Strictly 2021

[sheepdog]

So Strictly come Dancing is back this autumn with a new old judge (Anton du Beke), a new old presenter for It takes Two (Jenette Manrara), four new pro's who won't be involved and obviously even less money than ever before!

First three of the bottom of the barrel scrapings are:

Tom Fletcher - ex boyband member now writing children's books

Robert Webb - slightly creepy comedian looking for work

AJ Odudu - obligatory "Who's that, never heard of her"

Also there are 15 people defined as celebs this year. I'm half expecting Kathryn Ryan to be involved as she seems to be on every other program for no reason. Also no Blackpool week either. 

Sadly, looks like were stuck with the un-dynamic duo of Daly & Winkleman.

[sheepdog]

This weeks random choices of music loosely coupled with a random dance:

AJ and Kai: Charleston to Don't Bring Lulu by Dorothy Provine, Pinky and The Girls

Rose and Giovanni: Samba to Cinema Italiano by Kate Hudson

Sara and Aljaž: Quickstep to 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Tilly and Nikita: Tango to Kings & Queens by Ava Max

Adam and Katya: Jive to Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

Dan and Nadiya: Couple's Choice to Classic by MKTO

John and Johannes: Rumba to Shape of My Heart by Sting

Rhys and Nancy: Quickstep to What A Man Gotta Do by Jonas Brothers

Tom and Amy: Paso Doble to Amparito Roca by Jamie Texidor

According the BBC Strictly page: It's a real mixed bag of bangers for Week Seven

Oh yeah, I've had to youtube 8 of the 9 songs so guess I've not been invited to the parties. I never knew Kate Hudson had a brief musical career and now I know why it was brief. I think Rose will do just fine though.

Got a feeling its going to be two male celebs in the dance-off with Rhys likely to be the highest scoring male of the night. 

[Cleoriff]

Real weird music.

I'm hoping Tom does well with the Paso. He needs to stop smiling. 😂

Got a feeling it will be Adam and Dan in the bottom two.

Now @sheepdog this week F1 is in Mexico.

Qualifying starts at 8pm but the Sky F1 preamble is at 7pm...So I'll be recording Strictly and watching afterwards.

On Sunday the race starts at 7pm so the 'results' show will also take a back seat I'm afraid.

If Hamilton loses this one then they may as well give the WDC to Verstappen (and that's with 4 more races to go) 😧

[sheepdog]

So tonights show:

Tess: Glittery bin bag

Claudia: drunk japanese businessman

Summary: mediocre music, flat after last week and scoring all over the place. 

Order as I remember it which is probably wrong:

Adam & Katja: Was kind of getting my dinner so missed most of it. Did ok in the parts I saw, bottom of the leaderboard almost by default especially being the opening act.

Rose & Giovanni: Still eating my dinner, liked her outfit but never was going to be as last weeks scores. Still the most consistent dancer though 4th from bottom means she needs votes. 

Tom & Amy: Classic paso performed by a public schoolboy prefect. Terrible camerawork but needed a big week and got it. 

Rhys & Nancy: Another needing a big week and finally, we have control! 

Till & Nikita: more style over substance and not her best to date. Just outside the bottom two but should be saved if it gets to that. I mean its either Adam or Dan so not exactly a difficult decision.

Dan & Nadija: neither good nor bad and going to be in the dance-off. Played the job card well but that still was more interesting than the couples choice they did. Way too safe. Against Adam, its going to be a 50-50 split from the judges and Adam may be sent home based on number of mistakes. Against anyone else, its early doors.

Johannes & Johannes: Apparently, according to Johannes, its his favourite dance. According to my interpretation and observation, no it isn't. Still managed to get in the signature synchronised movements. Also John led but not convincing to me. Judges loved it because he is their favourite but meh, its a rhumba so I don't care. Had it been next week, quite possibly in the dance-off.

AJ & Kai: Back to the top and totally worth the marks. By far the best of the night. Craig gave a 9 but he could just be right. 
Sara & Alijaz: after last week, this only had to be better. Good stuff and the 80's perm made me smile and the only song of the night that I knew.

Sunday's result show act of mediocrity is The Script which I only know of one or two songs they did about 10 years ago.  Since they probably have a new single out, I'll stop feeding the wolf pack in anticipation of feed on sunday.

[Cleoriff]

Tess looked ok. Claudia just needed a black moustache and a bowler hat and Charlie Chaplin would have been in the house! 😂

Adam and Katya, Jive. Terrible musical interpretation by DA. I could jive to that back in the day! Poor dance with more than one mistake Scored 27

Rhys and Nancy. Quickstep. A real great dance for them. Felt the judges were picky with

Rose and Giovanni. Samba. I actually thought they did damn well. Some excellent moves Scored 32.

Tom and Amy. Paso Doble. Absolutely superb. The outfits would have been better in black! Scored 38.

Rhys and Nancy. Quickstep. Really well done. Great timing. I thought the judges were picky with comments and marks Scored 34

Tilly and Nikita. Tango. Such a shame, I thought they would be better than this. Scored 31

Dan and Nadiya. Couples Choice. Not sure that was all about. Either way it was poor. Dance off for sure

Scored 28

John and Johannes. Rumba. I might as well be honest here. If Johannes had danced this with a female they wouldn't have raved about it. I think there is some conspiracy bt BBC to see these two in the finals. Didn't float my boat at all. Funnily enough the marks didn't match comments Scored 35

AJ and Kai. Charleston. I hoped no-one would beat Tom but there she was. Just brilliant. Loved it. Scored 39

Sara and Aljaz. Quickstep. To be honest I was still buzzing about AJ so paid little heed to this Scored 33

Good thing about recording is, you can fast forward through the sob stories and memories.

If there is any justice Adam and Dan will be in the dance off.

Another reminder I will be watching the Mexican F1 race tomorrow. Particularly as all bets had the Red Bulls locking out the front row. Instead it's both Mercs...so turn 1 will see me hiding behind a cushion. 😂

[sheepdog]

So results are in....Tess recycling the glittery bin bag with tents. Claudia, well the poppy was the impressive on black. Opening number, well, it was a typical opening number making no sense. Set in an Irish bar and swishing skirts. More bizarre was that I was commenting on the bouncy plank they were dancing on and saying wheres the Health & Safety in this? Then Wang Chung's The Safety Dance came on. Either I got the joke or the BBC are unintentionally ironic.

Anyway, as predicted Adam was in the dance-off with the slightly unfortunate by position of third from bottom of the leaderboard: Tilly. Have to say it was a difficult choice but definitely Tilly was the better one as Motsi said in a musical direction (DAO probably your fault). No idea what Shirley was seeing but now the reincarnation of Arlene Philips. 

Oh The Script: mumbled to a song they released years ago. Why? Howls for not making an effort with newer material I can howl about. 

Two things for next week: Johannes manages to avoid the ballroom AGAIN by doing a samba (apparently his favourite as well) and Dan rides his luck with an American Smooth to The Proclaimers King. Which could be his best.

[Cleoriff]

I loved the opening number. I agree it made no sense but it was lively and joyous. The Irish dancers superb.

I thought it was a mish mash of Russian, Irish and Cotton Eyed Joe. 😂

Tess...Are flares back in? Claudia: Silliest outfit ever, Black baggy shirt, tight black trousers tucked into knee high glittery boots? FGS.

After Tilly was announced as first in the dance off, on came The Script singing some !!

Adam and Katya 2nd couple in the dance off.

Now is there some 'law' about Shirley and the BBC favourites John and Johannes doing all Latin?

If they ever get into the dance off then they will be saved if Shirley has the casting vote,

Dan surely a dance off candidate next week

Dance off

Personally I think Tilly and Nikita were by far the better couple. Adam just looks uncomfortable.

Of course Shirley would have saved Adam.. She has drooled over him week in week out!!

Now next week. F1 is in Brazil and although the timings are ok, we have the added 'bonus' of a 30 minute Sprint race at 19.30 on Saturday. As this decides who is on pole position then I will be recording SCD again as the race starts at 5pm Sunday.

[sheepdog]

And this weeks banging playlist of owls (according to the BBC Strictly blog):

AJ and Kai: Paso Doble to Game of Survival by Ruelle

Rose and Giovanni: Couple's Choice to Symphony by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson

Sara and Aljaž: Argentine Tango by No More Tears (Enough is Enough) by Donna Summer and Barbara Streisand

Tilly and Nikita: Quickstep to I Won't Dance by Damita Jo

Dan and Nadiya: American Smooth to King of the Road by The Proclaimers

John and Johannes: Samba to Acuyuye by DLG

Rhys and Nancy: Charleston to The Charleston by Bob Wilson and his Varsity Rhythm Boys

Tom and Amy: Viennese Waltz to Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

I'd go for saying goodbye to Sara this weekend as the AT may just be too difficult to pull off.  Johannes in the dance-off because we'll be bored by another synchronised routine as we all can see he's avoiding the ballroom. Will be telling if the producers put him as the opening or second act which means there's a high probability its a dance-off place. Will need to watch ITT this friday for clues...

[Cleoriff]

As you know, it's all being recorded and watched after F1 which is in Brazil. Thankfully this will be the last race run in the evening UK time.

Could be Dance off for Sara I suppose, although I notice Rhys is doing a Charleston and it will depend how manic he is.

Dan is never marked high but still gets the public vote (up till now)

As for John and Johannes? Not a chance they will be in the dance off. The BBC has planned they will be in the final. 🙄

Also if they were in the dance off, the judges will save them!

[sheepdog]

Tess: stunning dress and just gorgeous. Claudia: Tablecloth. Seriously. Yet Moti’s outfit outdid her. 

DAO: hit and miss for the most. Miranda Hart painful. Judges extra picky tonight. 

Tilly & Nikita: Just not impressed with this one. She’s good when expressive but the routine, well needed something I can’t work out. Scored 29. 

AJ & Kai: Oh dear. Perhaps the dress was the start of the slide downwards. Started well but in all honesty, a poor routine barely resembling a paso. Some good moves and technique but the surprise of the night in being right at the bottom of the leaderboard. Dance-off beckons and against Tilly or Sara, it may be the shock exit of the series. Scored 28. 

Dan & Nadiya: Definitely his best of the series and I liked it. More classic American Smooth and Craig unjustly gave him a 4. Actually that was insulting. Scored 29 but may just avoid the dance-off thanks to Craig. If he leaves, it won’t be a bad one to go out on. 

Sara & Alijaz: Did far better than I expected though may have more to do with Alijaz dragging her around again. May be safe or maybe not. Tilly is probably her best chance in a dance-off. Split vote if with AJ though. Scored a surprising 32. 

Rhys & Nancy: Mesmerising legs and swivel! Full marks from the judges and you know what, he hasn’t done a jive yet! 

Johannes & Johannes's clone: More camp than samba. Boring and repetitive predictably with synchro moves out of hold but oblivious in the eyes of the judges who overmarked him. Next weeks shock exit? I hope but not going to happen. Overmarked at 38.

Tom & Amy: Nice routine with a few issues as picked up by the judges. Safe this week but next week could be decisive. Score of 30. 

Rose & Giovanni: Sometimes, you know why couples get put last because it is something special. It was and worth watching as the special moment caught me out. Awesome. Actually ******* awesome! Scored 39 because Craig made something up. 

And tomorrows choice of musical mediocrity is none other than the singer of the most mis-understood and annoying song ever: James Blunt. Apparently he’s singing one of his classic hits so yeah, its either She’s beautiful or Goodbye my lover because like everyone else, that’s all we know. Strangely, I don’t dislike him or his music so I may watch this one in anticipation. The wolf pack will also be circling in anticipation. 

[Cleoriff]

So tonight...you have mentioned Claudia and Tess so will ignore them. Just commenting on Motsi. What was that on her head? Looked like Marje Simpson!

Tilly and Nikita. I didn't like it at all. Too much Charleston in the Quickstep

AJ and Kai. Have to say when she walked down  the stairs in that dress I thought OH DEAR!. Not helped by the music which was not a Paso.

Dan and Nadiya. Excellent dance. Not sure what Craig was watching to give them a 4!!

Rhys and Nancy  Just damn superb!

Sara and Aljaz. Another stupid choice of music. Was better than I expected.

John and Johannes. Is there someone in the audience holding up a card saying CHEER LOUDER! Nothing to write home about. Also getting fed up of the judges bias. Totally overmarked.

Tom and Amy. I liked it a lot. I didn't see any mistakes because it's Tom 😂

Rose and Giovanni Firstly, the best choice of music I've heard for a long time. Superb dance. Just beautiful.

Boo to Craig. Deserved full marks.