press release, Unscripted director Kate Phillips revealed: “The BBC takes its duty of care responsibilities incredibly seriously and we are always looking at ways to further strengthen our commitment to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of contributors.”