Strictly's Aljaz Skorjanec's big comeback announcement 'snubbed' by Giovanni Pernice

Slovenian pro Aljaz Skorjanec has confessed he's missed "everything" about being on Strictly, sharing his excitement after announcing his return to the dancefloor. When Strictly's Instagram account - which is celebrating the show's 20th anniversary - revealed the news, a string of stars from Shirley Ballas, Fleur East and Oti Mabuse to Kevin Clifton, Ellie Leach and Karen Hauer all flooded the post with congratulatory messages.

However, Giovanni Pernice - who announced he was quitting following news of a BBC probe into his allegedly "militant" and "harsh" training technique - is yet to comment. The news comes after fans quizzed whether Aljaz was to be Giovanni's "replacement".

It has been suggested for weeks that a new male star would be introduced to the line-up to balance out the numbers now that there is one less contestant. Aljaz disclosed how long he'd been concealing the secret when he took to BBC's The One Show on Monday to finally spill the news.

However, Instagram fans wondered how Giovanni might be feeling about the news. One wrote on the app: "Maybe replacing Giovanni, which is sad for Gio, but lovely to have @aljazskorjanec back."

Another seemed to be in two minds after vowing to switch off, explaining: "I wasn’t going to watch after they kicked out Giovanni, but I love Aljaž!" Meanwhile, a third urged Strictly to "bring Giovanni back" as they suggested he'd been subject to "unfair treatment", before signing off: "I'll miss him so much."

A fourth chimed in: "Pleased but it's only because they've desperately got to fill a gap with someone they know will be a people pleaser since the foul-up with Gio."

Plenty of celebrities including Gemma Atkinson, Rylan Clark and Ashley Roberts added their congratulations as the post quickly racked up almost 40,000 likes, but Giovanni's lips are still sealed.

In recent months, Aljaz had regularly been a stay-at-home dad following the birth of daughter Lyra Rose, whom he shares with fellow pro dancer Janette Manrara.

The Cuban-American star returned to work a few weeks after giving birth and was hugely popular as a host on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two last year.

Her big return was initially made possible thanks to Aljaz chipping in with childcare - but now he says he'll return to the stage and make his 11-month-old little girl "proud" in the process.

Talking on The One Show, the besotted parent beamed that he thinks Lyra has taught him to have "more energy" than ever, as she's put him through his paces with her night-time needs.

"The one thing she has definitely taught me is how to stay up for three days at a time," he quipped.

"I am probably going to have more energy to train that I ever have before!"