Former Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima has revealed his plans to return to the UK as he shared a big announcement with fans, almost a year on from his axe from the show.
He was due to return for the BBC One dance contest's 2024 series but shortly after the professional dancer line-up was announced in June ahead of the 2024 series launch in September, it was confirmed by the BBC that Graziano would no longer be returning to the ballroom.
A BBC spokesperson previously said at the time: "We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
"While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate."
At the time, Graziano said he "deeply regretted" the events that led to his exit and later acknowledged that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected" his training regime.
Now, Graziano has revealed he'll be returning to the UK where he'll be teaching people to dance across the country. Sharing the news on Instagram, he said: "UK, are you ready to dance with me?
"This May 2025, I’ll be touring across the UK with my @dancingwithgraz Dance Classes Tour , bringing the energy, rhythm, and passion of dance to cities all around the country!"
The dancer added: "Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, these workshops are for everyone who wants to move, learn, and have fun together.
"For more info or to express interest in bringing a class to your city in the future, feel free to get in touch: [email protected]. Let’s make May unforgettable. See you on the dance floor, UK!"
Back in November, four months on from his last social media post in July that addressed his Strictly exit, Graziano has returned to social media with a dramatic video in which he could be seen walking across a bridge at night while clips of his early dancing career as a youngster flashed across the screen.
He was then seen dancing under the night sky with his wife Giada Lini, a professional dancer on Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.
Alongside the post, Graziano wrote: "Dance has always been the centre of my life, my greatest passion, the path I chose and dedicated years of study, sacrifice, and love to. After a period of reflection, I feel stronger than ever and eager to return to what I love most: dancing.
"The future is a whole world of new open windows, ready to welcome new dreams and new challenges, and I’m excited to continue this journey with even more determination and inspiration.
"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is always there for me."He added: "I’m thrilled to dance again with the same enthusiasm and dedication as always. See you soon, whether on stage or through new projects that I will be very excited to share with you."
The Strictly star then gave an idea of the personal challenges he had faced in his time away. Taking to Instagram, he shared a picture of himself and his mum to his Stories. It showed the pair embracing with Graziano's mum kissing his cheek as he wrote: "In 2025, I'm not wishing for wealth or success, but for health, especially for my loved ones.
"This year, seeing my mom face a rare illness has shown me how vital health is. When you're health, you often don't realise how lucky you are. My hope for the new year is peace, strength and a fresh start for everyone who needs it. Mental and physical health is everything."
