BBC Drag Race star Baga Chipz shares true opinion on Giovanni Pernice after 'meeting a few times'

The Drag Race UK star said that they are 'too lazy' to go on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing

A drag queen has revealed he is "too lazy" to appear on Strictly Come Dancing and has turned the show down twice. Baga Chipz, who is from Birmingham, said that the show is "too much work", adding iIt's called Strictly for a reason".

The former star of Drag Race UK added that Giovanni Pernice, who is at the centre of a bullying probe, has been "nothing but lovely to me". They also said that Giovanni's former dance partners Michelle Visage and Debbie McGee are "full of praise" for the controversial professional.

Baga said: "I'm too lazy for Strictly. I've had calls with them plenty of times. I work my b***ocks off on tour but that's all me, I write it all myself, but with Strictly it's 14 hour a day rehearsals and they get one day off.

READ MORE: The scandalous truth about Birmingham's child poverty emergency laid bare

"People just think they go on the telly once a week but it's constant. It's called Strictly for a reason, they're strict. That is just the environment. You've got to be strict. If you look at dance teachers they're like 'again, again. Do it again'.

"That's how they were taught and that's how you make champions. But obviously there are certain ways to speak to people, and if you are being sexist or misogynistic or racist or homophobic, that is obviously illegal, you shouldn't be doing that.

"But when it comes to getting the job done, you have to bring the Strictly. I know they have to be strict with you."

The BBC are expected to deliver their findings from the probe into Giovanni's behaviour after Amanda Abbington accused him of bullying behaviour - claims which he denies, The Express reports.

Sherlock star Amanda, 50, said: "It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks. It started very early on and when it started to happen I would shut down... I recognised those red flags."

She added: “I was going into the rehearsal room every day. I’ve been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years. I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like. I don’t care what background you’re from – whether it’s dancing, acting, singing – you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, ­sensitivity and kindness.”

Giovanni, 34, has left the show but has maintained from the start that he expects to be cleared. But Baga says he knows celebrities who have become "friends for life" with their dance partners, including Giovanni. He said: "I know a lot of people who have done Strictly and they have become friends for life with their dancers. With Giovanni, I met him a few times and he has been nothing but lovely to me.

"Michelle Visage was his partner and oh my god, they were like the best of friends. I was friends with Debbie McGee and she was Giovanni's partner and she had nothing but good words about him. So I don't know about this person who is saying all this stuff. Gio is lovely and he's bloody gorgeous as well."

Baga is currently on tour with their one man show and said they would end up smoking 25 cigarettes a day if they went on Strictly - but he would go on it if they offered him £200k. "I had a zoom call with them twice," Baga said. "I said to them in the meeting, I'm a smoker, I have 20 fags a day. I'd be outside smoking all the time. If it was a big fee, like £200k, I'd do it, I'd dress up as Mr Blobby if they paid me that.

"But I'd be the one they take the piss out of. I'd be so stressed." Baga has recently undergone a huge physical transformation with the crowning glory being a hair transplant. The procedure took place at the hair loss Wimpole Clinic - voted the Best UK Hair Loss Clinic in 2024 - with Baga saying: "It's given me a new lease on life. I look younger and feel more confident and ready to take on the world.

"I hope my story inspires others to take charge of their own journeys and embrace the changes that make them happy."

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.