I shall look out for him in 2017 - it is always interesting to see who actually does get the post-Strictly career boost. There is often more hype than reality but the likes of Tom Chambers did really, really well after Strictly.

Link below to Brendan Cole's final blog of the series - a few interesting snippets there.
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/strictl...ore-oduba-win/

'On Wednesday, after our rehearsal for the cast of 2016 dance, most of us losers went for lunch and it was a really lovely thing just to see everybody. It's been a really good cast, we've had some really good friendships form out of it, which is nice. Everyone always says, 'I've made friends for life' and that's probably not the reality, but this year it just felt like it was nice being together with everybody and enjoying each other's company. I can't remember ever going for lunch with everybody in the past. It's been a nice week - it was the perfect ending.'

Nice words from Brendan about the lunch

https://twitter.com/updatesstrictly/...56747312197634

Favourite Laura/Gio dance

Flawless linking technique!

I have voted

Your teaching has not been wasted LadyLavender

So Gio has just confirmed that Luba Mushtuk is his leading lady on the tour Which is fantastic, two champions dancing together so the dance quality will be exceptional.

https://twitter.com/pernicegiovann1/...86696316309504

I love Gio's spelling. Mosketters.

He should just use the Italian 'tre moschettieri' and have done with it.

Who left too soon?


https://twitter.com/updatesstrictly/...96993923571712

Thanks for posting Issfan will go on to twitter and vote.

I enjoyed that, thank you, Giovanni must be the master of spins ..... and kicks and flicks

I see that Issfan's prediction of a fabulous stage career for Danny has come true! He is starring in Sleepless, a new musical based on Sleepless in Seattle, with his partner Carly taking the 'Meg Ryan' role. Lovely that they can work together on this tour.

Laura Whitmore published one final blog post for Glamour magazine - she hasn't written her blog since eliminations.

http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/art...ng-after-party

I am a little bit disappointed that Laura did not manage to include Giovanni's name anywhere in this final article. It would have been a small gesture to include just one polite sentence.

It would have been nice in our eyes but given how much tabloid coverage there has been I can understand that she might be reluctant to put anything into print re Giovanni. The final is not about the eliminated partnerships. It is really a celebration and the celebs are there to cheer the finalists. We have to hope she has thanked him properly in private. Under the circumstances that's what I would have done. There was a lovely group photo of the wrap party which they were both in and both looked relaxed. That suggests the horrible stories written in the press were untrue which I already knew of course.

That's a reasonable way to look at it. I thought that, for example, a positive comment on Gio and Katya's dance to Emeli Sande wouldn't have hurt and would have been quite neutral territory. The main thing that Laura writes that she has gained from the show is new friendships with the other celebrity contestants, and she still enjoys dancing. So both those things are positives for her.

Vinnie Shergill, the producer who selects the celebrities for Strictly, was interviewed in the Guardian on Friday.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...ctly-bbc-hopes

I thought it was an interesting read. But my eyes did roll a bit at the following quote:

I would be very, very happy if the BBC actually followed this line a bit more closely next year. Lots and lots of training room footage - it's my favourite bit of the show - and . nothing contrived to generate headlines.

You make a valid point re Gio's dance with Katya. That might have been safe territory. She did include a photo of them at the launch show and the lovely relaxed one at the wrap party. Previously if Laura mentioned Gio in her blogs the tabloids made a story about it. By not mentioning him they have not had a reason to repeat old stories. Thwarting the tabloids is the way to go. Laura mentioned in one interview that Gio had texted her about one of their routines. Communication does not have to be done in public.

Gorgeous promo pic of Gio and Luba

Watched a few of her videos outside of Strictly, she is certainly an amazing dancer (not to mention BFFs with Jason Gilkison) so really looking forward to seeing her live. She is Russian by birth but one of her tweets shows her holding an Italian passport so maybe has dual nationality.

Another thing she has in common with Gio...she can't spell 'excited' either

Love that neither of them can spell excited but spell it differently. Mind you I can't spell too many Italian words. I think Gio has done brilliantly with his English given how long he has been learning the language. He seems to have quite a good ear for accents which probably helps. It is good he and Luba will be able communicate in Italian when they are working together. . I have no idea how good Luba's English is.

http://lubamushtuk.net/


Just in case real life takes over in the next few days I would like to wish you all a Merry Xmas. Have loved your company. It has been a blast. Special thanks to LadyLavender for being a great computer coach and for creating this lovely Giovanni place.

Hopefully you will all be back for many more Giovanni moments in 2017.



Hot off the press!!!

https://twitter.com/lubamushtuk/stat...85363029004288

Ah more good news! I thought Luba might take part, being part of Jason G’s choreography team as well as a troupe dancer. I wonder if she’ll be added to the full pro line up if there are any departures next year?

Merry Christmas to you Issfan, look forward to reading your posts next year! I’m sure there will be plenty to discuss and events to report back on, starting with the Strictly Tour…can’t wait!

I am also hoping we get to see Giovanni’s Sicilian Christmas dinner again, as he tweeted pics of it last year...although I will be very jealous (in my experiences of Sicilian 'antipasti' you are lucky if you've got room for the first course )

Merry Christmas to everyone who pops in to the thread! Real life will be taking over here as I am looking at my Christmas to-do list with a feeling of mild panic.


I am hoping Gio makes it home for Christmas with his Guinness World Record certificate gift-wrapped for mama. And a few Christmas dinner pics would be welcome - I seem to remember a rather jaw-dropping but very yummy-looking display last year.

Looking forward to tour news next year too. And Gio as in the Christmas Special.

Merry Christmas Lady L – hope you get through your list!

We are having a combined family effort and I’ve only got to do the starter, but it won’t be anything quite on this scale

Can' t wait for the Xmas Special!!! That Guinness World record is on its way to Italy.

https://twitter.com/pernicegiovann1/...42687005421570

And there is a little Instagram stories picture of Gio's nice new white converse trainers propped up on his hand-luggage at some Italian airport.. waiting to connect to Palermo maybe.


I remember that one! Five, yes five, bottles of wine JUST FOR STARTERS.
Ed Balls would be proud.

Happy Christmas everyone.

From his latest insta story it looks like Gio has already landed on another dancefloor in Sicily, sounds like traditional music playing in the background

Video of Gio and Jo as special guests at a wedding in August - surprising the bride and groom on the dancefloor

That was really sweet

I think that's a Christmas dance party for a salsa class... it looks like the sort of dancing that you do after a dance lesson. wonder if it is Gio and his sister Angela's dance school Step by Step? Is that Gio holding the phone over his head, wearing in a grey hoody thing?

That wedding video is really, really lovely. Sometimes they can be a bit cheesy - but I loved that one. And what a fab idea to hire professional dancers as a surprise - whoever thought of that was a genius.

Alison Powell, the Cake Genie lady who often sends cakes to the Strictly gang, is hoping that Santa Gio (wearing earrings) delivers her tour tickets. And she has helpfully attached a picture to her tweet

https://twitter.com/CakeGenie/status/811551361825443840

Very thoughtful of her to include that photo!

That photo is a winner every time