Italian Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 30, who’s taking part in the “best bits” special editions – it’s time for a waltz down memory lane!

What can we expect from the specials?

All the best bits from over 17 seasons of Strictly – and lots of memories from the show! There have been so many good routines over the years.

And the professionals will be putting on a new dance number? It wasn’t a difficult routine, but there are limits to what you can record at home – and you don’t know what the other pros are doing… But watching it back, it looks phenomenal and like we are in sync, which is great. I was thinking, ‘Well done us!”

How are you feeling about the return of the main show?

The show gives lots of joy to people watching at home – and everyone is waiting for Strictly to start up again. Us professional dancers are, for sure! We have a group chat and everyone was talking about how they can’t wait to start dancing.

Are there any costumes you’ll never forget?

It has to be when I did the Charleston with Faye Tozer

[from Steps]. We were dressed as puppets – and I had to wear a blonde wig, which is definitely going to stay in my memory! They put everything on us – make-up, fake eyelashes. I was like, “Give me everything you have!” After that, I thought about going blond, but then I realised it wasn’t the best choice!

What are your hopes for the new series?

I’d like to win at some point because I’ve been in the final three times! So, if I could lift the glitterball that would be amazing. Really, though, all you want to do is to make sure your partner has a good time – and make sure the audience enjoys watching the show. Our job is to make people happy, and when we achieve that we have done our job well.