STRICTLY COME DANCING 2024.

[Cleoriff]

It's that time of year again.

@sheepdogcomes out of hibernation to join me and others like @RunrigForever  to comment on BBC's 'flagship' entertainment show. SCD.

I did wonder if it would take place this year as it's had some really bad press recently.

Two of the male professionals, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Prima have been accused of abusive teaching methods. Giovanni has denied any wrongdoing. Last year he danced with Amanda Abington, who dropped out of the show. Graziano danced with Zara Larsson and he admitted kicking her. He was sacked immediately.

The BBC  have said they will be putting advisors into the training rooms to monitor all training and ensuring the welfare of the celebrities. So away we go again.

It doesn't start until September so I'll be adding to this thread as and when other celebs are revealed.

The first two contestants have been announced;

CHRIS McCAUSLAND - COMEDIAN

Chris is a really funny guy. He's also totally blind. As he said, this should be a laugh. 😂

The next contestant is JB GILL (from the boy band JLS)

[Cleoriff]

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@gmarkj wrote:

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@Cleoriff wrote:

Just a bit of Celeb gossip here.

The lovely Oti Mabuse (my fave female professional ex SCD.) is joining others in 'I'm A Celebrity get me out of Here'.....which starts on ITV on Sunday night. Wishing her well with the cockroaches, spiders, rats, snakes and other creepy crawlies they have to endure in that show. 😂

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Was there an I'm A Celeb thread last year, or did it just pop up in others?

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@gmarkj 

Yes, there was a IAC last year but no thread on it. I think the only thread was in 2020 when they were in the castle?

Last years IAC was won by Sam Thompson, A TV presenter and best friend of Pete Wicks currently on SCD.

Sam won and the runner up was Tony Bellew the boxer.

Apologies for taking SCD off topic 😂

[RunrigForever]

Oti Mabuse  ..... Lovely - Lovely Woman ......... Classy Lady ... & ... should see off Coleen Rooney ... !!!

[RunrigForever]

Thank you Sooo Much @sheepdog for the vid of Paul Anka ... & ... Big Band seeing the wonderful Jump by Van Haylen (one of my fave pieces of music) ....... Swinging up the original song big band style for the 21st century ....... Chris & Dianne to be Top of the Leaderboard with this  .... Fingers Crossed ....... they will do a deffo ... Fab-U-Lous ... American Smooth.

Previous definitive American Smooth was Michael Vaughn with Natalie Lowe all dressed in metallic gold ... performing at London's Olympia ? ....... Big Bold Wedding Cake Centre arena ..... they ended up on top of it ............... Scored ... 40 ... !!!

[sheepdog]

@RunrigForever @Cleoriff Blackpool week in 4 mins 🤣

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog 😂

I'll be watching Darts, Mud and Bootleg Sweet whilst the dancers are bouncing around on the floor at Blackpool. 🤣

I think I read somewhere that the samba-thon is back at some point. Joy of joys!!

[sheepdog]

Blackpool week as if we didn't know. Opening act performing to a medley of their greatest hits were the Pet Shop Boys with everyone dressed in tin foil. Awesome. A proper mashup.  And surprisingly the choreography was done by Jason Gilkerson. Only downside, it was pre-recorded in the previous hour but we can forgive them. 

Tess in red with sticking plasters on the side, Claudia in a gold lamé poncho reminiscent of the legendary Demis Roussos. It's Blackpool week and it's acceptable for trying something other than black. Motsi in a literal flower dress and Shirley's eyebrows.

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - American Smooth. On first and no curse! Great opening number and definitely one of his best. Craig moaned about swing and sway but really a minor issue considering. 

Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - Salsa. Second to keep the vibe of the opener going and disappointed. More or less walked through the routine and was heavy at that. One of those dances that wasn't her week to do but it may be the one that sees her in the dance-off again. Quite disappointing. 

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - Couple’s Choice. Obvious reference to Dead Man's Flug. Well the routine, arm-o-graphy, hand-o-graphy and flicks were excellent but I ask the question where was the content? Maybe I expected a bit more given the homage and in a normal week, may not have scored highly. However, she hasn't done the jive yet so this will give her a boost.

Wynne Evans and Katya Jones - Charleston. Oh. As in "Oh dear". Kind of saved himself with the flat spin with Katya at the end but entertaining rather than technique is the correct call. TIme is calling him to the dance-off.

Pete Wicks and Jowitza Przystal - Cha Cha. Another "oh dear". Really failed to live up the expected wow of the tune. Didn't rip off his shirt which would have made it a standout moment but unless he has a dodgy tattoo, they missed the trick of bonus points. So-so routine with some good elements but yeah, not his dance.

JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - Quickstep.  My opinion, footwork was messy and suit colour made him look lost in amongst the backing dancers who got in the way. Judges pointed out frame/head position but to me, a step backwards. Awful rendition by DAO. 

Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec - Paso Doble.  Yes. Absolutely yes. Best of the night by far. Made the floor look small which is some feat by itself. Worth watching again just for the tune. 

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - Jive. And the prize for the worst concept of the night goes to Jamie. Made worse by being last and after Tasha's score, had to be a showstopper. Up to the point of the backing dancers appearing, it was going well. At the point of the backing dancers getting involved in the routine the the entire energy dissipated like a cold chip in ketchup. Lost all rhythm and co-ordination. Definitely blame the backing dancers. 

So the Leaderboard:

Tasha, Sarah and Chris are safe given the scores. Everyone else is looking at the dance-off. Can't tell who could be in there but if JB is one, he's likely to be saved. 

Good show tonight anyway. PSB doing their new single too. 

[RunrigForever]

Greetings @sheepdog ....... You were left Holding the Fort ....... whilst @Cleoriff away on a Music break ..... = ..... Me, Just Putting my Health first ....... xxx

Just lost a piece for SCD as hadn't signed in ....... = ....... That's about me all over atm 

Was putting my health first yesterday ... SCD ... Sooooooo Raises My Already High BP - which I am on tablets for already ....... Enjoyed your take on Saturday's show = As Ever ....... It seems that this year the Christmas show may even be Live = it is usually recorded in July or some-such silly time ... !!! ... xxx

Pete & Joweta deserve a $exy ....... 10 ....... !!!!!!!

If they do go out this week ... well ... They Go Out With a 'Candy Statten Pink'

Agree @sheepdog ....... Pete ripping off his shirt ... & ... Wanging it around his head a few times to throw it off stage ... well ... A Show Stopping Moment ....... !!!!!!!

Catch their exit through the double doors, if you can, to see the couple's true moments after their live dance ... = ... Pete covers his bits like a true gentleman with the Shocking Pink Fluffy wrap / coat and heads off the discreetly peel off the Pink PVC Pant$ 

Boring Jamie for the Exit Stage Left ....... Totally Forgettable Most Times on SCD .......

[RunrigForever]

*** should have said Pete did not actually rip off his shirt ....... @sheepdog suggesting it would have been a show stopping point ..... & ..... I agree ....... xxx ... ***

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog @RunrigForever 

Cant wait to get home to  see Pete NOT ripping his shirt off!!

I see he scored the lowest ,on the leader board; so I hopehe's safe!

Also looking forward to seeing the great Paso by Tasha and Aljaz.

Must admit to cheating (by mistake ) last night.

I checked FB, intending to read the comments on each dance. Annoyingly I looked at 'The Strictly Spoiler' which tells you about the dance off and who was eliminated!.

I won't spoil the fun on here though.🙄

[sheepdog]

So Tess in another pant outfit whilst Claudia has reverted to shopping at Primark with a return to animal print and leggings. Complete with white heels. Oddly Tess seems to have overdone the gravy granules this week. Then again, a lot of the cast were yellow tinged last night under the ballroom lighting. 

Opening pro routine was, in my opinion a rather graceful and elegant AT routine. I like it. Unfortunately next week brings us the car crash chaos of the samba-a-thon to wipe that out of your head. 

PSB did well and as if I'll be complaining about Nadiya and Luba doing something 🙂 But the moronic crowd clapping all the way through to the tune ruined it. As it turns out, it was a cover of Matt the Hoople's tune which was written & produced by David Bowie!

Onto the dance-off and no surprises the top 3 were safe. In no real shock, Wynne was selected and probably a surprise for Montell, she joined him. Have to say I actually preferred Wynne's routine over Montell's and the judges did save her absolutely. Right decision. 

Going to be hard for her in the next couple of weeks as it's clear she has no fan base to rely on so it has to be pure technique and wow to get to the final. Second time she's been in top 4 and been in the dance-off.