Strictly 2022

[sheepdog]

Seems its that time of the year when the BBC license tax earns it's value by making me watch Saturday night TV in the main room. Yes, Strictly Come Dancing is back on our screens with the usual list of "celebs"!

Starting with failed pop star turned relatively successful actress and grandmother, it's none other than Kym Marsh with probably a show to promote in between:

Not to be outdone, second on the list is jobbing soap actor and failed pop singer (oh the 90's had so many forgettable acts, cue exhibit 1): Will Mellor

Lets see what tomorrow brings us in the surface analysis of celebrity barrel sampling.

Also 4 new pros to be shoved in the background replacing Aljaz & Oti. No change in the judges other than Bruno will no longer be in the cupboard at all making Anton permanent. Guess we're still getting Craig and Shirley and probably a guest judge as well at some point. Unfortunately the BBC won't get rid of TessBot & Grimace so yet again, the teleprompter will be in full effect with Christmas cracker jokes. 

On the other hand, the Masked Dancer is slated for an autumn release this year. 

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog 

I found this on Facebook (Strictly group)

The pairings. You were right with Ellie and Nikita.

**Gorka & Helen

**Graziano & Kim

** Vito & Fleur

** Carlos & Molly

** Giovanni & Richie

**Kai & Kaye

**Karen & Jayde

** Nikita & Ellie S

**Katya & Tony

** Nadiya & Matt

**Nancy & Will

**Dianne & Tyler

**Amy & James

**Johannes & Ellie T

**Jowita & Hamza

[Cleoriff]

Strictly now starts on Friday night and then again Saturday (23rd+ 24th) @sheepdog 

[Cleoriff]

So change of routine for me with this series @sheepdog . There is a clash with other programmes. I'm watching The Voice, Formula 1 has now travelled to the Far East and along  with the time changes, will clash with Strictly. So I will be posting on a Sunday only.

The first show was last night and no eliminations but 15 dances to get through.

The marking was all over the place with Craigs scores ranging from 3 -8 ON THE FIRST NIGHT.

So here we go.

Great opening number by the professionals.

From last night the motto should be NEVER GO FIRST!

Kym and Graziano...Jive

Pretty good for a first dance. Her legs were a bit stiff at times Scored23

Tyler and Dianne....American Smooth...

Quite lovely. Footwork needed a bit of improvement but better than the previous couple.

The judges were quite gushing, then scored them 21!!

Karen and Jayde. Samba.

Better than I thought they would be. Pretty Good first dance Scored 23

Kaye and Kye...Tango... Scored 21

Poor really. Made plenty of mistakes but gave them the same score as Tyler?!

James and Amy. Jive.

Pretty poor. Out of time to music. Kicks and flicks just about ok. Again scored higher than Tyler with 22

Ritchie and Giovanni....Cha Cha

Very over enthusiastic. Ritchie's arms were like windmills Out of time with music. However another score of 23

Helen and Gorka... American Smooth

Up to this point, the best dance of the night.  I enjoyed it. Scored 26

Mollie and Carlos.... Samba.

What a great dance. Song didn't match the Samba which is why the dance was better than most. Score 31

Matt and Nadiya. Quickstep

Mr Bros gave the impression he thought he was good. He wasn't. In hold his shape was poor and he was out of time Scored 20. (that wiped the smile off his face.

Ellie and Nikita...Cha Cha

Whilst the dance was ok, it didn't deserve the score. I do hope the judges don't go down the sympathy vote route! They scored 26

Tony and Katya....Tango

Well what can I say? Very poor. His footwork looked as if he was doing Keepy uppies!

Scored 15.

Will and Nancy...Jive.

Wow just wow! What an excellent dance. He started on a table on his own. Kicks and flicks were superb. the whole performance was brilliant considering it's week one Scored 34.

Ellie and Johannes...Quickstep.

Good dance all in all. Footwork needs improvement. Scored 28

Hamzi and Jowita....Foxtrot

Surprisingly a really lovely dance. Good job it was a slow one though, as those really long dreadlocks will take someone's eye out when he does the jive 😂 Scored a well deserved 34

Fleur and Vito... Cha Cha.

Another excellent dance although Fleur was over powerful at times Scored 29

So that's it. They will all dance again next week and the vote off begins.

[sheepdog]

@Cleoriff don't worry, I'll be posting late Saturday to keep up the tradition. Anyway, Friday night's recorded show was a bit padded out but oddly was entertaining with some good pairings.  Plus marks for John Legend for a highly competent performance but I don't like his stuff anyway. 

So Saturday night, kind of forced me to either watch Masked Dancer or Strictly and unfortunately, MD lost out. And I missed part of tonights show due to other events taking priority. 

Anyway: Motsi - just no, please just stop and look in a mirror before deciding on an outfit. Tess managed to be increase the thickness of her cardboard presenting skills. 

My views on the celebrity free zone known as week 1:

Agreed, the opening number was the best one they done yet I have this nagging feeling that might the best one of the series. Also seems they've spent a bit of money improving the set with lots of led panels and lighting which would explain this years lack of celebrity. 

Kym and Graziano: dancing on marshland. Way too slow but should progress to the middle of the pack if she speeds up. Must say she did look far better without the heavy eye makeup.

Tyler and Dianne: not seen. 

Karen and Jayde: not seen and not exactly one I'd be using iplayer for. 

Kaye and Kye: nope, still busy in the other room

James and Amy: still busy in the other room. 

Ritchie and Giovanni: Living out his fantasy and going home early back to obscurity of BBC traffic reports  if he continues like that. An early exit beckons. 

Helen and Gorka: oooh so nice. I'll stick to a prediction of top 5. 

Mollie and Carlos: Are Tango looking for a new mascot? Way too much orange....good partnership though and should do well over the next few weeks. 

Matt and Nadiya: High hopes but not so. Rabbit in headlights. Got better during the dance and his suit wasn't flattering to be honest didn't help. However, that should be the kick up the backside he needs especially as the longer Nadiya is in, the more I'll be interested 😍 

Ellie and Nikita: Own it girlfriend! Have to say Nikita was just a bit of fluff prancing around which is good as Ellie showed confidence. Will struggle when it comes to dances in hold though look out for a lot of dances with lifts to distract. 

Tony and Katya: haven't seen a worse opening dance for many years! More please 😂 Saying that, he was quite embarrassed afterwards. Katya can do wonders but this might need to be a miracle of biblical proportions to get out of week 2. Also poor choice of song. 

Will and Nancy: Oh is this a potential finalist in the making? I think so based on this so we may have another Kelvin happing here. 

Ellie and Johannes: Will go far if Johannes actually puts an effort into teaching and not put himself as the centre of attention. However, if Ellie stops shrieking and gurning she may endear herself to the public. 

Hamzi and Jowita: Er, excuse me, this is week 1 and you did this! Did notice his dreadlocks were as long as Jowita...perhaps this series surprise celebrity contestant. 

Fleur and Vito: Nutbush city limits. Agreed with the judges though lets kind of say, it wasn't elegant. Has potential but needs control. Top 5? No, not on this outing. 

Next week the eliminations and means a return to the Sunday Night Results Show That's not really live but we pretend it is so just ignore the minor continuity errors and please don't read the forum on Digital Spy for spoilers. Talking of which, its also the return of the Musical Mediocrity Act and start it off, its Robbie Williams. 

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog 

So pleased you posted. I was beginning to think the lack of celebrity had sent you into a fit of the doldrums. (What are the doldrums anyway?) 😂 Then I noticed you had posted on the England thread. Now THAT lack of performance meant it was double doldrums week!

Just to mention, they have a spoiler group on Facebook and I always read that late Saturday night. If the BBC treat us like idiots with this pretence of two shows, then I'll spoil their pretence!!

PS I watched MD instead of SCD. My husband hates both..so as Strictly was a 2 hr show I watched MD and recorded SCD.

PPS...Mediocre? Robbie Williams? No No No...I love him...so less of that nonsense please!! 😂

[sheepdog]

Week 2's dances to musical mis-matches:

Ellie S and Nikita: Waltz to Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

Ellie T and Johannes: Paso Doble to Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet

Fleur and Vito: Viennese Waltz to Glimpse Of Us by Joji

Helen and Gorka: Cha Cha to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

Jayde and Karen: Tango to Rumour Has It by Adele

Kaye and Kai: Charleston to Music! Music! Music! By Dorothy Provine

Kym and Graziano: Viennese Waltz to Runaway by The Corrs

Molly and Carlos: Quickstep to Love On Top by Beyoncé

Hamza and Jowita: Jive to Blinding Lights by The Weeknd

James and Amy: Tango to Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran

Matt and Nadiya: Samba to Night Fever by the Bee Gees

Richie and Giovanni: Quickstep to Dancin’ Fool by Barry Manilow

Tony and Katya: Charleston to My Old Man’s A Dustman by Foster and Allen

Tyler and Dianne: Jive to Hit The Road Jack by Buster Poindexter

Will and Nancy: Salsa to Never Too Much by Luther Vandross

Bottom 2: either Kay Adams or Tony Adams closely followed by Jayde Adams

[Cleoriff]

Certainly some weird musical choices there!!

I hadn't noticed the Ad(d)ams family @sheepdog 😂

[sheepdog]

Just going to copy n paste the song list from the other day rather than the actual running order. You know, just for fun 🙂

Actually missed the beginning as I was busy. Tess's dress really nice so guessing she's got a new minion in place. Claudia in pale pink trousers and naturally a black blouse. Shirley in bright fuschia and a good hairstyle, Motsi just n...oh hold on, she looked quite normal. Best wig she's had yet. DAO excelled themselves tonight. Judges comments relatively constructive to all contestants, scoring all over the place again. Except it sounds like Craig is "quiet quitting" and giving out very few words to each contestant. 

Ellie S and Nikita: Waltz. Missed it due to a phone call. 

Ellie T and Johannes: Paso Doble. Hmm looked like it could be a good one. Took a while to start, lots of armography but alas, it was all style and no substance. Blame this one on Johannes as Ellie was quite good.

Fleur and Vito: Viennese Waltz. Controlled compared to last week but a lack of Vienese and Waltz kind of showed and the acting bits, well, Fleur take some acting lessons. Nonetheless, did prove she can adapt.

Helen and Gorka: Cha Cha Liked it but has issues.

Jayde and Karen: Tango. Channelling Adele were you? In the form of Gemma Collins? Pretty much armography and well, you'll only see Gemma Collins from now on: The Poundland GC.

Kaye and Kai: Charleston In parts, she is good and can do it but lacks conviction in-between. Exiting by her own depressive attitude. 

Kym and Graziano: Viennese Waltz Vastly improved against last week and plenty of Viennese Waltzing. I rather liked it. 

Molly and Carlos: Quickstep Last one to dance and boy was it good. Really good. She's way too yellow though. Should I mention she looks like a finalist? 

Hamza and Jowita: Jive After last week and seeing the training footage, it promised to be good. Sadly the Tron inspired routine went awry though more like one of those things that happened on the night. Lots of good things though especially Jowita 😍

James and Amy: Tango Er no, all Amy and James posturing is not good. Two maybe three more weeks?

Matt and Nadiya: Samba Had to take away my focus from Nadiya's hair 😍. Ok routine, improved on last weeks dance but stiff and perhaps the tight white trousers weren't a good thing. As last week, got better halfway through. Sitting second from bottom on the overall leaderboard  though so the Brossettes better vote as more Nadiya is needed. Remember Dan Walker got way further with less ability Matt. 

Richie and Giovanni: Quickstep Good but to me, bit of a repeat of last week and lots of running. Gone by the end of October. Think he should have been paired with Luba though. 

Tony and Katya: Charleston Needless to say, better than last week by far but not great either. He enjoyed it and so did I in weird way. Bottom overall and the likely exit. Though I'd keep him in over Gemma Collins. 

Tyler and Dianne: Jive Second best of the night. Excellent though judges really didn't show it in their marking. 

Will and Nancy: Salsa Opening act and all I can describe it as falling off a cliff after he came down off the stage. Started well but errors all over. Still a strong contender. 

[Cleoriff]

So, I agree that Motsi looked normal last night.

As usual Shirley  was up and clapping like a seal at any of the muscle bound men.

Marking was all over the place just liike last week

Will and Nancy. Salsa.

Came down to earth with a bump from last week. Just ok I would say Scored 26.

James and Amy. Tango. A lot of arm swaying but did get into the mood with facial expressions Scored 24

Ellie and Nikita. Waltz. Well the dance was lovely, however, as I feared, Ellie gets the sympathy vote. The judges talk to her in a soft patronising voice Scored 30. (Overmarked i.m.o.)

Helen and Gorka Cha Cha I enjoyed it although her legs were bent but otherwise OK. Scored 27

Tony and Katya. Charleston. Well well well. Much better than last week. No reason to talk about the 'finer points' as there weren't any. It was fun and great to see Katya carrying Tony at the end. Scored 22

Ellie and Johannes. Paso Doble. Apart from the music being poor, it was a good first Paso. Too much walking. I agree, Johannes appears to be sulking as he has to dance with a female 😂 Scored 23 (undermarked)

Ritchie and Giovanni Quickstep. Vast improvement from last week. Gio doesn't appear to enjoy Ritchie's affection Scored 32

Fleur and Vito. Viennese Waltz. This was danced in a contemporary style. I thought it was a couples choice! I enjoyed it though. Scored 28

Kaye and Kai. Charleston. Pretty good although her fear shows. Scored 22

Hamzi and Jowita Jive. Disappointed with this. Out of time and problems with footwork.Scored 24

Kym and Graziano. Viennese Waltz.  Excellent dance. ...going to rush now as F1 race starting . Scored 27

Matt and Nadiya Samba. Poor I thought. He's no John Travolta. Scored 22.

Tyler and Dianne. Jive. Excellent dance Not given the marks they deserve Scored 31

Jayde and Karen. Tango. I can't take to Jayde at all. Didn't enjoy this. Scored 26

Molly and Carlos. Quickstep. Best dance of the night. Scored 34.

Bye for now.

[Cleoriff]

Another great opening number by the professionals.

Robbie Williams, as much as I love him, was poor tonight.

In the dance off...

Kaye and Kai

and

Matt and Nadiya.

All Arsenal fans must have voted for Tony Adams!!!

The dance off was nothing special both making mistakes.

However, Kaye and Kai are out. 3 votes to save Matt and Nadiya, Shirley would have saved the other two.

Movie Week next week.