Just caught this clip on Twitter, not bad at all considering the circumstances...
https://twitter.com/scd_uk/status/791696180669456384
Does Gio say his grandad is quicker?

(It had the audacity to rain today in Palermo, so nothing else for it than to go shopping and eat too much...the food here is amazing. Regarding your requests Claire-Louise and Lady L...I'll see what I can do but might exceed baggage allowance )

I watched that clip on ITT and didn't hear him say that until I watched it again, made me laugh

I'm not jealous of you at all

Haha don't be Huph, a massive diet awaits when I get home and it's only been two days!

I'm obviously a bit out of the loop with how all the other contestants are doing but L&G can only do their best under the circumstances, so just hoping they can go out there and enjoy every moment. Thanks to everyone for updates!

Laura attending the Unsigned Music Awards last night to co-host with Chris Stark.

Thanks for posting the link Ochre. Unusual outfit but she looks lovely. The usual comments from people as per usual re the DM.

Thanks Ochre - she's looking well, so fingers crossed for a good tango rehearsal.

Edit: Huph, I don't look at the DF comments. Whoever the celeb, the comments are always the same....

Hello all - Ochre thanks for posting that link. Laura looks lovely.

The mentality of the people who leave DF comments is

And it always seems to be female celebs who particularly attract the hate. Last year Helen George and Georgia, this year Daisy and Laura.. Criticised for smiling/not smiling/smiling TOO MUCH (what even is that??) etc.

Yummy Palermo street food Miss D.... so jealous.

MissD - The only person looking a bit poor in training clips is Ed Balls and his CCC. And Greg's rumba looked a bit 'stompy walk and pose' - along the lines of his CCC last week. All the others shaping up well so it will be a good show I think.. very tough to be in the top half of the leaderboard this week. Laura and Gio just need to do their best.

Yes! - last week was a weak one for several dancers. This week looks like a tougher one to get high enough on the leader board.

You can do your best and no more than that. Hopefully that will be enough.

I also hope they get a good VT. In this situation, you want the VT to help make people get on board by voting.

Fatskia - good point about the VT - hope they get a good one and also a good place in the running order.

Laura is owed a bit of a break on the VTs after the trampolining-with-strapped ankle disaster last week.

Having caught the end of Loose Women, it said that Laura was on the show next week. I think it said Monday but don't quote me. Thought you might like to know

Star thanks for letting us know

Hmm, funny you should say that.

A tweet to Marian Keyes appeared on my Twitter this morning ( I don't know why, I don't follow her), which said something like " I know you're agin him, but Giovanni is in Dublin", and she replied with "They must be doing an amusing VT", or words to that effect.

Ridiculous if true. Already behind with training, ankle still not perfect, and having to waste their time with a bl**dy daft VT?

Laura did have a lovely tweet from the author Peter James whose play she is going to be in, though, wishing her good luck with the tango.

OK.. the Red Mist of Silly VT Rage descends again. But it could be mistaken identity so wait and see I guess.

Just had a look at Marian Keyes Twitter account... and yes, someone did tweet her this morning that Gio was in Dublin.

Could be a silly VT, could have been a private engagement for Gio last night, could be nothing. We do know that Laura was working at an awards ceremony last night, so if they were filming.. they left early this morning.

I am really hoping it wasn't yet another repeat of last year's VTs. Gio went around Manchester with Georgia in a tedious 'Italy v Manchester' sketch. So I can well imagine an equally tedious 'Ireland v Italy' sketch. Which will do absolutely NOTHING to encourage British voters to vote for Irish Laura. And lots of viewers will be annoyed at 'BBC waste' on flights etc - there was a LOT of fuss about the unnecessary Paris trip for Kevin and Louise. I mean, if they want Gio to sip Guinness and pull a face etc.. London is not short of Irish pubs

I would have dressed up Mick in a cute Halloween costume and gone full tilt for the dog lover vote. 40% of UK households have a pet!

Hope its mistaken identity or a Gio private trip.

Well Gio was in the background of Gethin's clips from ITT tonight ... filmed at Elstree today. So maybe that Dublin sighting was bogus.

A bit more rehearsal footage of Gio and Laura Tango - it is looking improved again from the earlier clips.

Joanne and Ore and Louse and Kevin looking very very good this week.

Missed iTT and really can't be bothered catching up with it. Good to hear that the tango has improved

After all the fuss made of Louise and Kevin's trip to Paris I really hope he wasn't in Dublin with Laura.

Louse
They do indeed look very very good and I think Danny does too. Considering the short rehearsal time ... Laura looks good also. Hope she goes out and enjoys it. Halloween is such a fun, dress up, week!

The panel of Russell Grant, Lisa Snowden and Elaine Page was underwhelming. Russell was very rude about Ed Balls - which did make me think Mr Pot... meet Mr Kettle etc.
Craig was good value for his 5 minute slot. Brendan still looks ill but firmly says he is MUCH BETTER. I agree, a bit missable this week.

Oops unfortunate typo. Louise. Indeed.

Hoping its a fun night tomorrow after a bit of a flat show last week.

He was thoroughly bitchy- three times, I think. Zoe must have found that more than a little uncomfortable.

Laura's footwork was rather stompy, she was wearing trainers but even so more toe leads. Not sure which day footage was from, she'll have had to train in heels today I would think.

I'll be voting but I hope whatever happens she enjoys this weekend for itself. Also that Laura stays really focused on her partnership with Gio, I didn't think her ITT interview this week came over all that well.

Thought today's training looked actually about right on the footwork and vastly, vastly improved. The trainers make it look very clunky though, totally agree there. Don't forget that some steps even in Ballroom Tango e.g sidesteps/chasses would normally be a whole foot / ball/foot action. And obviously backwards walks are always toe first.

But totally defer to Fatskia here! Or Len when he gets his laser footwork focus out tomorrow

You can see Gio using the side of the foot beautifully which Laura can't risk doing I guess

Nice little tweet from Laura in reply to a question on Twitter 'Ian Waite was saying that your footwork needs to be correct, heel leads?' Laura said 'We're all over it!' So its reassuring.

I'll be voting too. I loved Gio's vim in referring to a Showdance but realistically we're going to have to make the most of every remaining week.

I just want her to not go out directly after having to take the bye. That'd be harsh

BIB
Defer to Len!

I don't know the correct footwork for Ballroom/Latin.

Comments on Strictly from Laura at the Unsigned Music Awards reported by the Mirror.

“I am a really confident person when it comes to presenting on TV but I’ve lost it. I feel like I’m not 100% me. When you start the show you’re so out of your depth.

I felt terrible last Saturday but I’ve given myself a new lease. You can only do your best.

“The support from everyone willing you on makes such a difference.

“I’m so happy to be here for Halloween. I’ve been watching Strictly every year and Halloween is the fun one - you have the hair and make-up and stuff.

“I’ve always wanted to learn the tango because you see it in movies. It’s going to be quite dramatic. The tango is quite a powerful face.

"My foot is gonna hurt no matter what so I’m just gonna use it. I’ll use it and channel it and there’s gonna be so much rage.”

(She confirmed to the Mirror she will take painkillers ahead of her performance.)

“You get so close to everyone. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much.

"I would never cry on TV - I’m a TV presenter. When I do I’m A Celebrity, they all cry and I’m holding it together and going to the ad breaks.

"Now I find myself in a situation where you’re not in control. You’re quite exposed. We’re all just crying all the time.

“I knew this was going to be full on but I didn’t realise how full on it was going to be. It’s physically tough, emotionally tough. You get so close to everyone.

“People forget it’s not just two hours we’re on TV. The whole weekend we’re with each other throughout all of that.”

OK mag article showing Laura arriving at training this week with both ankles strapped.