SCD '23 #19: In which we're crowning our Strictly champion!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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Which was really irresponsible of the producers if true.

I like Gio & Amanda so hope they're both ok & it's not true!

Really hope this isn't true. Have there been concerns about Gio for years? I know there were issues with Laura, but I don't think there's been problems with other partners?

I have a feeling he'll announce his departure in the next month, which will be such a shame as he's fabulous to watch and does some brilliant routines.

There were well-publicised tensions with Laura and lots of suggestions that he and Richie did not click at all. Apart from that, he’s had some wonderful partnerships - Debbie, Faye and Rose being obvious highlights. I think what those three seem to have had in common is that they were all just as driven as he is and were prepared to work really hard to do well. His partnership with Rose was extraordinary and really showed his abilities as a teacher and choreographer. I think if he does leave, the show will have lost one of its most talented celebs which will be a shame. I can’t think of anyone apart from Nikita who can really step into his shoes (thinking of the male pros here). Johannes is amazing but brings a different kind of energy to the dance floor - he can’t do ‘dangerous’ in the way Gio can!

Ds2 did a meet and greet with Gio. They videocalled me and Mr and Mrs Next Door and he was lovely. He did a signing video with ds too... 💙

I'm sure he behaves differently when in the training room for many hours a week.
If Amanda has asked for the footage, I'd assume there is something negative there to see.

It's about three months since Amanda left Strictly. Why only ask for the footage now? And why have it go public which sounds like Amanda authorized her friend to speak out?

I wonder if there is some kind of dispute around how much Amanda should be paid as she was good and could have got to the final but didn't make it to Halloween (IIRC). Is she asking for more money than her contract entitles her to and wants to make a case for that?

Strictly Celeb and dance pro is an intense relationship - both emotionally and physically. If they didn't gel and there was friction it could make training very difficult. I think according to rumours both of them can be demanding and difficult.

I suspect Amanda's main interest is getting paid as if she was a finalist plus some compensation for the damage to her reputation as she was 'forced' to pull out due to Gio's behaviour.

The DM article said that the producers didn't want Amanda in the final. It wasn't her decision.

Gio has been on the show since 2015 I can’t believe he’s suddenly turned into a monster.
True people can dislike each other really not get on and Amanda chose to leave. Doesn’t mean Gio is a bully.

I know someone who was in the rehearsal studios with them doing the filming, who said Gio was a strict taskmaster compared to some of the other pros, but nothing more. There won't be anything damaging on any film footage. Whether anything different happened when they weren't being filmed is another matter.

I noted Michelle Visage - who doesn't suffer fools gladly and held her own with Gio - sent him a sad face supportive emoji at the time they withdrew.
Ranvir and Laura liked Amanda's social media comments at the time, as did some pros.

I think different people can react very differently. Rose seemed hardworking obviously but with a fantastic, relaxed, "don't give a damn" personality. That's what won the show for her, and also what enabled her to take Giovanni's nonsense with a huge pinch of salt.

Amanda seemed very tightly wound, and hugely invested in the show - she was always going to need the right partner with the right personality to keep her on track. Such a pity that she wasn't partnered with Nikita, or the late lamented Pasha/Aljaz. (Obviously Nikita was great with Layton: if only we could clone him....<<goes off into private reverie>>).

At the time, posters were putting the blame at the feet of Amanda's partner saying that he had clearly made her withdraw. Now it's apparently Giovanni's fault.

The truth is that we will most likely never know whether Amanda was "difficult", Giovanni "difficult" or Jonathan "jealous/controlling".

some people just don't get on even though others have not had a problem. Personality clash or whatever.

Oh yeah definitely can have personality clash with anyone. But that’s not the same as claiming to having been bullied.

The new series of dancing with the stars is starting (literally right now) on RTE is anyone is interested.

"... I think different people can react very differently."

"some people just don't get on even though others have not had a problem..."

Exactly this. Amanda leaving was disappointing at the time, and now seems like a bit of a storm in a teacup, but I don't think we've heard the last of it somehow.

A pay dispute, maybe.

It's a great shame all round

I think so too. She danced four times and survived three eliminations. That would giver her pay of either £25k or £40k if reports are accurate. But she could well have been a finalist instead of Bobby if she had stayed. That would have got her £75k.

I think she wants to look for stuff in the footage that she can use to claim it was the BBCs fault she had to withdraw as they put her with 'bullying' Gio and so she should get another £50k.

How can you get this in England? @MeinKraft

I don't like the way that Gio has been thrown under the bus with these accusations. There's no proof either way - just lots of hearsay.

I think he's possibly a very hard taskmaster - but he was also great with Debbie as she was grieving, and he was also great with Rose. I don't think he's the pro you would give to someone who needs a little more love and affection, and calmness (e.g. Johannes and Annnabel, or Gorka and Katie Piper) but that doesn't make him a bad pro or bad teacher.

I suspect that it could be a few things

a) a general personality clash (I don't think AA comes across as the most easy-going of people)

b) perhaps AA wanted to return for the final, but the Beeb said no, so maybe there's a payment issue there - or she thinks she's entitled to x but because she walked, she's only entitled to y - who knows!

But I personally think that this is the most likely explanation

c) AA has been open about mental health issues. I suspect the relentless trolling she faced from the very beginning may have seriously affected her, and I don't blame her. In which case, perhaps she's making a claim for duty of care from the BBC (Layton could also have a case here) to protect her from harm. Perhaps it was similar to Will Young in terms of panic attacks, and that's what she wants footage of, to show that she was being affected by it.

Ultimately, no one knows - but the way the press and literally trying to destroy Giovanni's career seems horrendous.

it must be such an intense experience between the celebrity and the pro it’s surely a certainty that some couples just don’t get on

always found it rather cringey how such a high proportion of the couples end up gushing about “x has been so wonderful, he’s my new best friend” etc. surely in RL only a small proportion properly gel. Giovanni and Rose, and Nikita and Layton being good examples.

I agree @thebellagio