I am going to see the Strictly tour in Glasgow. Much smaller than some of the other venues so you are closer. Last year in the opening number Gio danced right in front of us and I wasn't even a fan then. Bet that doesn't happen this year.

gorgeous ..... another one for the calendar


hello, yes, it was a hamper from Carluccios, bought for his birthday on September 5th


he's number one as far as I'm concerned

Glad to hear that we will have some thread reports from the Strictly tour... I don't think I am going to make it to Wembley this year - would have been the best venue for me. I haven't quite given up hope yet as it would mean no Ed Balls and Katya - almost worth it without a bit of Gio in the troupe! I think the smaller venues on the Dance is Life tour are just going to offer so much more opportunity to really see the dancing..

I remember last year, even with quite a good seat at Wembley, I found that quite often I had to look at the big screens to catch the detail. Definitely a great night last year that I really enjoyed though

Ore Oduba (currently on an envy-enducing holiday in Malaysia..) tweeted that he was making the most of it before pro rehearsals start 'next week' - so I think Issfan was right. Might mean a few more pictures on Instagram - something to look out for.

Ruby.. glad I wasn't going completely mad when I spotted that Carluccio's box yesterday ...

And Gio is number one pro for me as well.

Gorka is back in the U.K. I think he may have started rehearsing with Lesley for their routines as he put a clip of his dance shoes after a clip of train journey. I guess he was travelling to where Lesley lives.

Daisy has caught up with Aljaz and Jeanette in Miami. Perhaps they are also doing a bit training there so that Aljaz can extend his holiday.

The amazing Lesley Joseph is doing Panto twice a day until Saturday 14th... in Plymouth! So I think.. you might be right there. Gorka was on a First Great Western train.. and admiring the coastline from the window. Maybe he is rehearsing in the mornings with Lesley? She is just an incredible bundle of energy, that lady.

I have no idea what the paparazzi on Miami Beach will do once Jeanette, Alijaz and Daisy stop walking around in their swimwear and come back to London to rehearse....

I looked at some of those pictures - and concluded that it might, just possibly, be time for me to step away from the biscuit tin

Me too LadyLavender. Time to padlock the biscuit tin and throw away the key.

I forgot Lesley was still in panto. She really is amazing. How I envy her energy.

I think Jeanette, Aljaz and Daisy will be on the move this weekend if not before.

Have just heard ' I'm on top of the World' playing during an advert. It was the music they played during Laura and Giovanni's VT when they danced at the top of the O2. Probably my favourite VT.

Lesley must have been Strictly's biggest ever 'Ringah' with her 50 years plus showbiz experience. She was fabulous - I loved her telling Zoe that it only took her an hour to learn the routines that Anton choreo'd for her (immediately after one of the other celebs had been bleating about how difficult it all was). Which is probably very true (for Lesley) after all her years on stage. Anton adored her too. More Lesley-type contestants next year please

Jason Gilkison is currently in Stockholm in heavy snow.... everyone will have jetlag or plane flu or both if they kick off on Monday.

https://twitter.com/pernicegiovann1/...75511035219968

Oooooh.... Gio says starting tomorrow

(Must be a LOT of people on planes then )

I loved Lesley's partnership with Anton. Personally I enjoy when he is partnered with the 'more mature' ladies who are probably unlikely to win but for sure entertain us. Matt Cutler won with Alesha Dixon but he actually said his favourite partner was Christine Blakey. He said he knew that she couldn't win but together they just enjoyed the dancing each week. I think that is probably true of Lesley and Anton.

Monday am could be interesting if that is D Day. Gio should be ok not that we know what he is up to. Probably hard at work plannng for his future projects but we don't really know.

Maybe we should camp out at Heathrow.

Lesley for me was pretty much perfect - she was tremendously entertaining but also had the ability to perform the routines that Anton put together. And he had to work hard to keep up with her which kind of delighted me - I loved seeing Anton working hard AND enjoying himself.

I think, for me, Lesley and Ed Balls are the type of contestants that I love taking part in the show - they worked hard, performed and definitely delivered complete routines. And were very entertaining. I am not so keen on the utterly hopeless contestant that can't, in all honesty, grasp a routine at all (I am thinking like Iwan, the sprinter, last year - who was a bit of a let down). I do like a tryer.

And I also agree with Matt C, and you, that it really helps if they celebrities look as if they are enjoying themselves a bit.

Gio is sounding very upbeat about 2017 - fantastic.

You can guarantee that if Daisy, Alijaz and Jeanette are on the same plane.. the Daily Fail will have the pictures..

Let's see what tomorrow brings. I really cannot believe that Strictly tour rehearsals have come round again so soon.

I agree watching someone who is likely to regularly forget the routine is stressful. I loved Anton's partnership with a Judy Murray off the dance floor but she was one who had problems on the dance floor. Anton and Judy got on famously and he gets a good seat at Wimbledon every year so still benefitting from that partnership.

Loving Gio's optimism for the year ahead. I really hope it is a good one for him. You can tell how much he loves dancing. His face says it all when he is performing. I can't wait to see him in his own show. He is at his best when he is doing proper routines. Then you can see what a fantastic dancer he is. Lots of people can do the rushing around in funny costumes type.

they do seem to love them don't they! I must have seen articles on at least 4 different occasions on the at the beach .

I do think it's lovely though that they've been able to meet up again and have fun together - they all seem like great friends

Optimism is absolutely the right way to go - I think he will have a good year, with lots of opportunities to dance to the level that he has trained for, pretty much, all his life. The Dance is Life tour is going to be a huge achievement - but also a big, big challenge. And I get the feeling that he likes a bit of a challenge.

I have a feeling that one of Gio's New Year's resolutions was to embrace social media a bit more - he is actually getting onto Twitter a bit rather than just hitting the retweets.

The friendship must help tremendously as they will be spending so much time together on tour - it's great to come out of Strictly with a new group of friends.

Miami Beach has resident paparazzi so it's a great place to go if you want a few pictures in the paper.

Yes it will be a challenge for him. I hope he has a good team helping him through his first tour. Certainly social media will help keep his profile raised once the Strictly tour is finished. Possibly he has had some advice from his fellow pros who already done tours too.

It is Craig's birthday today. Richard's tweet suggests that rehearsals for the tour are to begin soon but no clue to when exactly. Hope the shirts in this routine will never see the light of day again. Not my favourite outfit for the male pros.


https://twitter.com/richardbbc/statu...14225938366465

I wonder if any of the pros will tweet pictures. Jeanette is pretty good at keeping everyone informed. Watch and learn Gio

Happy Birthday Craig RH! 21 again no doubt

Oh yes... hideous flashback to Those Purple Paisley shirts... I mean, Gio looks good in most things.. but they were.. ummm... challenging. Mind you, better than the awful 1920s bathing costumes

I think rehearsals for the Strictly tour will kick off next week - too many people still out of the country at the moment.

The team supporting his tour seem to be getting on with it and I guess they have a good grip of what is needed from promoting Ian Waite's tour.

It's a little bit easier for Jeanette and Alijaz as they are dancing in a production, Remembering Fred, rather than marketing their own dance show - but I kind of think that they have a share of some sort in the show as Jeanette is doing tremendously well in letting people know about it. As you say, something for Gio to take a look at and learn from. Full of admiration for anyone attempting this in their second language - what a challenge.

Haha those shirts weren't the best were they?

As Neil is doing the Tour I reckon there'll be no shortage of coverage..! The male pros in particular seem a really close bunch, I think there will be a lot of fun had.

I also noticed that the guy who organises the chilli fiesta (among other things) tweeted Gio yesterday, so will keep an eye on that one

Laura has tweeted about Strictly being nominated for a National Television Award. Hope everyone has voted.

https://twitter.com/thewhitmore/stat...57561944522754

This is probably my favourite photo Laura during her time on Strictly.

Brendan does quite a lot f talking between routines. I don't always think he is totally relaxed about doing it but at least he makes contact with the audience that way. I wonder if Gio will follow his example. An extra challenge in a foreign language for him.

I think I will resist commenting on those bathing suits.

People in Scotland also had to watch Craig dancing in that routine in a kilt.

I was at the Glasgow show and remember it well

I wonder what Craig 'treat ' will be in store for Scotland this year. No doubt his kilt will make an appearance again.

On the other hand, he can always say 'non capisco' if he doesn't want to answer something

We were spared 'the kilt' at Wembley. Hope there weren't any overhead lifts