Congratulations to Ochre on making Post 1,000 on this thread.

Happy Appreciating to everyone.

Oooh didn't notice, good job I said something sensible

Here's to the next 1000 posts supporting Laura & Gio

Congratulations Ochre

Let's hope the bad day is just about the dancing.

Laura's personality has surprised me. I didn't really know what to expect but I think she comes across lovely. Such a bubbly personality.

From ITT training footage today.. but taken on Tuesday I think... Laura's kicks and flicks were looking very good already. I hope that the training day today ended well and they are both feeling positive.

I've always thought that it must be a very scary moment each Thursday to leave the training room for, potentially, the last time. Quite sobering.

Nice to see that Laura is visiting (or being visited) by her VERY cute tiny goddaughter this evening. Its always good to see family and friends to cheer you up and put life in perspective.

Edit: I see Gio has decided to give the ladies a treat on Instagram. Ooo-errr, clutches pearls, etc. Old photo.. but not complaining.

Second edit: I have decided that Gio is obviously just trying to increase their public vote for Saturday. How remarkably self-sacrificing and generous of him to take his shirt off. Positively saintly.

Evening Huph I think Laura &Gio give the best interviews on ITT due to their lively personalities, chemistry and banter.

Another training clip on ITT, routine looks fast and complex. Laura's spins are amazing. Struggling a little with the kicks and flicks but sure she'll get there

Hi Huph and Ochre - agree that Laura is definitely coming across well. She said that she wanted to be better known to a family audience as one of her reasons for taking part in Strictly - I think she will find that lots and lots of people now know her and feel warmly towards her. I particularly like her unscripted style - its quite refreshing to see someone avoiding the 'formula answers' that you often hear on Strictly.

Exactly LL, none of the usual platitudes from either of them. Open, honest, funny, lots of interesting little anecdotes. I really enjoy rewatching their interviews and Gio's English is excellent.

That is a beautiful pic of Laura's Goddaughter in her tutu with Mick

Ha I just had to go and check insta after reading this, belissimo!

Buuuuut I'm not sure how I feel about dudes who shave their pits, dammit I want a man to be hairier than me! It's too much pressure!

Well... judging from the recent pro dance, step forward Mr Anton du Beke and his manly (and unwaxed) chest. One assumes that everything matches.. as it were.

I will now apply the brain-bleach etc.

Did you really need to go there?? Will not be able to sleep now thinking about Anton

I am just away to look at the pics on instagram.

Agree, hairy chest doesn't bother me but I do prefer hairy armpits. I know it's fashionable with young ones but just no . Showing my age here

Though maybe if it really catches on men will be messy grumpy if women are perfectly smooth and hairless once they too know the pain of gettting waxed!

Laura not sounding happy yesterday on twitter. Giovanni not sounding happy on twitter this morning. Something is wrong for sure.

I saw his tweet this morning. Getting a bit worried for them

Oh no. I hope neither of them are injured.

Hi issfan Just seen that, I really hope neither of them is injured.

Got to be completely honest and say I think it's best the celebs and pros only put negative posts about training like theirs on social media if they're going to explain why. Otherwise it just leads to speculation and worries fans perhaps unnecessarily. If the routine isn't working, if Laura can't get it all they can make changes.

Could be but with Brendan ill with a chest infection and Katyia hardly able to speak last night on ITT one or them may poorly.

I never even gave it a thought about them being injured. I just assumed the routine wasn't going too well, especially after Laura's tweet about it being a bad day.

Well.. adding a bit more pointless speculation (and why not )

Huph - if this is the 'Fingers crossed' tweet - I think its probably no more than Gio's Italian way of putting a positive message out there. Sometimes he uses phrases in English in not exactly the same way that a native speaker would. And I draw the line at trying to interpret his choice of emoji

In the past, Laura and Gio have spent Thursday's (I think) at the same studio as Janette/Gorka and their partners. It probably helps with confidence and motivation etc. I would think Laura, if she is struggling a bit (seems possible) will get a boost just from being around the gang again in the studio.

So... 'Feeengerrs crossed' etc.

And I agree with Ochre. Say nothing or say a bit more. Will no-one think of the Appreciators we can't handle the stress!

I am not known to be the most optimistic person so I am glad there are positive posters on this thread

Its more a case of resisting the temptation to go down the 'but WHAT DID HE MEAN by that sad face emoji etc etc etc'

It's a route to glittery madness

Hopefully Laura and Gio will feature during the behind the scenes bits on ITT this evening.

I hope everything's ok! It does seem to be a troublesome year so far with injuries and illness 🤕🤒
I have a sudden urge to go and give everyone on strictly a fluffy dressing gown and some hot drinks, they all seem to be in need of a duvet day!

Training looks pretty good, although I feel like we haven't seen much this week!

I'm a teeny bit worried this week. Those tweets haven't filled me with hope and I wish she wasn't following Ore's jive just a week later - I imagine Rinder's jive is going to be a crowd pleaser too, so I hope there isn't too much comparison from the audience. That said, I am an eternal pessimist and was worried last week when I really didn't need to be, so let's hope I'm proven wrong again!

Evening paperdreams

I agree, I thought the training clip looked really good. The tweets were out of character for both as far as their training tweets go, Laura's usually very open as to what she's finding tough. Nothing said tonight on ITT so hopefully no serious injury or illness.