I noticed the subdued mood as well. I think it was the first week that a few of the contestants really, really thought they might be Bottom 2 (without Laura) which had a big part to play.

I am surprised that the decision went up to the wire - should have been knocked on the head by 10 am on Saturday latest (assuming they wanted to see what a rest on Friday did to help the leg). It all does sound a bit of a drama, I agree.

I hope she is dancing

Agree completely about the late, late, way too late decision. With such swelling, what improvement could have been expected in that time? The only sensible thing was to withdraw. Whether the delay was Laura hoping or producers panicking or doctors dithering, who knows. Maybe they were all factors. But with a live show to prepare, you'd think an unwelcome but certain fact more useful than all that uncertainty right up to the wire

Hello Lewis. We think that Laura is planning to train this week assuming her leg is up to it and all being well is planning to dance on Saturday.

She is still officially in the competition - that means that she must be scheduled to dance on Saturday as she can only skip one week through injury..

I think though its realistic to say that it is a day-by-day decision for her as her injury might flare up again.

Just a thought. The BBC announcement was 4 pm or so on Saturday. They might have held it back.

Laura was certainly at Elstree on one of Friday or Saturday. Was it actually Friday?

We all hope that Laura and Gio are dancing (as long as the medics say that she is fit to do so. )

There was a weird atmosphere on Saturday. Hope it's better this week.

If Laura does withdraw I hope they have a week free elimination so that we don't have a two person final.

Agree with both those points. It was a bit flat last week.

I actually even wish they would have an elimination free week this week and go back to a four person final. I like quite a few of the celebrities this year and wouldn't mind a bit seeing a few more through to the end - it would improve the show for me.

Me too! The competition side is the worst thing about the process for me. If they'd just learn to dance without the horrors of elimination, and focus on the ups and downs of the training, I'd find all the drama and interest I need right there

We are less than half way through the competition, so I don't imagine TPTB would be thrilled at the thought of a 2 person final this early on. There's still plenty of time for even more mishaps.

An elimination free week would at least give some breathing space if Laura has to withdraw.

Saturday, she specifies it was show day that at her insistence she saw the two further physios and doctors, all the information she's given ties in to the Mirror report that she was seen by those professionals then sent home less than three hours before the show aired.

Laura was seen Thursday and Friday and advised against dancing and has said herself she refused to accept that. I'm sure the producers would have preferred an earlier announcement, both the Mirror report and Laura herself relate she was distraught backstage. It must have been clear to all those involved she couldn't dance and a difficult atmosphere for everyone when they're worried about her but trying to get psyched up to perform on the live show in front of millions themselves.

When she was in pain training Tuesday and Wednesday I'm bemused as to why she was out those nights as well!

Well we should know which dance she will be doing if she stays - it's Tunes on Tuesday.

I guess her mind copes by being active and engaged. Other minds close down, or grow anxious. People give up. Turn inwards. Run away. Deny the reality... There's no right or wrong in a person's characteristic response to pain or pressure, IMO, except that sometimes people might need saving from themselves.

I can't tell if they're saying the danger was primarily from the swelling (which, if it was that, would have been a genuinely dangerous condition) or the risk of further soft tissue injury. I speak as someone who has watched TV medical dramas. AKA an expert. But gawd, she has to be led by medical advice.

PS I very much respect the sympathy you show to everyone else preparing to going live in your post

Hi - just popping in from next door. I've not been particularly supporting any one couple this year - though have a few favourites. I feel for Laura - it sounds like a horrible injury (I sprained my ankle last year falling off a pavement (!) and it was horrendous!). I've been enjoying reading Laura's blog each week. I was just re-reading her blog properly (as I read it on my phone out and about earlier) and oddly it seems to have been edited and the bit about her asking for her ankle to be strapped up before the quickstep - and not mentioning it to Gio - seems to have been removed, unless I'm going mad (which is quite possible!). I'm not saying this to be accusatory (I doubt there was any pressure for her to edit the blog or anything like that) - though I think it would have been wise for her to tell Gio that she had an injury that he could have then worked around (if she had been injured that early they might have helped her by picking a dance other than the jive - though I agree, she probably thought it was nothing to worry about). Also, the bit about her going trampolining has gone too (except for the picture!) - maybe she realised both of these things sound like bad ideas in retrospect (not that the trampolining was her fault - bloody stupid producers and their "comedy VTs!").

I hope she recovers well - and doesn't have to pull out. Though obviously not if it risks long term injury.

EDIT - blog link http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/cel...e-dancing-blog

They've got the Tango this week to Paint It Back by the Rolling Stones. I can't decide if I like the song for them yet, although I'm verging on the side of no.

I don't blame Laura for desperately wanting to dance through her injury, though as an onlooker I can say it was silly and am very glad she wasn't allowed. I imagine it's very easy to get caught up in the Strictly experience and lose a lot of common sense in a situation like this - I also think she wouldn't have wanted Gio to leave the competition in those circumstances. I'm not sure if I'm expecting a lot of support for her this weekend, but it will be nice to see them back ONLY if medical professionals deem it okay.

In that list of songs, I think Laura and Gio can count themselves lucky

True - Black Magic for an American Smooth

Gio got an excellent tango out of flipping Ghostbusters last year, so I have faith. It's moody and dramatic. It could've been much worse. Poor Claudia- her ballroom music choices have been baffling. Fingers crossed Laura's ankle is ok.

They are on ITT tomorrow, so we should learn a bit more then.

Hi, thanks for that. I still had the original version of Laura's blog entry open, she's significantly edited it. She's taken out the info that she had her ankle strapped by the on site physio before the Quickstep and didn't tell Gio. Also as you say the part about trampolining though the photo's still there.

She's also completely removed the part about seeing two doctors and two physios on show day and changed it to seeing one of each on Friday and the advice not to dance being given then

Actually quite like the song for Laura and Gio. Some weird music choices again this week.

Looking forward to ITT tomorrow

Wonder why her blog was edited

That is odd. I hadn't noticed that bit - it was the bit about not telling Gio that I noticed initially and then couldn't find the bit about trampolining. I hadn't spotted the changes re the medical advice, but that seems to be directly contradictory on factual stuff, rather than just deleting particular comments. I didn't flag it up to be provocative (more informative) but actually, I think I should step out of this thread now, as I'm not sure I have anything to positive to contribute.

Wow re the blog changes. Thanks Ochre for keeping the original!

I noticed yesterday that Brendan, via his PR, put out on Twitter a minor correction to his blog. It was around something he said about Bruno as a joke. His tweet smelled to me as if he had been asked to 'clarify and correct' .

So I think (just a guess) that Laura has been 'asked to clarify and correct'.

There are many many many changes in the wording, tone and content.

I notice that 'We discussed the option of an injection....'. has appeared. We know how that was phrased in Version 1

There is no reason that I can think of for Laura herself spontaneously to delete the trampolining reference. BBC sensitivities, for example (just speculating here) would TOTALLY explain it. The reference to the Executive Producers, which was there, has also gone.. It just says 'production team'

Oh well. I guess they are trying to smooth it all over.

Wicks - I think that TPTB have asked for heavy edit to try to close down the story. I would imagine that Version 1 was accurate on the events but not helpful in shutting down a possible 'Beeb are careless' line of enquiry.

Ochre - looks like 'they' have asked Laura to take out all references to events and decision making on Saturday. And to 'end the story' on Friday. There must be some sensitivities.

I understand that they might want her to leave out references to eg the trampolining. But the contradictory changes to the medical advice taken (and when) don't do any of them any favours - and I don't see how it was originally stated would have painted the BBC as careless. Neither version is worse than the other but the fact that it's changed is what looks odd.