I would say rock vibe LL which suits Laura as well as the song.

Don't mention dry ice, it's a huuuuuge bugbear of mine where Strictly's concerned I want to see the footwork

Wardrobe like Laura! A very good ally to have, if I were on Strictly the first thing I'd do is get down to Vicky Gill with a bribe of some sort

Maybe that's what they mean by the strictly curse, cursed coreography tempting fate! I think we should keep an eye on ed see if he turns green...

I'm really looking forward to seeing L&G's jive if & when it comes, despite it looking as though Laura's more of a ballroom girl. Gio seems to be a latin guy and out of all of his dances last year the ones I kept re-watching were the samba and jive, inspite of -or probably because of- the way he over-danced the hell out of each of them To be fair on Laura he may well have to reign it in a bit this time around.

Laura has posted this beautiful pic of some of the ballroom competitors on the floor at the Internationals and captioned it with a Father Ted gag

Laura & Gio looking radiant with two fans outside the Royal Albert Hall

Thanks Ochre for posting the links to pics. Was hoping to see some pics from last night but I can never find them

Hi Huph I did an Insta location search for the Royal Albert Hall, lots of beautiful pictures of the competitors at the Internationals last night. I love looking at the dresses and competition hair and makeup, stunning! If you do that you'll also see a handful of pics of Gio, Gorka, Neil, Katya, AJ and Chloe with different people as well as that lovely one of Gio and Laura.

Will we see Mick in their Quickstep training VT?

I can't believe it's Friday, studio day today and show day tomorrow whooooop

Some lovely pics there Ochre thank you - and enjoying some of the competition clips on Insta from last night as well. Note to self... book tickets for the Royal Albert Hall next year!

Looking forward to Jeremy Vine on ITT tonight - hope we get another training clip!

Not appreciating all the Will Young stories swirling around.. and I see we have 'Brendan and Anastacia arguing' stories again.

Its quite remarkable that the press have put Laura and Gio under the microscope, and all they have found is two people working very, very hard; with a friendly relationship and going to the odd dance-related event. That is it. And, shockingly, EATING A CHICKEN BURGER together.

Hope we get to see Mick! They might do a 'comedy' VT where Gio send himself up by pretending to be scared of him

Gio, Neil, Chloe and Ore showing some moves at the Soap Awards party - don't think Laura was at this one but I remembered Neil's 'curtains' outfit!

In complete contrast to the Soap Awards boogying....

Here is a lovely clip from the Royal Albert Hall last night of one of Gio's dance inspirations, the rather charming Stefano di Filippo and his amazing partner Dasha. Dancing a Rrrrrruuuuuumba.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLih2MHj1kA

THAT is a dance and a half.

Oh yes that is very lovely, thanks for posting. Gio also did a lovely rumba with Jo at an event to Beyonce's 'If I were a boy', the video is on Facebook somewhere.

I may officially have a thing for Italian dancers now.

BIB Ha ha that would be brilliant!

And thank you for that clip, love it

Here's another lovely pic of Laura from the Internationals.

Wow, thanks for posting LL. You can get a great flavour of the night by watching some of the clips can't you. Incredible skill.

I particularly love the ballroom, here's the Quickstep . . . Wonder if this inspired Laura

Ooh lovely bit of Albert Hall QS there - thanks Ochre.

QS training clips from ITT continue to look very good - Gio is pushing hard in training isn't he. I still think that Danny's QS looks a bit skippy.. Laura posted a few snippets of her dancing to Justin Timberlake (again ) in her training room so seemed in good spirits. Its great that she is positive and with an upbeat attitude for the show tomorrow - that will really help her.

Loved the 3-way Alijaz, Gorka and Gio interview with Gethin. I am so glad that they are putting Gethin on the case for the backstage interviews as he has the knack for asking the right question of the right person - he is very, very good. Also loved Gio replying 'Well, it's just a dance-off......' in a no-big-deal tone.

OT I wonder if this week Greg will be bottom 2 in terms of judges scores - I haven't seen him actually do any convincing salsa hip action yet. And with a wrist injury stopping their lifts.. he can't avoid the dance content. Such a shame he has the injury. Anastacia's rumba is going to be much lower scoring than Daisy's. I wonder which of Naga and Lesley will have the lower scoring Charleston?

From the training clips Laura and Giovanni's QS looked better then Danny and Oti's, let's hope tomorrow night is the same.

Not really impressed with Naga's charleston and I don't think a salsa will suit Greg. Thought Daisy looked good.

L & G snippets from ITT tonight

Friday Panel Jodie Prenger, Jeremy Vine, Marian Keyes

On Laura & Gio . . .

Training clip shown with some reeeeally fast footwork.

Marian compliments Laura on being a brilliant dancer and thinks it's a great song.

Jodie thinks Quickstep is hard as the footwork is so quick but Laura's a great dancer and is a bonny girl.

Jeremy comments that once you've been in the dance off panic can set in. 'You've been in a dance off, you know you're hanging by a thread and it gets more frightening than it already is'. Marian asks him if it affects your confidence, Jeremy says he thinks it does and that he really felt for Laura. Jodie asks him if he's reliving it right now, Jeremy 'yes, sorry, is there a red light up there'

Gethin interviewing (and flirting a bit with) Laura in the Quick Change area.

She likes Ore's current look of sparkly dance top with his casual trousers and then smart shoes.

Laura's in her slippers which she laughingly shows off as the latest design. Says her toes aren't a pretty sight at the moment as they get a little cut up with all the dancing.

Bruises from the lifting practise have healed quickly. Mam Whitmore came over last week with iron supplements and all sorts for Laura so she says she just needed her Mother really

Gethin asks Laura if preparing for the Strictly live show is like preparing for a live presenting gig.

Laura 'It's so much scarier because you're not in control at all and I'm dancing, I can't talk. Normally I talk my way out of stuff.'

Second Quickstep Training VT

Beginning sequence shows routine definitely has a rock vibe to go with the music.

Laura: 'In my head a Quickstep is a dance with steps that are really quick.'

Gio: 'Going to be a quick quick Quickstep. It's not just quick it's quick quick quick.'

'Jump, fast, strong, good posture, don't move your head, shoulder down.'

Laura: 'I feel like it's quite a workout this week, learning this routine.'

Little bit of frustration shown from both, understandable as training looks exhausting. They have clearly been working very hard indeed. Exciting for tomorrow!

Lovely VT with slowed down clips of the celebs dancing including Laura & Gio's beautiful Waltz.

Laura: 'Songs have always been really special to me. When you watch someone dance to a song it really just brings it alive."

Hot new Strictly boyband

And finally we are introduced by Gethin to new boyband G. A. G. otherwise known as Gorka, Aljaz and Gio Aljaz reminding me a bit of Morton Harket there, 'Take on Me' anyone?

Gio moves Aljaz in to the middle to get the lineup right

Some nice words from Gorka about Tameka and plenty of banter from the three of them with Gethin but I'll concentrate on the Gio snippets.

'Love Gorka, he's a good guy.'

On how this week has been after the dance off: 'It's been good. It's just a dance off, you just work hard all week and fight again, that's all you need isn't it.'

Really early for a pro dance rehearsal, he's still sleeping.

Starts to sing 'I Feel Good' as Gethin asks about the tribute to James Brown and Motown pro dance.

Aljaz discusses attending last night's Internationals Competition for inspiration and tips. Gio mentions that Laura came and 'It's good if they come and watch our world . . . some Rumba tips, some Quickstep tips. After 2 hours she left, she was so bored that's the thing.' Aljaz says Daisy stayed but she doesn't know yet that he and Gio got so inspired they changed all the steps for today ha ha.

Love all the banter between them.

The guys head off for pro rehearsal with Gethin begging Gio to let him cameo in their boyband. Gethin has still got it, let him in the band guys! That would be one dream line up.

Off to watch Gethin's Jive

Thanks for posting Ochre.

I loved Gethin when he was on the show, glad to see him back.

That was one pretty hot boyband

Not sure if I agree with Jeremy about hanging by a thread if you are in the dance off. It could be a one off in which the couple bounces back the next week. Well I hope so anyway in Laura and Giovanni's case
Last edited by Huph : 14-10-2016 at 22:01

I got the impression Jeremy was reliving his own experience while empathising with Laura rather than it being a comment on where he sees her standing in the competition.

Really excited for their Quickstep tomorrow Huph, love that they're not playing safe with the routine. I believe in these two, I see them going a long way.

I thought that with Jeremy too. Being in the DO was obviously a big thing for him...

Training video. Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy... Laura and Gio's QS is RAPID

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlyc...8-09c5629de22b

Blimey! Thanks Ochre! Thank you for all the transcripts you do. That's a real labour of love

Ah doesn't take me long and I enjoy it. Like to catch all the details and writing things down helps me remember.

Love all the ITT and backstage stuff almost as much as the main show

Speaking of which thank you for the training VT, super speed and I'm liking Laura's determination a lot.

I think it's looks so full on that it's going to either be completely incredible or pretty raggedy. Obviously I'm hoping for the former! I love that they're going for it to this extent

It's show day!! Looking forward to an electric and perfectly hectic Quickstep

Laura, Gio, Daisy, Neil, Aljaz & Janette having dinner last night at their hotel.

Love that write up of ITT and all the details - thanks so much Ochre. I agree the backstage moments are always fascinating. It was nice to hear Gorka speak so warmly about Tameka - what a gent. Gorka for 2017 again please!

It really looks as if Gio has choreographed a routine that can achieve a high score if they can perform it well, they have trained really hard and both seem in the right frame of mind. Its good to see Gio picking up on all the details in training - he is going to get the best out of Laura which is absolutely right - totally professional in his slightly whacky Sicilian way.

It was also really good to see the Friday Elstree group dinner picture on Insta. Although Daisy and Laura are, in reality, competing against each other, I get absolutely no sense of rivalry (tabloids always love that sort of story), just mutual support.