And some might say, that in their opinion that is one of the most ludicrous suggestions they've heard in a quite some time!

Uhmmm having a boyfriend doesn't guarantee or mean anything. Georgia had a boyfriend as well.

Morning Ochre I was always convinced the PTB would pair up Giovanni and Laura for exactly the reasons Kristina said/didn't say. I don't believe it was a last minute switch at all. They did exactly the same thing when the paired Artem with Holly and the press loved it with their "jealous Kara watches every rehearsal with a broken heart" headlines.

I agree ... talk of a switch is nonsense. There was also Pasha and Caroline (with poor jealous Rachel looking on.) How this is seen as a stitch up now that Georgia and Gio are no longer a couple I can't comprehend. I've seen people saying that they should have considered Georgia's feelings?? What!?!? Why!?! They're trying to make a successful entertainment programme ... they're not Oprah!

Having a boyfriend must mean something other than just a meal ticket edy

Oh, the producers don't give a hoop about anyone's feelings. This partnership was inevitable if GG were still together or not, headlines either way.

Laura and Gio are this year's 'hot' pairing whether they want to be or not. But, I think that Laura's quite no nonsense and won't stand for any rubbish in the press.

I'm just wondering just quite how obvious the producers are week 1 rumba maybe??

Totally agree and just wish we could move on. I for one am looking forward to seeing Giovanni and Laura dance.

I don’t get the problem with the Laura/Giovanni pairing. He must be happy to have someone young, healthy, good-looking and reasonably well-known and thus a contender. BBC are treating him well (for the second year in a row). She must be happy to have him too—after all, he made the finals last year and is marketed as one of the show’s heartthrobs. If the pairing does indeed bring tabloid attention, she doesn’t seem to be one to shy from such PR (and it will help her last longer than any boring MORers).

Even if there had been a last-minute switch-up, I don’t see why that would be seen as a devious move on the BBC’s part—indeed if Laura was only paired with Gio after the news of the GG breakup, then wouldn’t that mean that they waited until he was single to pair him with a young woman and thus (in shipper terms, not mine) were respecting the GG relationship?

Totally agree. Some of the fans who supported Georgia going on holiday with her new BF, days after splitting up are saying that BBC is being insensitive in pairing up two single people. I don't think anything will happen, even if it does, nothing wrong in two single people getting together. Talk about total hypocrisy.

I don't think they should consider Georgia's feelings at all - as you say, they are in the business of making a TV programme! I thought he'd either get Laura or Anastacia, I just hoped it was the latter as he seems to be a fan and that would have been an amusing storyline (different to the usual showmance angle) - and they would have been a fun pairing. I think she's an impressive woman too. Looking forward to seeing her with Brendan though (and Gio and Laura too) - hopefully they'll "get" each other and be great. Just as long as it's not another Lulu scenario! But Anastacia seems great - and not horrible like Lulu, so should be good! I do think they were switched though. And Brendan was pretty shocked too. In the opening dance, they usually are "tried out" with about 3 partners - but I couldn't see her with Brendan at all - she was with Gio for almost all of it. Not that that necessarily means anything!

No, not really - last year Jay barely had a hand touch with Aliona

What would've been the motive to switch them though? Assuming they paired them up on the basis of tabloid headlines, they would've got just as many stories if G and G were still together (if not more) so I can't see why people think they wouldn't have wanted the stories when they were together but suddenly did once they split .

Totally - for one thing it's never stopped them before and for another if it's headlines they are after then one's as good as the other!

Ah, maybe that's not an indicator then.


Yes, they absolutely would have had tabloid mileage either way - i just think even more so now. Maybe they were always going to put them together, who knows!

Some of last year's celebrities have tweeted their good wishes for the new celebrities, eg, Katie Derham made a joke about needing physio after day one of training. Georgia has gone overboard, IMO, with her tweets and likes. Whether she really is broken hearted or not I have no idea and it's none of my business but this just looks border line obsessive and it can't be helpful for Laura (or Giovanni come to that).

Hi Lou

Don't know if you follow Laura on Twitter and have seen she's writing a Strictly blog for Glamour mag every Monday?

She comes over really well, talking about her love of the feeling dancing gives her and of Strictly as a show from the first series as well as the lovely group of people she's getting to know. Laura says how happy she is to be paired with Giovanni having watched him on the show last year and describing him as talented and one of the best dancers and choreographers on the show.

I think this fun, feisty lady will write her own Strictly story and not let other people write it for her.

Can't wait to see some training footage

she's 1 to talk that said I can see Giovanni becoming the male Kristina quite easily in that department

I'm a tad confused as to how you perceive Georgia's tweeting activities to be unhelpful for Giovanni and Laura.

Why should Georgia have to not like or tweet as much about Strictly? She loves the show itself and has said so on many occasions - so it's hardly surprising she's tweeting about it - it'd be a bit like telling me not to come on DS so much when Strictly was on, I just wouldn't be able to do it! I admit that given recent events she may be best giving herself a break from Strictly things, just for her own well being - but why would she then need to be considering whether what she is doing on social media is helpful/unhelpful for her ex and his new dance partner?

Hi Ochre Yes, I've been following Laura and have seen her blog - love it! She came over really well on the launch show and I liked how she said she and her mum (or was it nan, the accent threw me a bit ) watch Strictly together.

Lou I totally agree with this. I don't follow Georgia but can't help but hear what she is posting and if that was my sister or friend I would be advising her not to as it does look a bit obsessive.

I think she has to realise she is not part of strictly now and let the new celebrities get on with it.

BIB, without going in to how it's not helpful for Giovanni or Laura, surely that in itself is reason enough? I know you care Brian so wouldn't you agree that if you've just been through a break-up, tweeting/liking the show in which you met your partner is not really going to assist in the whole "grieving" process is it. Of course it is entirely her call and up to her but I think she'd be wise to take some advice on her social media habits.

Exactly Huph. Of course it was a big part of her life and she's not the only one to refer to it, Caroline sometimes makes reference to being a Strictly Champion but not to an obsessive level.

Mam

Loved that she'd been on the phone just before filming dying to find out who Laura's partner was

Bit off topic (moi?) but when my hubby first started teaching he did some supply work in Cork. He said reading out the register in the morning was a bit of a challenge with all the kids roaring with laughter at his attempts to pronounce names which sounds absolutely nothing like how they are spelt!

I LOVE Laura's accent and could listen to an Irish lilt all day long - hopefully Giovanni can as well because I'm thinking she's a bit of a chatterbox

I know it must mean a lot to her but she didn't even win. When she was with Giovanni fair enough but not now.