A former Strictly Come Dancing contestant has opened up about her fiery partnership with Giovanni Pernice, admitting they used to "fight" regularly during their training sessions.

Michelle Visage, famed for her role on , was paired with the Italian dancer in the 17th series back in 2019 but left the competition after a dance-off against Saffron Barker and AJ Pritchard.

has previously been embroiled in controversy following claims of being "abusive" by his ex-dance partner, Amanda Abbington, with the later launching an investigation. The inquiry resolved six out of 17 complaints but found no evidence of physical abuse.

Despite the allegations, Michelle has stood by Giovanni, once saying he's "not for everybody, but he's definitely for me". In a recent chat with Best magazine, she echoed her support, praising his professionalism and explaining the challenges of working with him.

She shared with Best: "Did we fight? Yeah. Can I handle him? Yeah. It takes a specific type of person to be able to handle a guy like him because he's Sicilian and he wants it done his way. He's a professional."

Michelle also highlighted the intensity of professional dancers' training, noting: "They're trained to dance to win so there's no kindness involved. Yes, he has to change a little bit to realise that we are not trained that way. So I'd have moments where I went: 'I can't do what you do, find something that I can do!'", reports .

Michelle shared that despite everything, they've stayed pals, and she'd jump at the chance to return to the show with Giovanni as her partner, saying she'd do it in a "heartbeat".

In another candid revelation last year, Michelle disclosed that she and her husband of 28 years, David Case, are in an open , insisting it only makes their bond stronger.

Chatting on the Origins With Cush Jumbo podcast, she reminisced about bumping into her now-husband in Central Park, New York City, at the age of 26, fresh from a split with "the love of my life".

The TV judge spilled the beans on having a "summer of debauchery" before crossing paths with David, who she said was "so opposite" yet reminded her so much of her former fiancé.

Michelle went on to say: "We live openly, so he would get off knowing that I was so happy and no matter what it is that I do, and I'm not just talking sexually. Whatever it is, I don't know if I have compersion in me to be really excited if he's doing something with another woman but I know that it exists and he is 100% that."