Strictly 2025

[sheepdog]

@Cleoriff @RunrigForever 

And how time flies! Time for the annual reveal of this years Strictly cast of celebs. Oh who am I kidding, let's just pick the anonymity out of the dustbin that is the BBC budget for a flagship show. So before the exciting questions of "Who is this" and "Que?" followed by "Weren't they on Eastenders a decade ago?" and the inevitable "Guess who's needs a career boost", we must mention the new and exciting changes.

First, in a very thoughtful and provoking group session in the BBC canteen, same old judges line-up and we'll get more of I, Claudia propped up by Tess Daley emerging from her yearly hibernation box who may sport another subtle cosmetic procedure. DAO is likely to return as Oasis are still on tour. 

Though in rather more salacious news, there is a drug investigation by the BBC into two "Strictly stars". Which was submitted in March but hey, a new series of Strictly needs all exposure as possible so was announced a few days ago. Must disengage cynical mode....and two new dancers to join Neil Jones as backing dancers: Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon. Usual pro-dancers and yet we still have Katya Jones? 

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

First up, because the BBC really need Gladiators to be successful and everyone will be copy & pasting his name cos I ain't typing it. Former athlete and er, current Gladiator. Could do reasonably well but may find himself in the dance-off mid-series because someone has to.

Alex Kingston

Various roles over the years and this years older woman contestant so far. Could be fun or could be not. 

Dani Dyer

Not Danny Dyer and just to remind you who she is, the BBC has kindly put up a photo with Danny Dyer. Famous for being Danny Dyer's daughter and being on Love Island but mainly being Danny Dyer's daughter as seen in the photo. Dubious EE link but we await to see if Danny Dyer will be announced as a contestant to remind everyone who the daughter of Danny Dyer is.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Legend. And my favourite so far to bring the entertainment. Possibly some decent footwork coming from a footballer but we'll see. Probably won't help him find a new club to manage though.

[Cleoriff]

Lets start!!

Chris and Nadiya Samba. 

Well he did a samba as if he was playing rugby. Poor really Scored 14

Alex and Johannes... Viennese Waltz. 

Pretty good first dance but I got the feeling she thought it was outstanding Scored 21

Harry and Karen ... Cha Cha Cha,

Very nervous and a bit stompy with timing issues but an OK dance Scored 19

Stefan and Dianne Foxtrot 

A decent first  dance. Nice flow but a few mistakes Scored 22

Ellie and Vito. Cha Cha Cha. 

Very joyful but the judges were too kind with their comments. Scored 17

Lewis and Katya Jive. 

Just brilliant. A few too many acrobatics but a real joy to watch Scored 28

Ross and Jowita. Cha Cha Cha. 

Really poor with loads of mistakes Scored 10

George and Alexis. American Smooth. 

Loved it. So will his millions of Tik Tok followers. Lovely footwork and posture Scored 24

Vicky and Kai Cha Cha Cha. 

So nervous pre dance but you couldn't tell. Arms good but needs to work on her feet Scored 23

Jimmy and Lauren. Quickstep

What an excellent first dance. Needs to pull his bum in a bit more but loved it. Scored 27

Balvinder and Julian : Samba 

Good from the waist up but legs need work. Very flat footed Scored 17

Posting now

[Cleoriff]

La Voix and Aljaz. American Smooth.

A bit OTT although it was a good effort Scored 24

Tom and Amy Paso Doble. 

What can I say? Amy was good and Thomas wasn't. Stomped across the floor and shaping poor. Scored 16

Amber and Nikita...Waltz.

What a great first dance.

Good job she's been in Musical theatre but hasn't done any of this type of dance Scored 27

Karen and Carlos . Jive.

Wow Wow Wow.... what a jive. Excellent Scored 31.

No vote off this week. Only online voting (pathetic!!)

@sheepdog I will be watching Singapore F1 next week so will be late watching SCD and posting. 

[Cleoriff]

LEADERBOARD

Karen and Carlos......... ..31

Lewis and Katya ............28

Jimmy and Lauren .........27

Amber and Nikita ..........27

George and  Alexis ........24

La Voix and Aljaz ...........24

Vicky and Kai .................23

Stefan and Dianne..........22

Alex and Johannes..........21

Harry and Karen .............19

Ellie and Vito ..................17

Balvinder and Julian.......17

Tom and Amy..................16

Chris and Nadiya.............14

Ross and Jowita .............10

[sheepdog]

I forgot I don’t have access to iplayer for a while so having to watch highlights on YouTube. Which turns out to be a good thing for a couple of weeks skipping all the filler. 

Certainly can’t accuse the opening number of Strictly through the ages as a filler piece as it was excellent. More of that please and none of the pushing the boundaries of artistic expression especially on a Sunday evening. 

A few excellent week 1 numbers from Karen, Jimmy, Harry, Alex and Lewis. 
I’ll give Amber a pass given the minute amount of time for practice but shows a lot of potential to go very far. 

Which makes Rob, Tom & Ross dances look even worse and next weeks bottom three candidates unless they improve considerably. 

Leaving those who need more work and their pro partners to not disguise the lack of ability especially you La void. Gimmicks will get you about two weeks extra as long as you show the effort. 

[RunrigForever]

@Cleoriff  You've covered it all. I enjoyed watching the show, particularly the opening number. Looking forward to next week's show.

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog 

I made a mistake with F1 next weekend.  I was looking at the local time not UK times.

So I should be ok to do a write up on Saturday....(unless I have a late siesta.) 😴 😂

[Cleoriff]

@sheepdog @RunrigForever 

WEEK TWO Songs and Dances

Karen Carney and Carlos Gu - Tango to Training Season by Dua Lipa

Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington - Foxtrot to Rein Me In by Sam Fender, Olivia Dean

Alex Kingston and Joahannes Radebe - Samba to La Bamba by Connie Francis

Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Byckova - Viennese Waltz to Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars

Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola - Waltz to Your Song by Ellie Goulding

Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley - Cha Cha to I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Santa Esmeralda

La Voix and Aljaz Skorjanec - Jive to Objection by Shakira

Ross King and Jowita Przystal - Viennese Waltz to Sunshine On Leith by The Proclaimers

Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell - Cha Cha to Give It Up by KC & The Sunshine Band

Lewis Cope and Katya Jones - Viennese Waltz to Lose Control by Teddy Swims

George Clarke and Alexis Warr - Paso Doble to Game Of Survival by Ruelle

Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden - Salsa to Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal, Armand Van Helden

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer - Quickstep to Everybody Needs Somebody To Love by The Blues Brothers

Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin - Samba to Bam Bam by Camilla Cabello, Ed Sheeran

Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon - Charleston to Been Like This by Meghan Trainer, T-Pain

I see George is doing a Paso which HAS to be better than the one from last week, performed by 'Stomping Thomas'

Also, Balvinder is doing the first Charleston of the series. 

By 'Sunday' the voting will see 15 down to 14. 

[Cleoriff]

La Voix and Aljaz Jive.

Mixture of jive and tango! Good comedy timing but needs to work on footwork Score 19

Karen and Carlos. Tango. We learnt Karen has a bent spine so can't straighten up

Ok dance. Legwork out of sync. Also a bit skippy Scored 20

Jimmy and Lauren  Cha Cha 

A bit of a cuban cha cha. Did well overall. Armwork good but legs need work Scored 25

Lewis and Katya Viennese Waltz. 

Very dramatic but needs to do less acrobatics. Overall good although needs more refinement. Scored 27

Alex and Johannes Samba. 

An excellent dance. Footwork and samba walk good Scored 31

Ellie and Vito. Waltz. 

I have to say I do hate all judges patronising her. The dance was a bit easy but quite joyful.

Not enough rise and fall. Scored 23

Tom and Amy Salsa.

Really really terrible. Stomping and weightlifting. Scored 13

Harry and Karen Quickstep.

In practice I thought he would mess this up. However, it was really good Great in hold

Posture fine but he was a bit out of sync. Scored 26

Ross and Jowita. Viennese Waltz

Better than last week but his musicality was an issue Scored 15

Amber and Nikita. Samba.

What a great effort . Needs work on transistions. Scored 29

Vicky and Kai. Foxtrot. 

Seemed a lot better this week. Quite graceful Scored 24

Chris and Nadiya. Viennese Waltz.

Pretty poor footwork and needs to dance to his height as very hunched over Scored 16

Stefan and Dianne. Cha Cha 

Started well and then fell apart. Scored 17

George and Alexis. Paso Doble

For me, this was the best dance of the night. Oustanding and Timing excellent.

Underscored Scored 30

Balvinder and Julian. Charleston 

Another great dance and what shock. Great swivel and choreography. Scored 30

No time to count the scores which were doubled. 

[Cleoriff]

Found the joint scores and leaderboard

[Cleoriff]

 Not much to say really. 

Not impressed with the musical act Zara Larsson

The couples in the dance off

Chris and Nadiya

and

Tom and Amy.

All judges voted to save Chris and Nadiya. 

Next week is Movie Week.