On the MF.. the DS Pro of the Year 2016 has just been updated by Youhinnchild (for which many thanks .. and Gio is in at No 9 of 15. I guessed he would be at 7 or 8, so I am not too disappointed. A mid-table finish feels about right.

Incidentally, I thought the summary of Gio's year in 2016 was balanced and fair comment - some highs and some lows as we all know.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...2195950&page=2

I bit disappointed Gio came in at number 9 on the favourite pro of the year but I suppose it was to be expected after everything that happened last year. Onwards and upwards this year

Yes.. thought he might be a place or two higher but I am not terribly surprised. As you say, onwards and upwards for next year.

Can't wait to see the rest of the poll. I think Gorka is going to be surprisingly high.

He is a great dancer. I would still rather watch him than any other pro on Strictly. No poll can change that fact.

Now I am cross that AJ scored 889 points v Gio's 878...... and made 8th place.

So close!

CV
Indeed a great dancer and a man of many talent, Gio playing the electric guitar in his Instagram story. I believe he plays the piano and the drums

Lovely shot. I think I'm right.. he found time to teach Georgia how to play the acoustic guitar for her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Hope that amp is turned down or his neighbours might be less appreciative of the guitar playing than I might be.,...

I am resisting making ANY comment about the idea of a photo of Big Ben on one's bedlinen

I didn't notice the bed linen. I was distracted.

The eyes have it

Another lovely pic to start the year off. This photo shoot has certainly produced some good ones

And another funny thing... the GG thread bought Gio a gift to celebrate the start of Strictly 2016. (At roughly the same time as sending a lovely gift to Georgia for the opening of Breakfast at TIffany's). Now.. I think that Gio's gift was... a hamper from Carluccio's.

And that bedside table.. looks to me like... a red hamper from Carluccio's.

So.. the GG thread (possibly) have furnished Gio with a bedside table. You couldn't make it up, really.

(Of course, he might receive many, many Carluccio hampers....., I might be wrong etc).

It's a stunning, stunning shot. Yes.. the eyes do have it.

Yes I thought a fair summary too. Interesting that AJ and Gorka are above - I expect Gorka might have been higher up my own list had I seen more of him (I am talking choreography not six pack!)

Totally agree. Top marks in the beard department too. Am I a bit to obsessed with his beard?

Gorka benefited hugely from the 'leave them wanting more' vote after a too-soon exit. Looks great, he is very easy on the eye and has a lovely smile.. and his English was pretty tricky to understand so not possible to dislike him for anything he said, if you know what I mean.

On the other side.. I thought his choreo for the Tango and Paso Doble for Tameka was a bit meh. (Tameka's Charleston was choreo'd by externals, and Brendan put together that lovely QS for Anastacia.) I do want to see more of him next year though and I have a sneaking suspicion that Gorka might get a partner who is finalist material - in which case there will be many weeks of Gorkaness to appreciate.

I am not surprised that AJ scored higher, as he had a good run with Claudia who was very popular. I liked AJ more and more as the weeks went on so would have scored him quite a bit lower if Claudia had, say, left in Week 3.

Gio needs to stay on his game next year as the two male newbies did very well

Nope. Facial hair on men is somehow very important. Don't mind a bit of stubble but once it crosses over into beard territory.... just no.

One of the best photo's of him I've seen... and there are lotsa good ones

I didn't know he played guitar as well as drums, man of many talents. (My husband plays saxophone...try living with that lol!) I love the bachelor bedlinen...at least it's not a Spider-Man duvet cover I wonder if they will ever do Strictly Pro cribs again?!

Gio can be so un-starry, and I mean it as a compliment as it's something I find really quite endearing about him.


You can stay on 'beard watch' Issfan

Any evidence of this I thought Georgia was taught independently and it was a normal not electric guitar. I know he played the drums in their paso routine however.

Saxophone.... either he is very, very good or you are a saint. Or, of course, both.

Gio is un-starry - I know exactly what you mean.

The Strictly Pro cribs were hilarious. Aliona and her love of custard was.. memorable.

I am trying to work out, if Gorka had partnered Claudia, and AJ had partnered Tameka, whether both would be as popular in the poll. I am thinking that Gorka would still be popular, but AJ might have taken a hit for Tameka's early exit.

Chris - I have a memory that Georgia said in an interview (Periscope?) that Gio was teaching her guitar (or anyway the chords for Moon River) for the part. It lodged in the brain because I didn't know that he could play guitar until I heard Georgia say that. Yes, it was acoustic guitar.

Now.. whether Gio was teaching her from scratch, or whether he was helping her with her guitar practice.. who knows. But I am fairly sure I remember her saying something like that.

I honestly don't know. Gio's guitar could be a new thing he's learning. I think Georgia plays French horn or something like that, so if you already play one instrument you can usually pick up another more easily. Her live singing was certainly very impressive.

Imagine if Gio 'treats' the neighbours to his singing as well as guitar

In the words of Zoe Ball. Make. It. Stop.

hey everyone

is anyone here going to the Strictly tour? I'm going to the last show at the o2, really looking forward to it. My seats are really high up though (4th tier) so I think I might have a really rubbish view which is a shame as I really want to see Gio properly

Hi soap__lover I'm going to the first night at Wembley, also fairly high up but the view is usually pretty good anyway. I haven't been to the O2 before. Are you going to Gio's Tour? I think that will offer the best view of him!!

Ive been twice before, last year at the O2 and the year before in Birmingham.
This year I'm going to see Gio's tour. Less expensive and quite close to the stage.
We booked the meet and greet and still a lot less money than the O2 last year..