Replaced by Katie Hopkins? I sense they were cashing in on reactionary hatred post Trump instead of hopeful work about educating girls. I hate the world sometimes.
Good on Laura for supporting that cause, it's so vital. As a highly educated woman I'm always aware women have had to fight for it, my own Grandmother was stopped from continuing on at school and sent into domestic service. I know many women pioneers in my field (and others) were working at universities they couldn't even graduate from (this in during the 20th c!).
It's tragic that so many girls in the world today don't get a chance purely because they are girls and others risk thier lives to get an education and to teach. Knowledge is power.

I fully agree with this.

Knowledge is power, and some loathsome humans are terrified of a strong woman.

Giovanni looking all Rodin esque and pensive (and very sexy) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04g3t24/p04g3sq3

It shouldn't be allowed

Gio with a big smile and off and about bright and early this morning with Gorka and.... is that Luba Mushtuk?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMvpWzdD...=gorka_marquez

If you follow Neil Jones, Gorka or AJ on Instagram, there were quite a few boys dressing room clips on Instagram Stories of some very dodgy singing by the boys. Including a bit of Nina Simone.. New Dawn, New Day etc. Gio looking very happy and relaxed and back on form, actually, I thought.

I enjoyed the show last night... just one dance couple missing of course

The lady in the Insta pic with Gio and Gorka is Kim Winston, one of the Strictly producers.

Gio's seemed happy and relaxed both on camera and in backstage interviews all series. Last weekend was always going to be tough for both him and Laura. It's a shame she won't get to dance in the Tower Ballroom.

That's another thing I like about Laura - that she takes time to support good causes.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsVEVB6WIAAQ9sJ.jpg

Lovely picture of Gio, Kevin and Alijaz ready to rehearse today.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxJS7pBWIAEpyQd.jpg

Its quite tough for the professional dancers still in the competition ALSO to spend Sunday rehearsing...

I think its great that Laura has put her own time and energy into supporting such good causes - credit to her for that.

Look between Gio and Kevin! Who is that, poor attempt at a photo bomb, try harder next time random eye person!

That goes with the territory, once you are out of a competition no pressure, just enjoy.
Except Pasha, all the other pros are just goofy, once they are voted out.

Am guessing that the mystery 'eye' belongs to Gorka - Twitter has guessed it is Brendan.. but all the pros are at rehearsal today for Blackpool... so who knows!

Its nice to have confirmation that Gio is in the pro routine at Blackpool

Social Media watch update: Laura is following GIo on Twitter again.

Maybe she is also impatiently waiting for the reveal of The Big News....

Laura recording a voice-over - I think possibly to a documentary - at a Soho recording studio today.

Over the weekend I received my brochure about the Spring season of productions at my local theatre, and it's also got a page about forthcoming attractions later in the year. One of them is Laura in the Peter James thriller at the beginning of June, so she must be staying with the play for quite a while.

Ha ha yes she might miss the big news otherwise

That's nice to hear

Hi StrictlyRed

Yes the tour runs from January through to June, Shane Richie is performing in the dates through until April, I'm not sure about Laura.

I see from tonight's ITT that someone let Gio loose with a microphone at Elstree at the weekend

Come back, Gethin

Actually, Gio was quite OK and very cheerful - he managed to make Greg pull a better paso face than he managed on the live show on Saturday

I loved Gio backstage, he has a bit of an adorably dorky air going on. If it isn't related to his big news (what a tease it's been days now!) he could totally do presenting!

I reckon Gio and Jo would make a great presenting double act, she was cracking me up on the ITT backstage VT too

One of my all time Strictly faves, the gorgeous Sophie EB tweeted this earlier . . .

Catching up on @bbcstrictly results and I'm so sad to see @daisylowe go. I think both Daisy and @thewhitmore deserved to get to the final.

Well said Sophie

Beautiful shot of Laura.

Mick alert! He's in Laura's Instagram story meeting his soft toy look a like - too cute!

Well.. today's press is not a great read. This is an appreciation thread.. but I think its fair to say that there will be a grain of truth in the reports (more in the Sun, Mirror etc) together with a lot of tabloid embroidery.

I think on this thread we thought, overall, that there was a decent working relationship with the usual ups and down, that seemed friendly and professional, but not a close friendship.

The Strictly producers will not like this sort of story hitting the press.

The Sun story came first - Dan Wootton who has never been a fan of Laura - followed by the Mail story which has some different sources.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...-pernice-feud/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...e-Dancing.html

Laura has said via Twitter 'so far off the truth, there's not even a point in commenting'

Good for Laura. She's got more sense than to make an "official come back" to such a load of trumped up nonsense. Doubtless we'll have the "but if she doesn't deny it then it must be true" statements from her non-fans but I really hope she ignores them.

When dealing with tabloids no one wins. You deny it you're obviously covering it up or you ignore it and it's obviously true. 'Sources' always 'sources'. It's either made up OR if anyone does go to the tabloids about thier friends or colleagues they're obviously not the nicest person & probably full of crap!

Laura can't win from this point onwards - just as you say Lou and Chachacio - any statement just triggers the next round of 'Laura DENIES x y z' stories.

If I were her PR - and if I were a BBC Strictly press person, I would want a photograph of Laura, sitting next to Gio and various other Strictly people at dinner and smiling their little faces off. No more comments or interviews. Just a picture. Inviting the press article 'Laura laughs off ridiculous rumours etc etc'. Get them down to Blackpool and eating chips from the same wrapper etc.

I would like to see a BBC press statement very, very soon saying in code 'what a load of nonsense' ... its overdue.

What is actually said in the papers

Hello Lewis

If you look at my post earlier today, you will see a link to the stories in the Sun and the Mail. All the other press articles are just re-hashing those stories.

The Sun says, basically, that Laura and Gio didn't get on very well behind the scenes.

The Mail adds to that by saying that Laura sent text messages to Gio that crticized his work (which technically would be bullying IF IT WERE TRUE).

Neither the Sun or the Mail have named their sources.

Laura's representatives have responded to the Mail by saying this afternoon

A spokesperson for Laura Whitmore told MailOnline: 'Laura did not send abusive texts and is very hurt by these accusations.'

Gio has made no public comment at all. Laura has simply said on her Twitter that the articles are untrue and upsetting.