I understand (from something Laila herself said on Paul O'Grady) that they are contracted to train a minimum of 12 hours a week. She obviously didnt do that last week due to injury.

Its obviously difficult when they have other work aswell and particularly as they could last 1 week or go all the way and dont know really until they start. There are some things that they shouldnt cancel if at all possible eg. Charity things and things that involve people buying tickets etc but I am not sure that I regard a glamour shoot for a mens magazine as something that couldnt be rescheduled to be frank, particularly as its abroad.

Providing she gets in early Thursday they should be okay I think.. But it's not looking good, I will be really upset if they leave because of underrehearsal. I'll be sending positive vibes to them.. *Sigh*

Good point. Lots of the other celebs are working at their day jobs Ricky W is still filming, Natalie has gone back to EE and Chris is still presenting. (Don't know one way or the other about Ali)
This shoot was most probably booked weeks ago. they are all there to raise their profile rather than learn to dance so she would be mad to turn a GQ shoot down.

Cant honestly see what difference it will make. She doesnt put in the effort even when she is here.
That Waltz was dreadful. At one point she was so far over onto Anton's right hip her right arm was stretched to its limit and her left was hanging loosely over Anton's left arm, while he was struggling to make it look something like a waltz. If they hadnt been up against Ricky G in the dance off she would have gone then.

Cant imagine what their Charleston will look like, game for a laugh.

However Laila dances on Saturday it'll be 10 times better than Natalie, yet Nat will get the plaudits, as usual, for throwing herself into it, yadda, yadda, and then Alesha will give her another 8, while scoring Laila a 7, despite Nat's dancing being so poor she'd fail an audition for the Roly Polys dance troupe.

She'd definitely fail the audition - she's a good 5 stone under their minimum weight requirement from what I can see.

While I don't expect Natalie to be much cop, and yet probably get overmarked for it, I'm pretty much expecting the same deal from Laila, TBH.

Plus, I genuinely have no idea why it takes three days to do a GQ photoshoot. One, I could've understood - even two if she had to do an interview and the shoot was on location and complex. But three? Pass.

It is possible the papers aren't 100 percent true..

Exactly! When anyone else has work commitments they are defended and applauded for it. Guess someone's face doesn't fit though huh?

You'd presume seeing as Laila hasn't currently got a show to go back to, unless she is going back to Primeval sometime, she's probably trying to get herself out there in anticipation of securing some work.

These people are actors/presenters/sports stars first and foremost, whilst they might enjoy the Strictly experience it's not the be all and end all to any of them!

Exactly. I think the people on these forums take this show far more seriously than the contestants. Scary really.

It is amazing that you still have people who believe everything they read in the paper. Sources in the BBC.
I never believe anything until i see proof. Maybe i am different.

The scary thing is they would probably shout at them if they met them in the street. You can just tell with some people. It is just a tv show at the end of the day.

I'm sure the explanation is very mundane like a prior commitment (though Letitia handled it better).

But I would love it, just LOVE it (to quote KK) if Laila and Anton got voted off, and her only comment to Claudia on Monday's ITT were...
..."as I've already said to Anton, revenge is a dish best served cold".

What on earth are you talking about?! Of course the papers are 100% true! Especially the Daily Wail, it's renowned for it's accuracy and attention to detail.

Really! OMG but that means I'm gonna have to explain to my family that aliens aren't really taking over the world it was just made up.

She'll be fine. Well, I hope! If she went today and is back early tomorrow then I don't think it'll be a problem, apparently she trained on Sunday, Monday and probably Tuesday then she'll have Friday which leaves them plenty of time. We forget Ali missed a day training when she had the VW (I think it was the VW!) due to Brian being ill, but managed to get a perfect score! I just really want Laila to come out and smash the Charleston!!

I fear the Charleston will just be too quick for her. She showed great promise in ballroom but she just doesn't seem to be able to do the faster Latin's.

For me she is the weakest dancer of those that are left, mainly because it all looks so much of an effort for her.

IMO She is better than Natalie and Chris. Natalie's Samba got an 8 and was the worst Samba of the season. *Sigh*

Natalie's samba was dreadful.

I like Ali best so am looking at Natalie, Chris and Laila from a totally couldn't care less which of them get through way. Of those 3 I like Laila the least just because if she can't be bothered to at least look as if she cares why should I care how she dances? Though Chris irritates me the most of those 3.

Chris irritates me so much, but then I have to appreciate that he's many's favourite. Can't think why though