{"product_id":"gio-9781035442874","title":"Gio : Taking the Lead: The Sunday Times Bestseller and Must-Read for Strictly Fans","description":"\u003cp\u003e'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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 ...'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrowing 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen came the headlines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter 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 changed: the connection with his audience, who supported him and got him through those tough times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarm, candid and inspiring, Gio: Taking the Lead is a story of ambition, sacrifice, reinvention and finding strength when the music stops.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is Giovanni - in his own words.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Gio: Taking the Lead by Giovanni Pernice was a Sunday Times Bestseller Sunday 6th September 2026\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor: Giovanni Pernice\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eFilm, TV \u0026amp; radio, Individual actors \u0026amp; performers, Dance \u0026amp; other performing arts, Choreography, Ballroom dancing, Memoirs\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 27 Aug 2026 by Headline Publishing Group.\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Giovanni Pernice","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57320750317946,"sku":"9781035442874","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0373\/4125\/files\/9781035442874.jpg?v=1790660391","url":"https:\/\/belfastbooks.co.uk\/products\/gio-9781035442874","provider":"Belfast Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}