I thought they looked good in the clip we saw. We have not seen much of them at all this week. Think I prefer it when they are on ITT later on in the week.

I'm really looking forward to seeing their jive - Laura always puts so much energy into her dances and I reckon her Irish dancing experience might help her too.

It just feels as though she's been pretty quiet on social media in the last few days, which is rare for her, though there could of course be a multitude of reasons for that!

We only know really that the training clip looked fast, great synchro and technique looking good. We also know that Gio was fine as he was at the pro rehearsal (I think that is Friday footage, not Monday footage) and he tweeted this morning. Its a bit of a puzzle

I think that Laura has some difficulty - which might be totally non-Strictly related. I really don't think its a 'simple' training-related illness/injury/cold. Laura would have made a comment about her legs falling off or whatever.

Their social media silence might simply be that they are both catching up on training to get ready for Saturday. On the other hand, Laura has been off social media for about 24 hours now so that doesn't feel as if all is well.

I haven't seen either of them in the background of any other social media bits and pieces - there is normally a Friday Elstree dinner pic or two later this evening.

Edit: Laura has just liked a picture on Instagram (posted by the Editor of Glamour magazine) so... things can't be that bad.

OT If anyone wants to howl with laughter, on Ed Balls Facebook page you can watch a short video of him having a spray tan.

It is ... errrr... unsettling. But very, very funny.

Morning.


I saw this yesterday evening! Very funny, especially all of his little screeches and screams.

There is a headline on the front page of the newspaper that at least 5 dancers are ill, so fingers crossed that L and G aren't part of this, bearing in mind the recent tweets.

Morning

It's Jive show day!!

Fingers crossed all is well, can't wait to watch Laura & Gio tonight and I really hope she enjoys herself on the dancefloor as this is the one she wanted to learn most. Now she can Jive at weddings with her Mum and Aunts

Will be voting like mad, Team Lovanni to make Halloween Week!

I hope Laura or Gio post something on twitter. Very strange that Laura has been so quiet on social media

Seems to be one thing after another this year on strictly so I hope everything is okay between team Lovanni

On the BBC website, there is an In Training Week 5 video of all the celebs with a few new bits and pieces

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlyc...e-81cef38f8811

Laura and Gio are towards the end. Its just 10 seconds, but again looking very good.

Laura talks about how the Jive is her mother's favourite dance. Its a brief clip but very heartwarming. It makes me really want to see this dance tonight even more.

Even if there have been some bumps in the training road this week (seems possible doesn't it?), Laura has learned to jive and can now join in the fun at the Whitmore clan family parties.

Keeping an eye out for any news today. Actually, I have noticed that many of the pro dancers and celebs are MUCH quieter on social media over the past couple of days. So I think there might well be a bit of a lurgy going round as the press say.

Personally, if there is a bug going round, I wouldn't mind the producers cancelling eliminations this week, filling up the Sunday results show with Len's Lens and highlights clips etc and letting everyone through to Halloween. They would then have a 4 person final (Yay ) or scope to do a double elimination later in the series. And a bit of insurance against another unexpected exit due to injury/illness.

It is seeming like on Thursday Laura was concerned about something and may still be feeling the same.

Best wishes, whatever it is, and hope things become better.

Still radio silence ..... drums fingers... waiting for news. Sending out positive thoughts.

Random fact: This appreciation thread has been viewed 54,000 times. And we have now overtaken the Gleb Savchenko Appreciation thread.

So its official. Laura and Gio are More Appreciated than Gleb (despite his amazing Gleb Specials).

BIB
It's strange and interesting that this thread gets so many visits, yet they ended up in the dance off.

Maybe it has to do with the Irish viewers who can't vote?

I do think that could at least be a factor.

Looking forward to tonight and hoping everything is okay

Did you see his DWTS Argentine Tango?

I think as well there's probably an element of the Georgia/Gio thread visiting to see if there are snippets of Georgia news... it's inevitable there's an overlap of interest and that thread gets a lot of traffic.

Bit nervous about tonight. Some on the MF are speculating Laura and Gio could be in the DO again... I don't personally have that same instinctive doomy feeling that was there on the Salsa week but it's getting tight. Especially since the contest has been framed as Danny vs Ore. A very few votes could make the difference for the rest.

Got to get up on the top half of the board again!!

I kinda feel that she may end up in the dance off but hope I am wrong - as I said I am always a pessimist

Anastacia dancing with Gorka may work to her advantage and I feel if Ed wasn't in the dance off after last week's fiasco who else is left

I suppose the other contenders could be Rob Rinder and Greg. They've not improved really on the impact of their striking first-week dances though they seem popular. I feel Anastacia might be there again... Tbh I can see her being in the DO until she leaves, which isn't really 'fair' in pure dance terms but after two DOs it starts to look like the pattern. If Ed doesn't make a mistake this week, that could be his undoing too.

Dunno!

It's really hard to call this week

That's kind of how I feel too. Ore, Danny and Louise are very, very safe, Daisy too I think. I imagine Ed will get through again although I'm starting to find the whole thing not very funny. I think Gorka will see Anastasia through to next week and Judge Rinder seems to have a pretty unrelenting fan base! I wonder if Greg could be in the DO.

Of course I don't think Laura & Gio should be in the DO at all, she is a good dancer and improving every week, but it seems a really tight competition this year. Very strong. I at least want them through to Halloween week!

Yes I hope they stay until next week..at least.

Keep telling myself be positive

Good luck to Gio and Laura tonight we have been worried in the GG thread about both of their silence today especially after their last couple of tweets

Hope everything is ok with training etc especially as it's a dance Laura has really been looking forward to I am going to be positive and take it as no news is good news 😀

I must admit I can see them in the dance off tonight- but only because they have already been there and I suspect Anastasia dancing with gorka plus the bottom 2 bounce may work in her favour! I hope gio and Laura sail through though I just have no idea who else might be in the dance off! It's a tough year

Oh no Laura has just tweeted saying she's absolutely devastated

Hope she is ok though whatever it is it doesn't sound too good

Somethings not good. Laura is absolutely devastated.

Ankle injury. BBC have more.

Sadly Laura Whitmore will not perform on tonight's show due to an ankle injury sustained earlier in the week. She has been checked by a doctor and the medical team on site and they have advised that she rests her ankle and does not dance this weekend. Laura joins Brendan on the Strictly sidelines, who has also had to pull out tonight due to a chest infection.

As per the rules of Strictly Come Dancing - because Laura and Giovanni cannot dance on tonight’s show - they will receive a bye through to next week and the show will continue with a public vote as per usual. Wish Laura a very speedy recovery below!

How horrible. I hope it's a recoverable injury for next week but how horrible to miss the jive that she wanted to do. Maybe she can do it the week after if she's better.

(Knew in my waters Laura wouldn't be in the DO but didnt think it would be for this reason)

Oh wow bless her I bet she is absolutely gutted

Every cloud I guess at least you guys won't have to nervously await who has gone!

Wishing Laura a speedy recovery!

I hope Laura gets well soon I thought her Jive would have been her best dance.