Strictly star Richie Anderson reveals he suffered ‘gruesome’ injury just days before this week’s show
STRICTLY star Richie Anderson has revealed "gruesome" injuries ahead of tonight's second performance.
Radio 2 host Richie, 34, who is partnered with pro dancer Giovanni Pernice, said the gruelling training has left him with some grim feet injuries.
"I’ve lost two toenails. I’ve got two black toes, and I’ve got a bruise on the side of my foot," he told the this week.
Richie asked the Italian dancer, 32, if it was "normal to have lost toenails" and suffered bruising on his feet, to which Giovanni revealed that Richie only wears normal shoes instead of dancing shoes.
It comes after pro dancer Giovanni addressed claims he "hasn't clicked" with his celebrity dance partner.
The pro dancer, who won Strictly Come Dancing with Rose Ayling-Ellis last year, shut down rumours of tension with his partner.
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Sources claimed the pro dancer was frustrated with Richie for not listening in rehearsals ahead of their first live performance on Saturday night.
It Takes Two host and ex Strictly pro Janette Manrara dived into the reported feud and asked Giovanni: "How is training going?"
He repled: "We’re having a good time, we’re definitely having a good time.
"Obviously it is a dance competition, at the end of the day, so we have to learn something but there is no problem between us. We are having a good time."
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He also touched on it being his first time in a same-sex couple on the BBC One competition.
Asked how he will approach the dances, Gio said: "The plans are the same, to teach Richie how to dance. That is the point of the show.
"I’m a teacher, he’s a student."
It comes as Radio 2 host Richie was seen leaving rehearsals amid reports they have had a rocky start to the competition.
Sources told how reigning champ Giovanni struggled to get his points across to Richie who is “extremely over-excited” to be taking part.
One said: “The pair haven’t clicked. Richie is so swept up by the whole experience that he is talking 100 words a minute, and it can be hard for Giovanni.
“He has told pals that Richie talks instead of listening during training, and it is frustrating.”
But the source added that it was early days and they are still getting used to each other.
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They added: “Giovanni thinks Richie has real potential in the competition.”
Richie later broke his silence on the situation and thanks Gio after their first live performance, a Cha Cha Cha to I'm Your Man by Wham!.
