The former magician’s assistant is currently the favourite to lift the Glitterball trophy, but it’s been claimed Debbie McGee’s partner Giovanni Pernice is “working her too hard”. 

Debbie battled through an agonising back injury last week, before winning over the Strictly Come Dancing judges with her stunning Argentine tango. 

However, the 59-year-old is also starting rehearsals for her panto in York and the workload is mounting. 

“Debbie is struggling and it all got too much for her,” an insider said: “She’s finding practice increasingly difficult to get through and Gio isn’t going easy on her.”

The source added to The Sun: “He’s desperate to win and is pushing Debbie but some days she’s exhausted. Perhaps he forgets sometimes that Debbie is a lot older than her competitors.”

Although, an insider has since told Express.co.uk that the reports are "nonsense".

The latest drama comes after her fans reached out during last weekend’s results show, after Debbie made a heartbreaking confession. 

Joined by Giovanni, 27, Debbie told host Claudia Winkleman she was feeling “unpopular” with the public. 

“When we were standing there tonight, I thought, ‘We weren’t very popular last week so we could be in the dance off again’,” she explained.

“To be here for the quarter-final, and Giovanni’s worked so hard with me and we’ve had a really tough week this week. 

“I can’t tell you, it’s such a thrill and to be with all these guys who have all got through, it’s wonderful.”

Express.co.uk has contacted a Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson for comment on this story. 

Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow at 7.05pm on BBC One.