Can I apologise in advance for linking to the Sun?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...-specstacular/

Alan Carr has a NY Eve Spectacular show - one of the guests is... Laura Whitmore.
However, Laura has now set the record straight once and for all, as she insisted the pair “like each other”.

As the star appears on Alan Carr‘s New Year Specstacular, set to air on New Year’s Eve, host Alan asks her: “Can we put these rumours to bed about your dance partner Giovanni…

“One minute you are having an affair, next you hate each other and suddenly you are secretly married with three kids and have adopted a Labrador. Tell us the truth. What is going on?”

Laura replies: “He was a great dance partner and we trained together pretty much every day. “Greg knows what it’s like, it’s full on, and that is it. I wish there was more to it but that’s it. We don’t love each other. We don’t hate each other. We like each other.”

She appears on the show alongside her co-star Greg Rutherford, and the pair go on to describe the gruelling training they went through backstage on the BBC dance competition. Greg admits: “I came in to this thinking I was going to be awful, and I was pretty awful.” To which Laura adds: “I kind of wish I had extra lessons now, thinking about it.”

She goes on: “It’s crazy and I’ve watched the show before but I have never experienced anything like it. We got really close to everyone and it’s very emotional. It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done – just getting out there and dancing.”

I don't usually watch Alan Carr but I might tape that one. I am very glad that Laura has said what she has said so clearly - it is the right note to end 2016 on.

And a rather sweet clip on Instagram stories from Gio... of Moulin Rouge - the 'Your Song' scene with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor...

...which took me straight back to that under-marked Moulin Rouge Salsa in Week 3 (should never have been in the Dance Off. Boo! )

Glad Laura has said that. Hope that puts an end to the rumours.

Don't normally watch Alan Carr either but I might make an exception

ETA Thanks LL for posting the info

Thank you for this. I am glad Laura has put the record straight. Better late than never!

Although I am disappointed that I totally missed the rumour that

Thank goodness she set the record straight. And thanks LL for the link.

By having so many scores tied that night it was inevitable there would be couples in the bottom two who did not deserve to be there. It happens every year. It was a very emotional night for Laura and Gio. Karen Hardy was in the audience. She said while Laura and Gio were waiting in their starting positions to begin dance off Gio could see that Laura was upset so he rushed across the floor and gave her a hug. Fortunately she got through it without any mistakes. I felt sad that night because I realised they were not as popular as some of the other couples.

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I think Alan Carr may have added the last bit.

Sorry LadyLavender I seemed to clip your post.# stillanovice

It is such a risk in the early weeks, with so many couples dancing, that even very good dances are forgotten when voting starts. But must be a huge blow to your confidence so early in the series. It was the moment when I realised that this series was going to be about the 'big personalities' and good dancers with potential to improve, like Laura and Daisy, were going to be overlooked.

I wish that Laura had scored just one more point for that Salsa - which would have seen her score the same as Will Young's Jai Ho Salsa (with err... not much salsa. Very entertaining though). Might have kept her out of the Bottom 2 and allowed her more time to build her confidence.

I agree 100%, I like a Sicilian flavour winner this year so I voted Gio . I also placed my vote for Laura and Gio's Tango. Keep fingers crossed.

Karen's account of event on ITT proved how sweet and supportive Gio was to Laura.

Excellent - the more the merrier.


It does, rather, doesn't it.

I was not at all sure that the judges would save Laura over Tameka - although her dance was scored higher (and was better to my eyes). I thought they might want to help Gorka in his first season. It was a tense moment.

Good to read this...and thank you Lady L for typing it up which means I don't have to click on the S*n link

I think there was an error in Tameka's routine. Although her footwork was ok I felt Gorka was having to do a lot of the work up top to make her movements look sharp. Also Tameka's posture was not great. Technically Laura was a better dancer than Tameka but as you say it was a tense moment.

Another date in the diary for Gio in Glasgow, March 11...

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice's (A Little Less Strictly) Come Dancing 2017

I love Instagram. All these random clips/photos that appear. I remember Jay posted a photo of himself beside Zoltar. Everyone wondered whether Jay was sending everyone some sort of clue or whether it was just a random photo. It turned out to be a clue. A few weeks later he announced he was to be in Big the Musical.

I guess my thinking is that they *might* do something different because they announced the six extra pros as pairs (Gio & Janette, AJ & Chloe, Neil & Oksana)...and there were three pairs used in the Strictly Prom...and Jason Gilkison choreographed that and he does the Strictly Tour....and you can see where I'm going with this!!

(We'll probably get a reprise of the birdcage and sports day routines...)

Eek!. A reprise of Gio and Katy's Cha Cha would be good although highly unlikely. A Fred Astaire type AS would also be good with the male pros in tails.

Tameka had that nasty knee injury which we only knew about afterwards - it was all very unlucky for both her and Gorka. Her theme was not great either.


I think that they might go that way as well... some of the pro routines to the guest singers looked like they could be reprised...

I am betting the tour has the Romeo and Juliet Tango thing with Gorka on guitar. The sports day is very, very likely too.


It is a busy year for Gio! Bet that will be with Luba again..


Yes.. I remember Laura posting a picture of some Egyptian monument which totally convinced me that she was dancing to 'Walk Like an Egyptian'. That would, of course, have been Moulin Rouge week...

Close

I think the sports day one will be the equivalent of the Sun has got his Hat on from last year. Jay, Aljaz and Gleb spent the whole routine taking turns to wear Aliona's hat. There were lots of high jinks during this routine. If you haven't seen the clips of this from the tour it is worth a look on YouTube.

good afternoon,

I saw the Christmas show last night and really enjoyed it, I thought Gethin and Frankie were very good and didn't mind Melvin winning as it was a shame he left Strictly in the first week ......... watching Giovanni and Karen dance together was the highlight of the show of course


Gio really is a superb dancer and choreographer which is why I don't want to see him - and the other pro dancers - doing gymnastics and wearing feathers in their dances their tribute to Len was beautiful and quite moving ..... a "proper" ballroom dance

Sending some appreciation Gio's way!

The reigning pro challenge champ

The ballroom tribute was magical - more of that next year please. Let ballroom dancers be ballroom dancers

I thought either Gethin or Frankie would have been worthy winners... but was happy with Melvin as a bit of a People's Champion - he was so likeable. Frankly he deserved some bonus marks for wearing those alarming custard yellow trousers.

Thanks Nina! I have a vision of that Guinness World Record certificate receiving a loving polish with the Mr Sheen every single day.....

Hope that Gio is practicing his kicks and flicks for the Strictly Tour!