The Pro Challenge.....



I thought all of the final three (Kevin, Karen and Gio) on ITT were an absolute riot - Zoe handled the great 'reveal' brilliantly. I was laughing my socks off for most of it.

Keeping the spoiler tags going for this evening.... but anyone who wants to be unspoiled needs to really stay off Twitter.

Yes it was a great segment.

It is oddly compelling, I could keep it going on a loop for quite a while


Hi Chris He must have been especially gutted to miss out on doing the Jive this year and they had such a great song too.



And big thanks Lady L for typing up the interviews, that's so good of you. Right...off for a catch up!

The typing helped me to avoid a number of tedious tasks... sadly they are now looking back at me

The man can Jive ,I think if he is ever in the position of having a contender again he should keep it in reserve. As I said at least he has this from this season of Strictly and his tour of course.

lucky lady


I was hoping Giovanni would win, so pleased for him

It's a good way to end this series of Strictly for Gio.

This year I really noticed that the pros had turned up prepared with a jive routine to outdo Jay - Kevin, Joanne, Oti, AJ and Oksana were definitely up for it. I think that Gio had one of those jives lined up for Laura as well. Alas, it was not to be.

So, depending on who he is paired with next year, we might see that jive routine in 2017. But Chris you are right, Gio will need to rein himself in a bit otherwise his celeb could very easily look outdanced.

Looking forward to the semi-finals tonight - but it won't feel as nail-bitingly tense for me as last year.

Gio out with some of the other pros last night - looks like they all went to see Kylie, that must have been a great show!

Lots of acclaim on social media for the new World Record Holder way too much to post here.

So I'll just post this one... Gio's new baby

Enjoy the show tonight everyone...not sure who I'm rooting for really. I might just go for who dances the best on the night *shocker*

I had seen Jason Gilkison tweeting about Kylie at the Albert Hall - hadn't spotted Gio was with them - so he was able to celebrate his record in a Kylie-tastic manner This lucky lady saw Gio on his way to the tube home...

https://twitter.com/Nicks_Scotland/s...70404826415105

I am really looking forward to this semi-final - the rehearsal clips all looked terrific so it's going to be a really good show. I just wish that all four had made it to the final.

I think my votes will be going to 'who dances best' between Claudia and Ore..... both seem in danger tonight. But as ever the show might throw up a giant surprise..

Enjoy the show everyone.

Thud alert...
Gio and Gorka appear to have lost their shirts again

Enjoyed last night's show mostly, bit disappointed with Louise's samba, given the tune they had. Took a sneaky peek at the spoiler last night so will keep mum until after the results show

Some pics from tonight's pro dance:

https://twitter.com/tommyblaize/stat...00761161461761
https://twitter.com/tommyblaize/stat...52108049137664

Catching up - hope everyone enjoyed the show. I absolutely loved Danny and Ot's moody, intense American Smooth and also Claudia and AJ's dazzling Quickstep. I felt very underwhelmed by both of Louise's dances - the samba was really not very good at all. I definitely preferred Claudia's QS to Ore's. And the judges scores were...... odd.

It was heartening to see Gio and the other pros getting behind all the celebs last night - I remember last year it all felt a bit as if they were cheering their favourites. This year it felt like a very supportive atmosphere.

Having checked out the spoiler.. I will not say any more.

I am sure that absolutely NO-ONE is interested in a photo of Gio and Gorka changing their shirts back stage.

https://twitter.com/FitFamousMales/s...92693749825536

Nope. Thought not.

And Tommy, the singer with Dave Arch's band, has posted a lovely pic of the male pros in their Bird costumes for the results show pro dance. But unfortunately he has tagged Neil Jones in the Tweet instead of Gio - and Gio was NOT HAPPY AT ALL.

https://twitter.com/TommyBlaize/stat...00761161461761

And did anyone else notice that Kevin nicked a bit of Gio's Tango choreo for his dance with Louise? The shoulder shimmy in the Spanish Drag section..... Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery etc

Yes! I did notice that little shoulder thing, will have to have another look.

Love this photo of Gio on the ITT sofa with Kevin and Karen waiting for the pro challenge results...

https://instagram.com/p/BNzwdKXjRrM/

The face of pure happiness

Great picture so pleased Gio won, think he is too

thanks for the thud warning

I thought Claudia's quickstep was fantastic, so fast, and AJ looked good in his tail suit ..... did you know his name is Alex? .... also loved both of Danny's dances .... in fact, I've like all his dances this year


that a good picture, really, really pleased for Gio ..... I did wonder if the pro challenge would be mentioned on Strictly last night, but maybe there wasn't time

Missed your post earlier - apologies for duplicating! But two thuds are better than none!

It was a shame that Louise didn't look at all comfortable with that Samba, despite the fab music. Very difficult dance to have in a two-dance week. I thought actually that Louise was looking a bit flat in both her dances - I wondered if she was simply absolutely shattered by the training.

It was a bit ironic that Craig told off Kevin for over-dancing in the Samba - reminded me of his feedback to Gio after his Samba with Laura. And who else spotted Kevin doing some lovely batucadas whilst Louise was stepping in place.... which Gio was called out for in Week 7 - this was a semi-final dance!


Claudia had a beautiful Quickstep dress - finally - and looked stunning. So glad they got her out of the bubblegum mini-pops costume box.

I have rewatched Danny's dances probably more than any others over the series. Hope to see him in the final - he and Oti have absolutely earned a place.

I noticed it last night and immediately thought of Laura

Gio still having trouble with those tricky, tricky buttons.. he really does like that picture on his Instagram. Should I post the link again?

Oh, why not

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN4bZESD...ernicegiovann1

Not just me then Huph! I thought Laura managed that shoulder move a touch more elegantly than Louise - but maybe it just suited Gio and Laura's music better.

Much preferred Laura's, I am biased though

Yes - I am biased too!

Craig blasted Laura and Gio because Laura didn't attempt a batucada (really that was a criticism of Gio's choreo, not so much Laura) when her leg was injured.

Last night Louise.... didn't attempt a batucada. Or a Samba roll. And scored a 9 from Craig. There were certainly at least a couple of mistakes in Louise's routine as well.

I kind of give up with the judges' scores at times.... but Gio took a LOT of flak for that Samba.. and as far as I can see Kevin's list of 'Samba crimes' is pretty similar. But Kevin only spun once at the end, not 10 times.

Gio didn't make Laura wear a horrific fruit hat either

From Gio's Instagram stories... he is out watching Flamenco tonight... beautiful dancing from the clips he has posted. I think that is Bar Gansa in Camden.

After the results show.. very sorry, but not shocked, to see Claudia and AJ leave. Claudia danced her final Quickstep with such joy it was a real pleasure to watch.

And I feel that we have missed out on an epic, lift-tastic show dance next week - might have been a bit of a frantic AJ top speed train wreck but I would have really looked forward to seeing it.

Danny and Oti deserved their place in the final, so I am glad that they will be there next week. It just didn't feel like the right bottom 2.