Totally agree with the OP and all the praise of Giovanni here. He's a gem!

Giovanni is not arrogant but shy. Not sure whenusing his halting English on UK TV. Please don't be such a snob about someone who is not as gobby as Kevin.

I hope that all three new pros will come back next year. Certainly Giovanni should. He's been great with Georgia, turning her into a cracking dancer and producing some great choreography for her. They tried to script him as Vincent 2 at first, and that didn't work at all, but he had the sense to stop going along with that quite quickly.

Love Gio he's adorable he is moving to the UK in January which I take as a good sign for Strictly

I think he's anything but arrogant.

Switch Giovanni and Gleb around in your post and it says how I feel. Giovanni should definitely be back, but I wouldn't give Gleb another contract - he's the one that came across as arrogant to me.

I agree with the OP. Giovanni is great. A real asset to the show, both in terms of technical ability and in the way he has behaved throughout. I guess there is a question mark about how he would handle a less talented or older celeb, but that his not his fault. He, not surprisingly, got one of the contenders this year.

Giovanni has been a huge addition to the show. I worried that it might suffer from the departure of Artem a couple of years ago but, if anything, it has gone from strength to strength. He is modest and, obviously, a thoroughly nice guy. His dancing credentials speak for themselves in the way that he has brought Georgia through to the final. Didn't he express a desire to return on ITT last night? He would be more than welcome.

I was quite 'meh' about Giovanni at first but I think some of that was the show trying simultaneously to mound him into Vincent Mark II and overshadow him with the "women faint at the mere sight of Gleb" balderdash. During the second half of the series I've really come to appreciate what a sweet guy he is in his own right and what a great job he's done with Georgia, and am happy to sign the "more contracts for Gio!" petition.

I'll sign it too! Gio has been a terrific addition to the show. He's a great dancer choreographer and teacher and from what Georgia has said he has made their last three months together hard work but great fun - I really hope he returns next year.

Agree^^^^

Pleasant, good teacher, patient, good choreographer, brought out the best in Georgia, taught her proper ballroom dancing, good relationship.

I'd sign the petition too!

Whats Kevin got to do with it?

I may change my opinion of Giovanni in the future, I've done that before with pros. But at the moment I can't warm to him.

Kevin may be many things but gobby is not one of them.

Yes please. I think Giovanni is great, seems so lovely. I think Oti is the sweetest too, I really hope she's back with someone who lasts a bit longer next time.

It's funny isnt. Some pros become instant "forum faves" are your not allowed to bad mouth them. But if the forum hierarchy is against them then they can be ripped to shreads. I will never understand the abuse the Clifton's get on here.

Well if there's a petition going round, I'm signing it!!!!
Fantastic dancer and choreographer, but above all he comes across as a genuine, kind, caring man with a wonderfully cheeky sense of humour!

I'm glad you can see that too. Giovanni is not in the slightest bit arrogant. His shyness is very endearing to me, as is Jay's.

Another vote for Gio and Oti to return next year.

And if Kristina is definitely going, give Brendan or Gleb the boot too, then we could have Trent and Gordana in!
I don't usually pay much attention to the males that appear in the show ( ) but I did think Trent was brill last year.

If they've got too many dancers, they could always hire him as a singer as well!!

Puts together lovely celeb-focussed choreo in his first year which took Kevin three seasons to twig. Near the top of my "retained list".

I agree with you 100%.

I think he's been a real asset to the show and I hope he returns.

I would love to see him back. Nice person and supportive without being cloying. Also, clearly an expert in ballroom and Latin, which we couldn't say for some of the other newer pros, including Gleb. I think, as his English improves, and we hear more from him, he will become beloved by viewers.

Mind you, I would also love to see Gleb back. The show needs a variety of pro "types", especially a few Marmite characters. So long as they give him the adventurous celebs each year, he'll bring something to the show also.

Quick question? Am I meant to be seeing flags in this thread and title, because all I see is IT, ZA and RU?

I like him. Is he the pro who Len really laid into early on in the show for disagreeing with him?