The underlying article in Now magazine, from which the Fail took their summary, includes Gleb's thoughts on Laura, Gio and Georgia. So very much gift-wrapped as a triangle for the press to pick up on.

Gleb has been around the block a few times so would, I think, have known that he was stirring the pot. Its not his finest moment in my eyes but its probably just business for Gleb rather than it being in any way personal. I am guessing that his UK PR has made him available for quotes on any Strictly Curse type story that crops up between now and his UK Adelphi Theatre gig in December. That's showbiz

And I also liked Anita and Gleb's partnership. They were fab on the Tour - especially the banter between Gleb and Mel which was hilarious.

Quickstep this week!

Oh God ... that song is fast. I'm getting 'My Generation' vibes
Why is it that some people get nice tripping along Quickstep songs like Spoonful of Sugar and Reach For the Stars and others get something that thrashes along and will probably catch them out with speed?!
Not that happy with the choice of dance or music ... worried but will stay optimistic.

Great interview with Laura and Gio on ITT.

As a Jay fan please don't mention "My Generation" . Not keen on the music either but a few of the music choices this week are strange.

Really enjoyed the interview, good chemistry between the two of them.

I'm not a huge fan of the song. I remember when Pixie Lott quickstepped to Be Our Guest - something like that would have been lovely for Laura and Gio.

I'm really excited to see their quickstep, and whilst I have all the faith that they'll be great I don't know if it's the most reassuring post-DO dance.

Still, I'm going to keep my positive head on!

Its really, really fast that song isn't it. So fabulous if Laura can keep up with Gio, very un-fab if she ends up being hauled around the floor 'clinging like a koala' in the words of Ian Waite.

There is a group number to this from..err... last year? Halloween Week? (Checks Youtube..)

There you go..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2CMMjxgGk4

Blackpool 2014. Actually, I like that arrangement a LOT more for them than the Sweet original. I'm less worried now. The drum solo bit could work really well.

Its a really competitive year so I guess they have to go all in. The only safe place for Laura is the top half of the leaderboard so aim high. I love a Gio QS as he is so amazingly ...err.... quick is the only word. Nailbiting stuff

OT Not a fan of Claudia's song.

OMG Will Young out!! See thread downstairs.

It doesn't help that Danny, already a great dancer, has been gifted a Fred Astaire number for his quickstep.

BUT I am not going to wibble. I did enough of that last year supporting Jay and Aliona, and I'm not going to go through that again.

This year I am going to enjoy watching Laura for as far as she goes, and "what will be....etc".

Ballroom Blitz is an amazing quickstep song for a pro, but yeah it's fast. Really fast. If Laura can keep up it could be incredible. I like my quicksteps to be full out. I hope she can pull it off!

I'm with you shaposh, these two can't play it safe they need to go all out to have the edge they did at the weekend!

Quickstep is one of my favourite dances. Laura's already shown a strong ballroom frame, no gapping in their Waltz and good footwork. I reckon they can pull off a special performance, excited about this week for them.

Thanks for the heads up on the news about Will LL, I feel so sorry for Karen

His comments about Karen were very gracious so well done to him in particular for that.

Its a puzzle but generally some sort of explanation comes out in the end. I'm letting others speculate.

I think Laura is fit. Very fit as she runs and I don't think smokes. So she can handle a fast QS and the training for it aerobically. I am actually wondering if Gio will have to stick a nicotine patch on this week to match her

Did you see the training footage of the salsa lifts My word. She is a brave lady.

Quickstep is a good one for this week. I love the song! Reminds me of my uni days (nineties, not seventies!) but it was always played a lot at parties. Wonder if costume will go all out glam rock?!

Off to catch up with ITT, but very sad news about Will, didn't see that coming at all. Hope he's given the privacy to deal with whatever he is going through. Have to feel for Karen too as she has suggested that this could be her last series.

Yes Laura is a brave lady and feisty, liking her positive attitude.

Special award for Sacrifices Above and Beyond the Call of Salsa ....

Step forward..... Gio's shoulder. Yet again according to ITT.

The pro dancers earn every penny of their rather meagre rations (meagre compared to the pots of gold awarded to those who lift a Botoxed eyebrow and drawl out 'Disaaahstah' on a Saturday night). Not that I am qualified for either job etc.

OMG ballroom blitz really? I love that song! Ramones! Oh we might get to see Gio in leather again! It is fast but it's steady and even, probably not as terrifying as it first appears, of course the strictly band may of course faff about with it and make it fancier and more complicated!

Noooooooo. Tails. TAILS TAILSTAILSTAILS.

Ramones! Clutches pearls. How very dare you! THE SWEET.

I love the song ... I'm a real 70s music nut but I just fear it for a Quickstep... I'd prefer something more classic ... like the other QS song.
But yes, it's ride or die now so they should just go for it and have fun.

Shocking news about Will. Very sorry for him and gutted for Karen who must be so disappointed. I thought they'd definitely be there in the final!

Somehow I think I've imagined a Ramones version that does not exist... oh my brain is a fuzz today!

There is apparently a version by The Damned. Might be that one.

In other random news for fans of Facts

'Since June 2016, the song has been used in public information films on the subject of smart meters surrounding gas and electricity use.'

I have absolutely no idea whether this is a good thing or a bad thing in terms of the Strictly voter base....

I think it's more likely it was repeatedly on the playlist of one of my favourite basement dives and I was usually a bit 'merry' and somehow had it my head as the Ramones. Or I had a dodgy download with a misattributed title or something. I'd never have chosen it for smart meters though. . .

Only just caught up with ITT. It was a lovely interview. I do enjoy their dynamic... Laura's fight and Giovanni's calm. Maybe I'm just in a soppy mood because sad that Will has left but it cheered me up to see how natural and supportive an energy there is between Laura and Gio. And fun too.

And yes TAILS TAILS TAILS TAILS TAIIIIILLLLLLLLSSSSSSS!!!!

Week 4 ITT interview from last night.

On the dance off . . .

Laura: 'You kind of prepare yourself for that . . . after Melvin going the first week, that gave us a bit of a kick and it becomes more real that every time you dance could be the last time . . . I remember when we actually did the dance I ripped my tights and I quickly ran backstage and said 'In case I'm in the dance off I'm gonna change my tights'.'

Always gotta be prepared

Zoe asks Giovanni how shocked he was that they were in the dance off.

Gio: 'Yes and no because at this moment it's a really difficult competition. They are all brilliant but yeah, a little bit shocked.'

Zoe mentions Karen commenting on the supportive hug Gio gave Laura at the beginning of the dance off.

Laura says 'Yes, he's a counsellor, everything.'

Gio: 'She was a little bit scared to be honest to dance again so I thought that she needed that hug and she went there and she smashed it again . . . I just said 'do again what you did before because I was really proud on the night and go with more energy and she did, she did'.'

Laura: 'Getting to do the dance off, as scary as it is, it's quite nice to go out there and prove yourself again and take on what the judges said . . . Because I'd Waltzed the second week I wanted to show a different side and probably just put in too much energy so when we did the dance off I tried to have that energy but control it which is what Darcey and Craig had said. So you're trying to do all that and also not look at my Mother who was in the audience blubbering.' Awww.

On the judges scores and a first 9 from Bruno . . .

Laura: 'I was happy enough at how I danced because the first time I danced Latin I got 25 and (for the Salsa) I got 30 . . . but it's a strong competition and everyone is so good and Tameka is so good so you don't know. . . All I can do is try and improve every week, I'm not a dancer but I have this amazing dancer with me who's teaching me so much.'

Gio nodding

Laura: 'He tells me every day how amazing he is, it's drilled in to my head as much as the choreography.'

'For me it's about bettering myself, it's a personal journey, I don't want to let myself down and Giovanni because he's put so much work in.'

Zoe comments that what she thought was so amazing about their dance off was the amount of content, in those heels, in that incredible outfit and that Laura gave it more.

Deserved applause for Laura

On Len's comments about the raunchiness of the Salsa routine . . .

Gio: 'I just wanted to show another side of Laura. Last week we did the Waltz so I wanted to change and show people she can be a little bit sexy as well. So I think she did because I was watching your hips (to Laura, love the way he says 'ips) when I was watching back the video and to be honest, move your 'ips 'ips 'ips *gestures frantically* you didn't stop . . . always moving moving moving.'

Laura: 'I was petrified that one of the judges would comment that my hips weren't good enough because he'd drilled it in to me so much so they were probably out of control.'

Training for the second lift VT . . .

Gio attempting to throw Laura up over his shoulder, like we said brave lady Banter between them about Laura's bruises and Gio's shoulder.

'Surviving Week 3 dance off to go on to final' stat time . . .

Simon & Kristina, Denise & Ian and Natasha & Brendan all achieved this.

Laura: 'It gives you a bit of a boost, more fight . . . '

Gio interjects with saying it's a new week, every week is a different dance . . . Laura laughing 'I'm coming in fighting and he's like relax.'

Zoe jokes he's having a calming effect on her as well, Gio says Italian accent, Laura that she doesn't know what he's saying all the time but it works.

On the Quickstep . . .

Laura comments there's a lot of steps and likens it to the Salsa in terms of content, Gio says no it's not, no 'ips

Gio: 'It's going to be a quick, quick Quickstep, flying down everywhere.'

High five from Team Lovanni.

Great to see such a relaxed, fun and positive interview after that emotional weekend. Lots of banter and a real sense of closeness and support between them.

Now bring on the Week 4 Ballroom Blitz

Thank you so much for the link to the 2013 Blackpool Ballroom Blitz group dance LL, absolutely love it, one of my favourites. Gorgeous Sophie

I felt that too Ochre, it was a lovely interview. They have really bonded.