Giovanni has quit Strictly

[IndependentUndefeated]

Giovanni Pernice 'QUITS' Strictly: Under-fire pro 'ends his eight year stint' after 'torrid' five months saw three of ex dance partners meet to discuss their 'difficult' experiences with him | Daily Mail Online

I don't know if I am surprised or not, given the allegations against him. But - BBC are backing him and nothing was even investigated I don't think?

Yeah, I'd imagine there's something on it that doesn't paint him in a good light. If there wasn't, Amanda wouldn't be asking for it.

I remember Rose saying once when speaking about Giovanni that at times the “lizard” came out. I thought when I watched this it was odd. All adds to the history I think.
I am glad he has left.

I think that Strictly at least in his current format should end. Any show of this kind where contestants have to appear and could be voted off for weeks on end I do not think is healthy.

Have several 'heats' and then all the heat winners come back for a final and maybe semi-finals would be better.

As for Giovanni, if the allegations are remotely true, I hope no-one will work with him in future.

It wasn't tenable to keep him on - too much scrutiny for the new partner come fall and once Carter Ruck were involved, a liability.
Not the first or last where partners were unhappy. Steve Backshall also asked for a chaperone with Ola. Brendan, James and Artem had various spats with partners.
Oti was lauded for being strict.
Safeguarding/protecting health did/does need reviewing.
Will Young walked (mental health), as did Robert Webb (physical).
Love Strictly but it has definitely changed over the years pressure and performance-wise.

Are you an insider Wilma?

I'm an inside-number-9er, cancion
Not an insider, no, just a fanatic.
I am surprised they've kept Michelle tbh.
There were strong rumours surrounding her last year not even being in the clauditorium and I thought she'd do a Cameron.

Do a Cameron? Tell us more.

“Steve Backshall also asked for a chaperone with Ola.”

Wow. I didn’t know this either.

Me neither - I'm wondering what Ola's like now!

I think there have been a few pros over the years who probably behaved like Giovanni but he's unlucky to be the one who's been called out. James Jordan, Brendan, even Anton for example I'm sure were capable of the same type of behaviour. The dance world is notoriously brutal and competitive.

That's not an excuse and it's actually taken something away from the programme for me - not Giovanni leaving particularly - but the hidden nasty side and the thought that lots of the smiles were fake - I'm not feeling next season at all.

If you follow James Jordan on insta or read OK magazine most of Ola's life is on show. Ie once being a mum no longer sold stories they both put in weight and then lost it using their "dance fitness" programme!

Oh god, not sure I can cope with a weight loss guru!

Quit after two years as only used in group numbers/on tour.

I felt very sorry for Cameron and Chloe.
I don't understand why you hire someone then bench them all the time.
DWTS had a troupe. You served your time then went on to the main show usually.
In the UK, the benched pros seem more disposable/subject to requirements. They are rarely understudies/used when a pro is injured or ill, nor do they get Christmas or Charity partners as recompense for being benched.
You have a gap but they're still not used as you take on another pro instead or you had too many in the first place!
I hope that Neil is rewarded with his patience this year. It's the least they can do.

It was alleged that Steve had lodged a complaint with the BBC stating that Ola had shown a "rude and impatient" manner towards him in rehearsals and had dented his confidence. Ashley Taylor Dawson wrote in support of her, "I did 18 hour days, had about 5 hours sleep a night for 4 months… Ola is not a bully."
Robbie Savage said in support, "I danced with Ola for a year and she was a great teacher and I got on really well with her. My wife and kids liked her, she was a great teacher and wonderful to work with."

James Jordan was saying today he didn't think any of his partners would say bad things about their time with him!
Georgina: my back is really hurting still. It's been hurting ever since the rhumba because James had to lift me in a really strange way. He basically dug into my ribs and lifted me up - but he just said no pain no gain.
She also said Arlene was belittling.

We know nothing underneath all the fake camaraderie and the sequins.
It was brave of Amanda to burst the Strictly bubble.

Ah yes. I have no idea why some get treated like that. Part of the show and yet not. Having to commit the time but not getting the exposure in return. Not good.

I'm only surprised Michelle has been kept on because there was tattle she was a bit of a mare behind the scenes. Maybe she knows where the bodies are buried (like Neil) and they don't need disgruntled pros blabbing.

Jojo is doing Kinky Boots January so will be interesting what capacity he is participating this year. Amy needs to be strong enough to be able to compete or might be happy being part of the troupe.
It was 8:7 men to women last year. 8:7 women this year perhaps including same sex(?) would mean they could use Michelle but only if Amy and one other were benched. Neil could be used as one of the 7 male pros if Jojo was voluntarily sitting out. Now watch them replace Gio in the Summer with two new male pros for no reason!

Yes, definitely brave of Amanda. So many complaints by the sounds of things! Making them work 18 hour days with so little sleep sounds absolutely brutal but if the person doing it was happy with that arrangement then fair enough. I don't think they should have to be though - it's when you're pushed to that level of exhaustion that you become much more susceptible to illness and injury of all kinds, including trauma.

‘Whispering in his ear’: how Holly Valance became a cheerleader for the radical right | Reform UK | The Guardian

That's disappointing.

Wrong thread?

Sorry - not in my head - but I can see the disconnect.
Holly was my favourite ever contestant.
The opposite of most. She had a rich fiance, took a helicopter to Blackpool, had no record coming out, no interest in restarting a career, no reason for doing it other than for shits and giggles.
She was good but not fiercely competitive, laughed with and at Artem - especially when receiving criticism from the judges and genuinely didn't seem remotely bothered if landing in dance off or not.
Lackadaisical, antipodean laid-back, cool.
Now turns out to be supporting Farage and Trump.
Which is unexpected is all.

(Artem was also meant to be a taskmaster but not sure Holly had any figs to give).

Ha ha, yeah, very unexpected!

Apparently the findings of the investigations are being published today. I wonder what they will reveal.

Yep, still waiting <strums fingers impatiently>
They've been "imminent"/"any day now" for bloody weeks.
The live blog guy's a skeleton...

I think they'll reveal it was a personality clash. Nothing to see here. Move on.
Wrapped up with some bollocks about different students responding to different teaching styles.
The most self-criticism you'll get is something along the lines of Bearing this in mind and the vulnerability of both our pros and celebs, a more robust system is now in place for protecting both parties and providing more support.

It has to come out before Saturday surely so it can be addressed in their solemn speech at the start of the show. And it will be so totally on the fence they will get splinters of course, can't have anything damning overshadowing the launch show.