The judging last night was a disgrace.

So sorry to see Claudia go, her and Danny were my favourites.

I can't see any way that Danny wasn't at the top of the leaderboard. And I thought that Louise had a bad night last night.

If the public vote then had put Danny and Claudia into the Bottom 2, so be it.

I would just like the judges to.. well... judge what they actually see, not what they would like to have seen. It must be very, very frustrating for Claudia as a competitive athlete to experience the rather flawed world of show-business scoring.

Brendan's blog on the scoring for the semi-final is quite a read!

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/strictl...eggars-belief/

I was not even cheered up by barefoot Gio in the contemporary bird-themed number.

Nope. Not convinced by the fluffy bird costumes. Even when Gorka, Pasha, Alijaz and Gio are trying to look fierce - Angry Birds maybe

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN5Hgc5j...=gorka_marquez

Surely this one will cheer you up Lady L

https://twitter.com/mr_njones/status/808077482645716993

:

That is priceless!

Did the pros go on dance-strike until the feathery head-dress idea was firmly kicked in the very, very, very, long grass...

Happy now.

Edit: Lisa Armstrong of Hair and Make-up saying it was a practical joke on Gio and Gorka

Have just been catching up with all things Strictly as. I have been away.

Thank you everyone for posting the photos etc. Loved how excited Gio was at winning the pro challenge. It was great the way Zoe revealed the winner too. The suspense nearly killed me......and Gio!

Particularly liked the photo of Gio in the bar on the Kylie night out. Less beard is good I think and I never tire of seeing a Gorka arresting Gio. I also loved Gio and a Gorka messing about on their shopping trip. I wonder if they did any shopping I bet security were entertained by their antics.

Can't believe the final has arrived. I have a feeling after all the judging/scoring at the weekend that Danny will win. Louise should have gone last night. I am not a fan of either Claudia or Louise but I think Claudia was better than Louise so should have scored more marks. I like him but a lot of people seemed to resent Ore getting through too. By putting him. top of the leader board meant that Ore got into the final and Danny ended up in the bottom 2. Everyone seemed to think Danny was the only one safe so many did not not vote for him. They won't make that mistake in the final which will give the production team the winner they want. I may be proved wrong but that is how I read the situation at this moment in time.

So looking forward to seeing Laura and Gio back on the dance floor with rest of the gang. I hope it is a fun night. I also hope the pro routine is more dancing and less wafting. Just my opinion.

very nice ..... maybe I could knit him a scarf


Claudia and AJ's quickstep was superb, one of the best I've seen and I was quite moved when they got emotional at the end of the show

I've be a fan of Danny and Louise for a long time, Danny because I love watching him dance and Louise because of Kevin who's done so well to get his previous partners to the final and deserves to win ..... I really can't choose between them, such a shame we can't have two winners

I just wish that the four people in the semi had been the four people in the Final - that would have felt better to me.

I have liked Louise's ballroom routines immensely but her Latin has not quite done it for me - apart from the epic Blackpool Paso which was a knock out. Kevin has produced some fabulous choreography for her and has worked his socks off this year - I kind of feel if he isn't going to win this year, then when will he

The YouGov polls have consistently shown Louise to be very, very popular so I would not be at all surprised if she lifts the glitterball next week. Kevin is going to do an epic showdance. I expect trains, rockets, light-sabres and fire-breathing dragons at the very least (Actually I think he will go full Fred and Ginge...)

I think I have been a bit more excited by Danny and Oti's dances overall so I am very glad that they have made the final.

Brendan Cole tweeted this picture of all the pros rehearsing back in August. We have seen it before.. but it makes you realise how much has happened since then!

https://twitter.com/BrendanCole/stat...64830645927937

Issfan will like this pic as Gio is more on the clean-shaven side!

I laughed when I read this comment in the thread on the MF from A.S.T. who attended the Semi-Finals (lucky, lucky person)


So.. the audience didn't rave about the birdy dance either

The pro dancers are champions at Ballroom and Latin - some of the best in the world. Why attempt contemporary?

Interesting to hear about the polls re Louise. I have not been following what is happening with them. Heidi Stephens who does a very funny live Strictly Blog for the Guardian is doing an unscientific Poll on twitter. At the moment it is showing Danny well in the lead. The final could be interesting.

With a few exceptons I always feel that Louise just needs to move up a gear. I enjoy Danny and usually Ore more than Louise. I have never been a Kevin fan so that is also a problem for me. He always gives 150% so I feel guilty but I have to believe the story and he just doesn't do it for me. He is sort of the opposite of Gio if you know what I mean. Sorry Kevin fans.

Yes I do like this pic of Gio. Less is more re beard for me. Talking of Gio my tickets for his show were waiting for me when I returned home. I am verrrry happy. Is it nearly May yet?

Richard Curwen of the BBC thoughtfully retweeted this picture of Gio, who is just checking that all 6 of his 6-pack are still in place..... Ooo-errrrr

https://twitter.com/Richardbbc/statu...45556766654464


Looks outside of window.... Nope. Definitely NOT May weather here

So many new voters take part in the final that I have no idea who will win. I think I would be surprised if it was Ore though.

I have put this link on the Laura and Gio App thread as well - in case anyone would like to see it, this is the short promotional film for Avios that Laura filmed in New York during the first three weeks of training before the Week 1 show.

https://twitter.com/samuelwhiston/st...32312148606978

Its a great little clip. Took me right back to September.

I loved that.

Lucky, lucky, lucky lady (in the bar before the Kylie concert at the weekend...)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN47wnAh...sophiejwootton


Did I say.... lucky

It made me want to book a flight next year actually ... such a fantastic city. Clever mix of funky things to do as well as the BIG tourist attractions. It's a very good ad. And Laura is really great at that style of presenting.

I remember that she said after losing to Ore in the dance-off that she really wanted him to go all the way to the final - I am glad that she will be able to see a friend do so well in the competition.

Lovely shots of Gio behind the scenes from Saturday's show on ITT tonight .

Quite enjoyed those bits

Fabulous photo!!!!!!!

They were hilarious! I think Kevin and Gio get on really, really well. I loved the bit when Kevin said 'I am the People's Champion' and the whole dressing room cheered. Very very funny.

Brendan Cole tweeted that the pros have FOUR DAYS of rehearsals this week for the finals.

I think Gio, Alijaz, and Kevin are great friends which is especially nice for Gio as he is relatively new to London. Gio has also been hanging out quite a bit wIth Gorka too.

Surely at least one or two of those days must be the rehearsals for routine with the celebs ?

Yes... Gorka who has stopped wearing an engagement ring

Am guessing there are a couple of days just with the pros ... and then the full cast of celebs join in to prepare the Group Dance (Yay!) on Friday and Saturday.

Neil Jones is normally good for a few tweets and pics so will keep my eyes peeled.

Morning all

Another pic of Gio out pre-Kylie concert with Aljaz and Gorka - lovely smile

Does this tweet mean that Gio is also doing three P&O Cruises on top of his Tour and the Donaheys weekends?

https://twitter.com/jane9668/status/808408597193433088

If so, it also looks like Joanne is managing to squeeze one in around her theatre schedule. I guess like last year they may just do one week of the cruise.

So a busy schedule for Gio, especially if he also has other teaching work/events on top of all that...but as he always says, he is doing 'what he loves' so is very lucky!

They usually can take a guest on the cruise. Jo and Giovanni I think only did one cruise this year and he took Georgia. That's not going to happen this year. Looks like he's doing three of them between his tour. All the new Strictly pro are doing at least one cruise except Oksana.

Judging from his twitter posts I assume his engagement is off Him and Gio seem to be good friends, love them both.

Or perhaps teasing him that the 'R' on his tattoo was for 'Richard'