Aw, chachaclo, it's not a forum bias. It's just a hot house of opinion on certain people in certain areas. Perspective was lost by some there and may not yet have been found again

Speaking personally I am well and truly fed up of the whole tabloid/twitter/DS/GG-inspired slant on THIS YEAR's Strictly.

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If Laura and Gio can keep their heads and spirits clear of all the rubbish, bloody brill for them! It must be so hard to focus

Yes - ITT is probably the most important thing in helping the audience (and voters) really relate to a partnership so it will be a good watch tonight. Laura's blog is excellent and she has been very positive. I think she will have a good rapport with Zoe. Maybe all the opening night / red carpet stuff doesn't really matter in terms of which couples gain public support.

I am on your boat, I think you don't want to discuss any other threads, but just want to defend her. Laura doesn't deserve all ths.


Laura has tweeted about the article, that shows she is affected by these stuff.




BIB - Totally agree with you, such a strong line up this year. I think Laura has to put a brave face to the cameras, but behind the scenes, she must be really frustrated.

Can't wait for ITT... The first week the interviews are always a bit rushed (because Format is Everything on ITT) but I completely agree about the relating malarkey. It'll be interesting if Laura is as forthright on ITT as she is on her blog. She comes across as utterly honest and funny there.

Laura isn't being attacked though Sarah. The stuff being written may have affected her to some degree, she hinted at it in her blog, but also said about how much she'd loved her first dance and how she wanted to stop worrying about everything else and make the most of her experience. Words to that effect, I haven't got it in front of me now.

Comments I've seen on social media and newspaper articles have generally been positive towards Laura.

I really want this thread to be here this weekend and through the series to post thoughts on ITT and their dances. Discussion of the newspaper articles is maybe better suited to the MF due to the nature of the content.

Have we seen this yet? Ooer. Through the legs. Lots of spins too. Heck

(Will looks goooood, as does Tameka)

Quite a few good ones in there, I think! Looking forward to the show.

This photo of Laura, Giovanni, Danny and Oti on the way to ITT came up on my Twitter earlier.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtmnzxSWEAEW7NA.jpg:large

The Twitter account for the play which Laura is in next year has also tweeted a good luck message. From that, I also saw that Shane Richie has signed for the lead role of the detective, Roy Grace.

Nice pic! It always cheers me up to see the pics from the show. You read the forum and it's all cut-throat, cat and dog, do or die... And then you see the contestants and dancers and everyone seems cheery and luvverly together

Both of them are looking gorgeous

Hi Huph, yes both gorgeous, love Laura's yellow dress.

Great fun interview...Irish dancing, Gio's Irish accent and singing

So relaxed with each other, banter, some lovely moments too. Laura's comment about looking in to Gio's face for reassurance before dancing and Gio saying their Waltz will be beautiful.

I can't wait for tomorrow's show

Giovanni dancing with Laura and Alison to Daniel singing

He was singing in the background too, I think he's hoping for a job as back up singer !

And did he play drums last year too? I seem to remember a drum kit worked its way into the tango... Watch out Dave Arch and band

Loved that they came on at the end, but from the training room evidence earlier in the show, maybe he's deluded in his singing ambitions.

Great to see a relaxed and fun first ITT interview, they seem to be getting on well. Good for them, that's how it should be.

Giovanni in that suit 😍😍😍😍, the matching tie and pocket square. There's just something about a man in a good suit that's so sexy. Laura managed to pull off looking good in yellow too. Damn these beautiful people!

I think he's definitely deluded. . . But they can work wonders with auto tune these days!

Nice relaxed interview. Thought Laura came across well, charming and not trying too hard which can make my teeth ache a bit when the celebs go super-competitive. That dress really was YELLOW wasn't it. Gio giving very good 'sofa' compared with last year - goodness his English has improved. His singing, on the other hand By contrast I found that Danny, who danced brilliantly last week, didn't really keep my attention when he was talking. Might just be me. That waltz is looking rather promising from the clips they showed.. but then so were a LOT of the other dances. Its going to be a super super show this week.

On tour with Daniel next year

I did not find Giovanni attractive at all last year but he is growing on me Liking his personality and partnership with Laura.

After Laura and Daisy I am most looking forward to Louise and Ed's Charleston

Will looks good. Going to be competitive and nailbiting regarding the leaderboard. Laura's score of 25 was a good solid start though (thank goodness for those sev-erns) and if their Waltz is as beautiful as it looks in training they'll be fine.

Oh she's stunning isn't she? She just glows (could be the yellow dress ) Handsome couple and they seem to have a friendly, relaxed, relationship with lots of banter. Not awkward at all.
The clip they showed us of the waltz looked gorgeous, Laura just has to remember not to look at Craig or even think about Craig. It will be tough as so many good dancers are looking good this week but at least they won't have to go first (I'm assuming) and that will be a relief.
Giovanni's singing proves you can't be good at everything

It will be nail biting tomorrow as there are so many couples the look really good...Will, Danny, Tameka, Daisy, Louise to name a few, even Ed looked not bad

I will be waiting patiently for the spoiler tomorrow night.

Absolutely love this clip from last night's ITT interview . . . Gio's Irish accent "Tanks a million!"

Some backstage ITT photos . . .

All of last night's guests. Now don't look at Craig when you're dancing Laura

Team Lovanni have a chinwag with Daniel and Danny in the ITT greenroom.

Laura with her fellow Irishman Daniel.

Laura with Naga

And I love this photo . . . some of the Strictly 2016 gang having dinner last night. Nice to see Jo with Gio and Laura

Thanks for rounding up those photos. Aw, Daniel seems like such a nice man - completely changed my opinion of him after Strictly last year: quite subversively funny isn't he?

I liked the group dinner photo - didn't Jeremy Vine turn the Friday evening meal into a regular Eggheads quiz night last year?

Good morning, Ochre Thanks the lovely collection of pictures. Laura is really stunning, she will blend in with the Hollywood celebs. I am still not happy that she has not posted any pics of Mick.

I am going out tonight and will keep an eye on the spoiler thread. I do hope the judges mark fairly this week.