IN just three years, Giovanni Pernice has become one of the most popular professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing.

In the last series of TV’s most watched show, the cheeky Italian’s partnership with Debbie McGee was compelling viewing with he and his celebrity partner finishing runners-up to former Holby City actor Joe McFadden and his partner Katya Jones.

Now Giovanni is heading back out on tour with a new show of his own - Born to Win - which is coming to Burnley Mechanics.

“This is basically my story,” said Giovanni. “It is my journey from starting out in Sicily and then moving to Bologna to learn to dance and then moving to England and my time on Strictly. I want people to know a little bit more about me by the end of the show. Basically it’s an autobiography on stage.”

Last year Giovanni toured with Dance is Life, based around how his grandparents met and fell in love, and his new show features some of the dancers from that show.

Partnering Giovanni will be Luba Mushtuk and the show will also feature three more professional couples who have featured in Dancing with the Stars Ireland and Burn the Floor.

“They are all really amazing dancers,” said Giovanni.

“This is my dream come true - when people come and watch your own show.”

Giovanni has choreographed all the routines for Born to Win with Jason Gilkison, the creative director on Strictly and features dances ranging from the Viennese Waltz to the Rumba.

“Last year’s show was so successful that the pressure is on now,” he laughed. “We don’t want to let anyone down.”

Giovanni certainly lives up to his motto Dance is Life - he has the phrase tattooed on his arm - as he is heading out with his own show after performing in the Strictly Live tour in which he partnered Debbie McGee.

“We won eight or nine times and came runner up 20 times so were in the top two virtually every night,” he said. “But with the lovely Debbie that makes things so much easier.”

TV viewers were delighted by their growing friendship and the way that Giovanni cared for his partner.

“The thing with Debbie is that she is a lovely person, she deserved every minute of me being nice to her.

“We will 100 per cent keep in touch. We are texting every day when we can. It’s a friendship that will stay forever.”

Giovanni hopes to be back for Strictly this year.

“I would love to do the show again. You never know who you will get for a partner.”

In his three years he has partnered Georgie May Foote, Laura Whitmore and Debbie McGee.

“Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not but to be honest I have been lucky for three years now, I can’t complain,” he said. “I’m still waiting for my bad time.

“Hopefully I’ll be back this year” he said. “But for the moment, my focus is on my show.”

Born to Win, Burnley Mechanics, Friday, May 11. Details from 01282 664400.