I'm amazed there hasn't already been a BBC statement LL. Doesn't reflect well on the show at all.

I'm also very disappointed that a number of Strictly pros and celebs including Gio haven't said anything publically to refute the bullying and abuse allegations. Laura's not a part of the clique so she's going to be professionally and personally hung out to dry all because she felt uncomfortable in the artificial situation she was put in by others, wouldn't play along with the storyline being written for her, spoke her mind and had a few arguments with her pro partner because they're both feisty personalities and clashed a bit?

One of the IAC producers and also Mark Jefferies from the Mirror have publically tweeted in support of Laura saying what a big heart she has and how lovely she is to work with. Anyone who follows her can see what a kind and big hearted lady she is.

She's a long time fan of the show yet gets embroiled in the middle of other people's personal and professional jealousies that have absolutely nothing to do with her through no fault of her own. Then suffers attempts to tarnish her professional reputation and meddling in her longstanding personal friendships.

Normally I'd champion keeping a dignified silence but in this case I think Laura's right to speak out.

I disagree that any criticism of Gio's work would technically be bullying.

If Laura had text him in the final week questioning his Samba choreo she'd have had a point. The Judges were right to call him out on it and I hope he took that on board. I don't think it would be a healthy working environment at all to say the celebs can't challenge the working methods or choreo of their pro at all if it doesn't work for them.

The difficulty here is that Laura's representative has said only this 'Laura did not send abusive texts and is very hurt by these accusations.'

That is a rather limited and narrow statement. It is careful.

The BBC normally operate within the news cycle. They seem to be having difficulty commenting on this one.

Gio should remain completely silent and leave it to the BBC to choose their words.

He was out at dinner last night with Daisy, Alijaz, Janette and Sarah Reygate from the BBC and, I guess, would have known that the article was due to come out, so he has friends on the show to support him.

So far this series, I've seen backstage leaks attacking Will Young, Anastacia, Naga, Louise, and now Laura. I have not seen anything (or have I missed it?) attacking with the same ferocity any of the pro dancers, the production staff etc.

If I were a celeb thinking about signing up in 2017, I would seriously ask myself whether it was worth the reputational risk.

Laura is taking a pasting on this. I expect that she and Gio disagreed behind the scenes from time to time - I would have thought that was 'business as usual' when you are working intensively to produce a difficult dance routine.

Why such a hostile story? Why this story? Why now?

Back in the day when Miliband was leader of the LP, the Daily Mail ran a story with a picture of the grave of Ed's father, Ralph. He was a proper old-fashioned, non-parliamentary lefty, but he loved this country and had great reason to do so, having arrived as a Jewish refugee during the Second World War.

The Mail had a speech bubble from the grave, literally; they drew it over the man's gravesite, making him say things that he would have abhorred

If they'll slander the dead and digitally desecrate a burial place, I don't think a celeb presenter or a Strictly dancer can expect fair play from the bastards.

They are bastards plain and simple. Paper was founded by fascists. They're shite

I completely agree that you can have a difference of opinion in the workplace, but you have to do it in the right way.

You can have a respectful difference of opinion on specifics without triggering a bullying complaint. So you can say, for example, I do not like X in this piece of work and would like to discuss some alternatives instead.

BUT If you say, for example, 'you are useless', 'you are stupid' 'your work is rubbish / shoddy/ poor/ careless/ cr*p' and you do that repeatedly, then you have moved into the territory of 'regularly undermining a competent worker'. Which is workplace bullying.

It is quite frighteningly easy for emails and text messages sent in the heat of the moment to fit the definition of bullying.

EDIT: I have no knowledge of the text messages between Gio and Laura but am drawing on management experience.

Totally agree with your post. I am not going mention anything about the gutter press,
but if there was some disagreement about the choreo, fair enough. Laura is the one dancing and if she was unhappy, she was right to question.

Len and Craig were really pissed off with Gio, that day. Last Saturday, Craig took another dig at Gio, probably went over his head.

The only occasion I can remember pro dancers being attacked in the press, it was all Jordan-related.

NOTE: I'm not saying Jordan-generated, necessarily. There was the Ola/Steve Backshall bullying story and the Karen/Ola row. But again, in both cases, they were stories that might affect the standing of people still competing. It's the weird after-the-event nature of this story I don't understand. Who gains? What's it for? All your questions...

Oh, and Kristina always got it in the neck too.

I believe Gio himself should refute the bullying and abuse allegations, should have already done so.

Laura really is being hung out to dry here, I guess she's finding out who her true friends are

That's a good place to start and finish.

Tell us what you really think Dervla

I remember the Miliband story. It was appalling. Politicians of all parties should be held to account on their own actions, not their parents (living or dead), their spouses or their children.

The Mail I think have three different sources for their story. That's enough to run with. Together with an embroidery kit to make it more spicy.

The press have not yet managed to stand up an actual Strictly Curse story this series. It can't be long.

I feel very sorry for Laura, who came on a show she loved to try and show her personality to a family audience and first gets accused of stealing a friend's man and then of being abusive. The Daily Mail comments are hideous (I know, I know, never read the comments!)

If there's no truth to it, Giovanni really should've defended her already regardless of whether they got on or not. These are nasty accusations.

Worth remembering that Gio, who is contracted to the BBC, can only speak with permission of the BBC. He literally can't comment - its his contract.

Yes, Laura is taking a pasting on this at the moment. Its not great. The BBC must surely be able to find something positive to say to smooth this over - as I said, they seem to be having some difficulty with this.

Totally agree Ochre. Just can't understand why Gio has not said anything

I noticed she wished Janette a happy birthday on twitter but not sure if Janette liked or tweeted anything back to Laura .

ETA LL Just saw your post about Gio being under contract.

Gio himself is often close to the bone with training comments on camera. Some of it's banter and it's just his teaching way to be direct and strict. Noone, especially not Laura is accusing him of bullying.

The implication is she isn't denying the Sun story that she found him rude sometimes in training but that's tomorrow's chip paper. Accusations of bullying are far more serious and really stick.

I really really hope the comments on Laura's dance ability didn't originally come from him. She struggled so hard with her confidence when performing on the show.

When he praised Kevin for showing off Louise? I noticed that.


He may be under contract but he can. Someone like Brendan for example would have spoken out. There are times you don't stay silent and when a friend or work colleague is being slandered that is one of them.

Why would the BBC have an issue with Gio denying he'd been sent abusive texts by Laura? They would surely give a brief statement in support of his.

My feeling is that any difficulty they find themselves in is because Gio's camp haven't refuted the allegation.

I mean, this was Gio's final word about Laura: "I would like to say again thank you for being such a great partner, an amazing person to work with. You teach me a lot and I will never ever forget this journey."

On Twitter, post exit, he said

Thanks for the great journey together.. great partner and a great dancer @thewhitmore and thanks for all your support guys ! Love Gio

And after the Samba, he said on Twitter:

Even if you still injured you did a great job!!! Well done !

So Gio has made three on-the-record positive statements about working with Laura. That is clearly his official line and its the professional one to take.

Its the BBC Press Office who are deafening in their silence.

I thought Craig's comment to Kevin was yet another dig at Natalie for 'protecting' Greg..

I am tending to think that there is a kernel of truth regarding the text message allegations, that the BBC were involved in discussions around it and its all a bit tricky for anyone close to the story to comment. So... silence by the BBC. And they hope that the story dies down without any further oxygen.

And so will many people believe these completely unfounded but very serious allegations against Laura.

Protect their own, hang her out to dry and the show goes on. Never mind this lovely ladies reputation.

I wonder if Laura has some regrets about ever getting involved in the show. So disappointed in a number of Strictly people who I thought were her friends.

Was there ever any light shed on the Ola / Steve Backshall bullying allegations? A source claimed that Steve had made the accusation and yet Backshall (built like a brick lavatory: is he really going to be intimidated by Ola?) has denied ever saying such a thing.

Every year, there are poisonous stories that seem to be close to the dancers and celebs, but which might be wholly mischievous. More than likely are malicious

BIB - Never heard of anyone described that way. I needed that. November is getting bad to worse.

I tidied up the phrase

Know what you mean. 2016 has been such a year. November isn't improving it. Maybe December will be full of all the year's witheld good things in one bright splurge of joy

There is a lot of mischief in this story by ill-wishers and it started with Dan Wootton in the Sun. Enough said about that gentleman.

Laura's representative's statement to the Mail was such a narrow denial, that, putting it bluntly, it tended to confirm that some aspects of the story had some merit. Which was when I started feeling a bit disappointed.

But, really, two people not getting on behind the scenes, but putting a decent front on for TV, is just showbiz, really. Standard 'luvvy' stuff - where everyone is marvellous and fabulous, allowing the show to go on. Bickering behind the scenes is such a non-story. And in the modern era, if you call someone an idiot, its abusive. Do it twice, and its bullying.

Its all very murky and I do not think that either of these stories started with Gio or Laura. Its mischief making and its a real, real shame.

I remember that the claim was the BBC had even had to put an observer in their training sessions to ensure good conduct? The BBC made that story go away and I don't think it appears in Ola's heavily legalled book.

Laura and Giovanni have been the best part of Strictly this year - for me.

Excellent choreography from Giovanni, great work ethic from Laura, the best chemistry on the dance floor of any of the couples. Laura performed very well and her dancing improved via Giovanni's teaching.

The injury was very unfortunate - especially because it was a result of repetitive strain, through training hard.

As I said before, I look on it as a temporary period of working together and they did that very well. They are free to stay individuals - there is nothing wrong with that.

I think you have summarised it really well Fatskia. Laura and Gio worked together to produce some very entertaining dances on the show which I enjoyed watching.

They were never likely to become lifelong friends as they didn't start with much in common apart from Strictly.

If only they could have just gone their separate ways without this press poison showered over their heads. I hope the story quietly dies a death.