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

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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Yes I agree that Aljaz left because of the part in Matilda (that was cut), he then found his accent is too strong for presenting work on Morning Live with Janette as a double act. Since Lyra has come along I suspect the parenting is more mundane than perhaps expected and they seem to use a nanny quite a lot so maybe going back to work to pay for a nanny is a better option. Plus when he has done dance classes etc on instagram he has seemed to really love it. He will be a good addition to the Autumn line up.

Yes Amy and Carlos announced their Spring 2025 tour on insta today. It's called Reborn.

Genuinely delighted about Amy.

I suspect Aljaz left bc he wanted to rather than bc the production team did, then found the grass wasn't greener.

Lovely to see Amy back, I hope she gets a good celeb.

I suspect they needed an uber-positive pro, one whose entire personality is sunshine and roses, as well as a total fan favourite to hide from the Giovanni stuff, so it makes total sense.

I also suspect that Aljaz struggled to get work outside of strictly - his accent is very strong, which rules out a lot of presenting work, and he didn't have a particularly high profile either.

I personally LOVE him. I think he's exactly what the show needs, so its a great move.

The grass is never greener outside Strictly, sadly.

I have seen Aljaz and Janette performing at the Peacock. He is an incredible dancer - he dumbs down his talent for Strictly-and actually a pretty good and endearing speaker. I didn't mind his accent, having one myself. They didn't dance together though, as the height difference gets in the way!

SO happy about Aljaz! I've really missed him. One of the few proper ballroom dancers left, and a gent. I have an indelible memory of him getting stuck into the washing-up round Abbey Clancy's 😍

Also happy to have Amy back. I always liked her, but ever since reading that she said she didn't feel beautiful with her shaved head have just wanted to give her a huge hug, take her to Primark to buy something sparkly, and get rat-arsed on cocktails with her.

Very glad amy and aljaz are returning. Really fed up of all the moaning about giovanni and all the victim blaming towards Amanda and the other women. What happened to women believing women? There was no way the BBC could keep giovanni unless he was totally vindicated. You cannot be accused of bullying by several people and continue to be professionally included in the most high profile show on TV. The naysayers totally pissed on aljaz's chips, dominated the comments on social media. Those poor women bullied by giovanni. Sure he was kind to Debbie and rose but does it mean that the others are lying?

Sure he was kind to Debbie and rose but does it mean that the others are lying?
Offense is taken not given so he could have treated two partners similarly and one be upset by it and the other not. With Debbie I suspect having had extensive dance training in her youth she may have had very different expectations to someone who hasn't had that experience (and also may have needed less 'pushing'). With Rose she appeared to have ignored/shut down any behaviour she wasn't happy with - I'm sure she said if he shouted she turned her hearing aid off.

Yes Rose laughed about turning her hearing aid off. She also refused to comment other than saying she understood the other women. Debbie McGee is the exception, Michelle Visage told of her clashes with Gio too.

Accordingly to an exclusive report in the Daily Mail, Graziano has been sacked for gross misconduct towards Zara McDermott.

Blimey, what else is waiting to be uncovered?!

I’m quite sad about that, I met Graziano at an event a couple of years ago and he seemed lovely.

No wonder they wanted Aljaz back. Get him under contract first and then sack Graziano.

What is gross misconduct within Strictly? The Mail is publishing this photo presumably of a night out in the article - Zara doesn't seem to be behaving negatively towards him. Could it be an affair? Are Strictly now clearing out anyone who has done anything in the past which could potentially bring the show into disrepute?

'The Sun exclusively revealed today that Graziano Di Prima has been sacked from the Saturday night show over allegations of physical and verbal behaviour towards his celebrity dance partner Zara McDermott.'

Physical behaviour? Is that hitting, inappropriate touching or an affair?

Oh that's a shock, he always seemed so nice. No wonder they've brought Aljaz back

Poor Zara. It doesn't sound to me like it's anything to do with a consensual affair: if they started sacking pros for that they'd have no one left: they'd have to bring back Ian Waite.

Makes you wonder who’s next. I’ve only just warmed up to graziano to.

I was shocked! So fast- unlike Gio!

Glad Aliajz is back and I'd be delighted to see Pasha back

That's quite a surprise out of nowhere. I feel sorry for Zara she really tried.

Is Kevin Clifton free or currently in something? He's a safe pair of hands

KC was in ETAJ... Ds2 saw him in Canterbury.

Kevin's currently in a tour of Everyone's Talking About Jamie, but it's just finishing. so it's possible that he's free. He seems to be in steady West End work though, so I'd be surprised if he wanted to come back.

This, according to Digital Spy, is a snap of Graziano's swiftly deleted Instagram post.

I saw him in Singin In The Rain at Sadler's Wells, Faye Tozer too. He was good.

"More to this story"🤔

My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime?

Zara was not a natural dancer. He would have worked that out in a minute if seeing her dance. She would never have won.