I don't think it will relate to his personal life. I am sure Giovanni has learned that having your "private" life blasted all over social media accounts a) give the trolls fodder to be abusive and b) gives people who are too invested an idea that they actually know you. I've said it before but I don't think he will be back on Strictly next year - there's nothing for him in the UK and having had all that abuse from both his fans and non fans, why would he bother?

I don't think it's got anything to do with Gio. I can understand her being upset about the way things turned out, but I still believe, if Laura had agreed to do the tour, she would have had a better dance for week 7. It's sad that so many things went wrong,
but Laura has to move on, can't be in a negative place and bitter.

This year is nothing like another, only a few of the other winners would have made it to the final. We have two very popular Olympians who are dancing well,
Ed and Robert with their own fanbase and we know what happens with Kevin.

I think Gio will back next year.

I don't think Laura can blame Gio for her strictly experience not being as she expected. To me their relationship seemed fine but obviously we don't know what went on between them.

Being on Strictly is like having a temporary job.

Laura and Giovanni worked very well together, produced the best chemistry of all the couples on the dancefloor, and as far as I could tell, got along fine and did well.

I don't think Laura and Brendan would have been as good a pairing.

Are Laura and Giovanni going to be lifelong friends? - probably not. Why should they?

As Laura said in that interview, she only has one life. She is moving on - to doing some more acting.

An injection of humour into a dark world, courtesy of Aliona...
L & G as Hillary and Donald
Laura and Gio have both responded so at least they can see the funny side

If it stays up long enough, I think Laura and Giovanni's CCC may become the most viewed Strictly dance ever.

The direct link. (Aliona only pointed it out).

https://www.facebook.com/FredAstaire...type=2&theater

Hi Lou Gio's friendship and professional partnership with Jo is what originally brought him over here and introduced him to the Strictly family and through Jo and his two series he has a lot of professional opportunities and personal friendships over here now.

We know Natalie signed a 2 year contract and it may well be Gio has too. He's tweeted about a couple of work engagements in the first half of next year where there's no professional partner named (Jo being busy with Thoroughly Modern Millie) but think it likely they'll perform together between that and the next series. Perhaps he will be working with a non Strictly pro when Jo isn't available.

I'm pretty sure his announcement will be for the New Year and work related. Aside from a slight blip last Saturday he was an excellent teacher and mentor to Laura and created some of the best Ballroom routines on this series so far. Next year will be easier I think, he's now more established on the show in his own right.



Thanks Sarah, I get you. I don't want to go in to detail about why I think there has been an issue between her and Gio other than to specify I think it may be professional rather than personal.

You know I'm not a big social media user and not one for dissecting every post and like but considering Laura does post prolifically and is continuing to follow other celebs and pros from this series it does seem odd she's unfollowed Gio again albeit I agree about getting a sense it's best for her to move on positively. I've seen she's retweeted that Samba clip and the hilarious Hillary and Trump performing their Cha Cha Gif but she has almost made a point of not directly thanking Gio on social media since their exit, of not directly replying to his tweets and on Insta posted a CIN photo with Aljaz instead of Gio and other pics with Strictly celebs but not him. It's strange precisely because Laura is always so professional and it doesn't take much to post up a favourite photo from one of their dances with a direct public thank you to Gio for the fans who voted every week to see. I like her friendships with Ore, Daisy, Aljaz and others but it's Laura & Gio dancing I became captivated by and voted for.

I think I have some inkling as to why but it is a shame that there's any sour note. They achieved so much together.

That's the oddest thing I've seen in a while!

I hope you're right, I think I'm just in a really grumpy place this week It's one thing (and bad enough) to have the trolling from people who don't like you but from his alleged "fans" it must be have been awful.


Hi Ochre! I know we can't say too much on here and I understand why you're not elaborating. I suspect that Laura has had so much ridiculous grief over her "relationship" with Giovanni that she's pulled all the plugs. For the record, I don't blame the PTB, it was a given that those two were going to be paired up together. I know people come up with mad theories (myself included!) but to assume that a last minute change was made because Giovanni wasn't going out with Georgia any more is frankly bonkers as it makes the assumption that they wouldn't have paired Giovanni and Laura together out of respect for their relationship! What about all the other professional dancers in relationships? Mad.

I just find it strange that she has only unfollowed Gio Laura is not stupid and knows that people would notice this and therefore give people more reason to talk. She could have just left things as they were and no one would have batted an eyelid.

Maybe I am just hoping that they didn't end on a sour note and looking at things differently

The pairing was as I understand it a last minute change - it wasn't what Brendan expected, certainly. There was a rumour that this is Brendan's last year - I always wondered if the producers wanted to spring Anastacia on Brendan as a happy surprise pairing. He was genuinely delighted on the launch show. Anastacia was also genuinely surprised - we found out as the show went on that she was not good at hiding her feelings

You then, by default, end up with Gio/Laura. Which ticked another producer storyline box.

Not the best outcome for any of the four people involved, as it turned out. But Gio and Laura were the pairing with some great dances that I enjoyed tremendously this year.

Gio's big news is proving elusive... hope its worth the wait.

Definitely and I thought they had great chemistry on the dance floor.

I would have hated Gio with Anastacia and Laura with Brendan

I agree. It does seem odd and I really hope as well that there's no ill feeling between the two of them. Looking back, poor Laura looked so uncomfortable when Giovanni tried to be physically affectionate.

Oh well, it's chip paper now I suppose

But why? Surely the PTB would have a clear idea from the outset who they wanted dancing with who? I can't see any reason or logic for making changes late in the day.

Anastacia was a trained dancer and her Latin should have been great. It just somehow never happened with Brendan. I rather think that Gio would have done quite a bit better. But I am really, really glad that Gio didn't have to cope with her injury, the storm around Melvin's exit, and the fallout from that. It was a challenging situation even for Brendan and needed first-language diplomatic skills. I felt very sad that Anastacia had such a difficult injury during the course of the show - the women have had bad luck this year.

Because they wanted to surprise Brendan.

They didn't actually make a change, they just orchestrated the celeb/pro training down at Roehampton so that their thinking was not obvious to the pro dancers.

The producers wanted to re-run the 'Anton gets his best ever partner in Katie' storyline, but this time with Brendan. It worked last year....

Ohhhh, okay, I geddit! Thank you.

Thanks. Really funny, I am surprised it's still there, I would have thought BBC would have pulled the plug by now, they do own the rights. Hope they leave it, good to have a laugh.

On Friday ITT, Gethin interviews Gio, AJ and Gorka. In the chat about what Gio has been doing this week, he mentions 'working on some special projects'.... and AJ makes a side comment about 'big announcements' or something like that. Its a nice little chat with the three male pros and shows a good team spirit backstage.

Gethin also chats to Greg, Ore and Claudia. Greg mentioned that he was very sad that Laura was not backstage this week - he heard an Irish accent and was disappointed that it wasn't Laura. Very nice comment to make - well said Greg.

So.. no further news.. but it is looking like a professional announcement of some sort. I am thinking its more likely to be a tour or something of that nature.

Christmas special news: Pasha has Dr Hammy Pamela. Comedy gold. Frankie and Gorka will be lovely. Claudia has lovely Gethin.

And good news! Gio has finally found a shirt to wear. And a rather nice tailored suit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMrY5pBDRs4/

(Mind you... those trousers need a press.....)

https://instagram.com/p/BMrs0tiDlM0/ Gio and his Dad, blimey that is a likeness! That hair though ...

Amazing likeness - its a very cute picture.

I've always thought that Gio was the best partner for Laura and I still think that dance wise Lou. A few things including that mag interview have led me to believe she might have been happier on a personal and professional level with Brendan . . . or Aljaz but he and Daisy make a perfect partnership and I wouldn't change Team HappyDayz for the world.

Or Team Lovanni, I'm going to enjoy rewatching their amazing dances and hope both of their careers go from strength to strength


Great photos, very alike.

For those of you who don't use Snapchat, Laura was out and about in South Dublin last night, ending up in a Karaoke bar until the early hours or thereabouts. So in good spirits!

Songwatch: No Gypsy Kings. No Whitney. Quite a bit of U2 though.

Laura has tweeted a short message about her cancelled appearance on Friday's RTE Late Late Show. She was replaced by Katie Hopkins. A decision by the show's producers at the last minute.

Laura was due to be talking about her charity work for Plan Ireland raising awareness of girls' education - more details on her tweet. She wrote a very interesting article pre-Strictly about her trip to the Philippines.

I am really sorry that her appearance was cancelled - coming on top of the Strictly exit last week, a bit of a double whammy.

Katie Hopkins was a bit of a controversial guest.

http://www.thejournal.ie/katie-hopki...78066-Nov2016/

Craig RH's half term report in the Radio Times on the contestants included this assessment of Laura:

She looked beautiful out there and she and Giovanni made such a handsome pair. That said, you can perform a lovely dance every Saturday, but the real battle is winning votes. Laura needed a bit more personality in her dancing to make it sharper, more precise, and make her more captivating to watch.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...ots-and-dunces