Just out of interest, who is your favourite Strictly pro - or pros if you have more than one? Would you call them a Z lister too?

Personally, yes - heck, some of my favourite celebs would scrape to be classed as Z list

Generally, to me, anyone who gets their main exposure for what they are wearing (or rocking), frolicking in the surf or telling the world how happy they are with their current squeeze is playing with the higher numbered letters of the alphabet in celeb terms.

I found myself getting a bit tired of Aljaz after watching back-to-back Strictly series--2015 in real time and 2014 on catch up. Of course he's handsome and charming, but he's very media-savvy--he always says the right thing with a smile, joke and a twinkle. It can get boring.

For me it's when I've got absolutely no idea what they actually do for a living

There's a difference between some self promotion in a professional capacity and seeking fame for fame's sake. Tristan seems really down to earth which appeals to me whereas I'm completely put off by Giovanni's arrogance and the way he's let some attention whilst on Strictly go to his head.

Yes, Kevin does seem to have stolen his wardrobe from a goth teenager, which seems even weirder because it's so at odds with his twee Strictly persona. I remember Joanne wearing some 'unusual' ensembles on the way to training as well, so the Cliftons are obviously not afraid to dance to their own tune fashion-wise


Completely agree - I wish he would find another project to keep him busy so he wouldn't have time for Strictly.

Karen and Natalie are two of my favourite pros. I hope Natalie's back this year along with Joanne, they're both brilliant teachers and I love watching them dance ballroom.

I just love Strictly. I have no favourite Pro and don't worship any celebrity.

I love Joanne and Natalie too. I'm hoping they will be back because there's going to have to be enough new female pros as it is, plus Natalie is often needed for the taller guys.

With four pro's leaving I would presume that any current pro who wants in for the next series is in.

So true.

I don't see it, how do you know he is arrogant? Really its such a strange statement for somebody you don't know, I presume you don't know him. I don't mind strong debate but the character assassination I think is unfair and unbecoming. Sorry.

I just wish GG would stop milking the Strictly name and dragging it down with their z list antics.

Do yourself a favour then ignore it, give yourself a break if you hate it so much

Commenting on Giovanni's arrogance is hardly a character assassination. Indeed some would find it an attractive quality. Not me, I find Tristan's down to earth demeanour and laid back attitude way more appealing.

My current impression of Giovanni from watching Strictly would be arrogant, competitive, immature, hungry for fame and like an annoying kid brother. He does seem to have a good sense of humour and perhaps that side of him might be shown more with a different celeb partner.

There is a rumour, it was Bruno who wanted Strictly to hire his fellow countryman.
May be that is the reason Jason never mentioned how did they find Giovanni, instead he just laughed and said he was found wandering around Soho. Who knows??.

Its Joanne who recommended him to the producers. They are both products of the same dance academy.

Sounds like a daft rumour to me! I don't think Bruno calls the shots with the Strictly producers. Giovanni got an interview via his connection with Jo Clifton and the fact that he'd been in the UK performing at some shows with her.

Lol!! You really are a little ray of sunshine aren't you!!

May be not. There was no reason for Jason not answer when Zoe asked him how he came to hire Giovanni. He could have said Jo. There was no need for him to dodge the question.

I think Bruno has more weight than Jo.

Perhaps he couldn't quite remember. They must interview or at least research a lot of pros. I don't think it really matters who recommended who - he got an interview and got the job. But Giovanni has said it was via Jo. Perhaps Bruno was also aware of him through Italian dance connections, like you say who knows?

I remember that interview with Jason and thought he avoided answering directly on purpose.

Choosing Giovanni as a pro for the last series was an odd decision to me. He was almost straight out of competition with no TV experience and at the beginning of the series his English was really limited though I realise that rapidly improved. I would've thought they'd have used him as a backing dancer for a series first rather than dropping him straight in as a main pro. I'd rather have seen Trent back, his choreography was far more innovative and I thought his dancing superior too.

Giovanni's connections, whichever connections they were, must have got him on the show.

Well I guess he did alright in the end, getting his partner to the final in his first season. So whoever made the decision to hire him did a good job IMO. Wasn't so keen on Trent myself, but it would be a dull world if we all agreed on everything

I always got the impression that Giovanni was a bit put out by all the attention that Gleb got. He was the new boy and in any other season would have got a lot of the spotlight on him, but instead it was all Gleb and so instead of just sucking it up he decided to start posting shirtless pics of himself on his Intsagram when his physique isn't a patch on the Glebsters, and getting into a showmance with Georgia.

It all seems a bit deesperate.

Its not a Showmance if it happens after the series is over is it?