Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima: Relive the Italian pro dancer’s Attitude cover shoot

Words: Will Stroude; Styling: Nick Byam

As Strictly confirms that John Whaite will be part of the ballroom competition’s first male same-sex couple this year, all eyes are no on which professional dancer will be paired with the former Great British Bake Off winner.

Early reports suggested that viewer favourite Graziano Di Prima has been lined up to take on the historic spot alongside John, and it would certainly make a lot of sense. 

The Sicilian dancer, who joined Strictly in 2018 but has spent the past two seasons as a support dancer without a celebrity partner, demonstrated his commitment to diversifying dance when he joined good friend Johannes Radebe in the show’s first all-male ballroom dance in 2019.

“At the end of the day, you don’t need to have a female and a male to dance; as long as you love dancing”, Graziano later told the Attitude February 2020 issue. 

“Dance is love, that’s it,” he added.

Graziano and Johannes’ moving performance was widely praised by viewers, but sadly still sparked more than 200 complaints to Ofcom.

Should Graziano be paired with John Whaite this year, it’s safe to say he won’t be fazed by any homophobic backlash.

“OK, there were 200 complaints, but there were millions of people writing to us, sending us videos saying thank you and celebrating our friendship,” Graziano said at the time “And for [Johannes], as a gay man, it means the world.”

He added: “Why should I care about 200 people? Are you kidding me? Those 200 people, you will see that in the future they will change their minds.”

Graziano didn’t exactly shut down rumours he’d be part of Strictly’s first all-male pair this week, resharing a picture from his Attitude shoot on Instagram with the none-too-subtle hashtag “#ImBack”.

With the wait now on to discover which professional dancer John Whaite will be sashaying onto the Strictly stage with, you can relive Graziano Di Prima’s Attitude cover shoot in full below…

Graziano wears jeans by Diesel, chain by Gucci at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears jeans by Superdry, chain by Gucci at Matches Fashion, earrings throughout, Graziano’s own (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears vest by Reigning Champ, joggers by John Elliott both at MR PORTER, chain by Emanuele Bicocchi at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears vest by Versace at Matches Fashion, shorts by Ron Dorff, socks by Umbro, chain by Tom Wood at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears vest by Zimmerli, chain by Tom Wood, both at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

 

 

 

Graziano wears vest by Zimmerli, chain by Tom Wood, both at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears joggers, by Replay, chain, by All Blues at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Graziano wears vest by Reigning Champ, joggers by John Elliott both at MR PORTER, chain by Emanuele Bicocchi at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

 

Graziano wears vest by Reigning Champ, joggers by John Elliott both at MR PORTER, chain by Emanuele Bicocchi at Matches Fashion (Photography: Joseph Sinclair)

Selected back issues are available to download instantly here and to order direct to your door here.