More likely a letter has gone out.

If there was a change it could have been from Charleston, with Laura's ankle injury that would surely have been impossible for her to perform.

Possibly but I won't be at all surprised to see the allegations resurface under photographs of Laura at future showbiz events.

And there's no way either Laura or the BBC would request she wasn't described as a Strictly contestant from this series which she is in the other Mail article and by other news outlets covering this event anyway.

Completely agree - Charleston would have been impossible - but I would bet it was one of Laura's planned dances somewhere in the series. She had both the personality and the fitness for it - until that wretched injury.

Week 7 had

- 2 VWs, 2 Quicksteps, AT, Paso, Samba, Jive, Salsa

Quite a lot of uptempo dances there. I could have seen a Rhumba in the mix more easily than a Charleston. To put it another way, the producers definitely could have swapped the Samba for a Rhumba without making the show unbalanced.

I think they'd have been eliminated on a Rumba that week too and that it wouldn't have been any easier on her ankle injury. In fact the injury would have been harder for her to disguise.

If Laura & Gio had stayed in on Samba weekend they'd have had a string of potentially strong dances for them for the remainder of the competition, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, American Smooth, Argentine Tango, Rumba, Paso (Charleston not danced).Quite an advantage.

There was just over 2 weeks between Laura having to cease Jive training and them dancing their Samba in Week 7. She was given a bye Week 5, danced in her training shoes for the Tango, was carefully overseen by Physios and Doctors. I really do feel she was given time to recover by the Strictly Producers, unfortunately the type of injury she had meant it was never going to recover well while she continued with dance training. Laura knew that and has said she was just pleased to have been able to make it back and have two more weeks on Strictly after her injury.

Since leaving the show according to Laura's social media her ankle is nearly recovered which is good news.

I don't believe her unhappiness in their final week was down to the dance they were given.

Looking at the leaderboard, Laura was always going to be bottom 2 that week, as her best possible score for any dance, I think, would have seen her tie with Daisy or Ore, which was not enough to keep her safe. So I tend to agree.

A slow Rhumba could well have had 30% of the steps of a fast Samba. So with a repetitive strain injury, it is an much, much easier option. After all, Gio choreographed a Rumba for Georgia last year where Georgia literally took not one single step for the first 40 seconds of the dance. OK - he took heat for that choreo from Len. But it was still a very dramatic dance and had good impact.

Rhumba requires pressure through the floor, so its still not easy. Just... easier.

But the outcome would likely have been the same. She needed to be at least one leaderboard position higher than Daisy and Ore to escape Bottom 2.

Maybe a waltze based AS would have been best. Although Foxtrot is the most likely choice for AS the waltze has been used before. The lifts tend to be gentle in the AS too. Gio is strong so he would have made sure she landed gently. Laura in lovely dress with Gio in tails, Gio and Laura acting it beautifully and their chemistry would have meant it was a dance to remember. They managed a beautiful waltze in week 2 so it would have been even better later in the competition. In fact no one has done a smoother waltze. How I regret they were not given that chance.

I hope it did.

Thanks for the links Ochre!

I too think the Matilda illustration is very Laura and typical of her thoughtful and kind nature.

Once it became clear to the producer that Laura's injury would not be able to heal under continued training, I assume their priority was to plan the best exit for Laura via the dance off, and to avoid Laura becoming so injured that she had to withdraw without dancing on the Saturday night.
I think they did a good job of that.

From the way Laura pointed out that she was still functioning after dancing the Samba, I think there may have been a difference of opinion - maybe with Laura wanting to attempt the parts that were changed, and one or more others maybe wanting her not to risk the ankle breaking down mid dance (and also knowing it wasn't going to change the result).

I think that is right... at the end of the day, if Laura had managed a couple of Batucadas, the result would have been the same.

Just adding my two cents... I really enjoyed last year, I thought that Giovanni was a fabulous addition to the show, He, Gleb and Oti really revitalised it and added something extra to the show, perhaps bringing in new fans and returning ones (like me).

I was pretty excited for this year but somehow generally, despite liking a few of the contestants it hasn't captured me this year. I just find it all a bit meh. Despite the obvious talents of Danny and the others I just don't connect with it all somehow. Danny is as I said great, he's got 'West End' written all over him, but I still find watching him and the rest of it all a bit PG, a bit bland. I can't quite work out why. Add that the run of bad feeling that one or two of the eliminations created and it's just not the same this year.

Giovanni and Laura as a couple particularly had some really bad luck this year I think. It started even before they hit the dance floor and never really let up. I really felt for them.

For Laura I can totally see why she thought that the show would be a fun and ideal way to give her bit more exposure but luck and circumstances went against her. I also think that she may have slightly underestimated or not considered the main demographic of the show and her appeal to them- it's a whole other (tricky) subject but let's just say that they like their women 'sweet' and leave it at that.

For Giovanni well- I hope I'm wrong but I know he enjoys Strictly and has friends in the UK but wouldn't be surprised if a young guy like him moved onto to another show after this year. I've got nothing much to base that on cos I don't keep up with the gossip this year, I just wouldn't be shocked that's all.

Anyway, that's a view of a fan of Giovanni, who thought Laura was good, who doesn't give much of a monkeys who gets on with or has a relationship whom so long as the dance chemistry is good.

I enjoyed reading your post. Whatever happened in Giovanni's private life should have been left there. By partnering him with Laura was cruel to both of them. I am afraid with the production team it was all about the viewing figures. However in spite of the situation it seemed to work and they became the couple with the chemistry this year. I hope you are wrong about Giovanni but I too have a feeling he may be moving on.

Hello everyone

Thanks Ochre and Hugh.


Big rant coming up.

Just finished watching yesterday's show and I am really pissed off.
I would like to think that I am not a blind cheerleader for Laura.

I honestly think Laura deserved to be there last night. IMO, It was so bad and other than Danny, Greg and Ed, all the others were overmarked. Laura had so much to give and she was robbed.

As for the choice of dances, I am sure the producers must have the say, otherwise they can't manipulate the show. I still believe that had they done the Rumba, they would have scored higher and survived. The previous week, the judges had commented that how they liked the chemistry between the two of them ( fake or real) and they liked the contrast in the routine,slow and fast. Laura could have danced a barefoot Rumba and it would have been fab-u- lous.

Samba was too fast and very hard to do a happy dance, when you breathing through your pain. it's not a coincidence that Louise and Danny haven't danced a Salsa or Samba. As for the theory of planning for Blackpool, any pro would be crazy to do that, specially this year, when it was going to be so hard to survive, they have to play to their strengths to survive.

Rant over.

The result may have been the same but she wouldn't have been embarrassed standing there while Gio showed off and then had two judges call him out on it.

A final dance that fully showcased Laura would have been the exit I would have chosen for her whether Samba or Rumba.

Epic rant Sarah

I too couldn't help thinking how wonderful it would have been watching Laura and Daisy in the Tower Ballroom last night. They would have danced beautifully in the opening group number too. I'm glad Laura was busy attending the Gala though.

I have to disagree that Louise was overmarked, I loved that Paso and was shouting tens and 40 at my screen

I strongly believe Laura would have survived with Rumba, more in hold and interaction and lovely music, so yes.

TBH the whole show is somewhat, if not scripted, it's certainly story-lined and some contestants and pros go along with that more happily than others. Every contestant is cast in a role and as events and their dancing ability and popularity move on then the producers make their moves from there.

For example I've long thought that for all their protestations Strictly didn't actually mind the curse allegations as it generally gives them a nice little angle to get the show in the papers. If it's false then the show runners can get all quietly superior and tut tut about the awful newspapers and if it's true they can legitimately claim- 'hey we only put them together to dance'. So they win (ratings and publicity) either way.

So yeah I friggin knew that Giovanni was destined for a hot, preferably single woman this year, and that's regardless of whether he was single of not and poor Laura and also Giovanni suffered the consequences and backlash attached to that initial decision.

Very sad to see Greg go this evening - he has loved the experience.

Blackpool was a little flat for me this year, can't put my finger on why.

Laura out at the Children's BAFTAS tonight - she is certainly back in the heels with a vengeance! Beautifully styled as ever. Ore and his wife Portia were also in attendance.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...AFTA-bash.html

Gio cheering up the ladies again - another moody and magnificent shot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNCs4GoDtLw/

Oh why can't Gio come and pose on my windowsill...

OT. Poor Gorka - the Sun are saying he was mugged after the Saturday show. Hoping he is OK.

Hate crime getting worse in this country.

Mind, where's the example? We have a govt that attacks the poor, the disabled, refugees, homeless people etc to redistribute wealth in a stagnant economy to the already rich. Human sympathy left power years ago

Good morning

Thanks for links Ochre and LL.

Sad to hear about Gorka, hope he is feeling better.

Laura does look stunning.

Dervia, We don't know whether this a 'Hate' crime or just an activity of a criminal gang.

.... - and the reporting on Laura goes back to what it used to be. It shouldn't have needed to, but anyway...

It will be interesting to hear how Laura's return to acting goes. From her spell on Strictly, I think there was good evidence that she has talent for acting - both romantic and dramatic, in the Waltz for romance and the Tango for both.

For anyone near the internet this morning..

Gio is appearing on Aldo Zilli's show on Soho Radio between 11-12 today. He is talking Strictly according to Aldo's blurb at the start of the show. There are a few interesting guests, mostly food related.

https://www.sohoradiolondon.com/player/

Great to see Laura at the Children's Baftas to present an award, looking gorgeous as always, love her style. Lovely she met up with Ore and Portia

Still feeling sad that I'm reading comments online by people who've taken the unfounded bullying allegations as the truth. That kind of mud always sticks to a degree. The person who spoke to the Mail knew that, a cowardly action to throw around claims like that anonymously.

Laura is a kind, bighearted, thoughtful, conscientious lady.