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.

[TallTrees]

Monday Strictly it takes two 

Light hearted, got to see Ross and Jowita again! 😂 no worries now. 

Ellie very enthusiastic, as usual. 

Harry looking forward with some trepidation to the Rumba 😣

Choreography Corner 

Didn't agree (again) with some of the judges comments. 

All very jolly 🙄

Oh and forgot.. .. Stefan is back 😳

Be afraid. .. 😨 

[TallTrees]

Tuesday Strictly I.T.Two 

Presented by Fleur East : Singer Songwriter Rapper Presenter  :  Studied journalism and Contemporary History 🙄

On the hot seat first up

Balvinder and Julian, generally cheery.

Next dance : Paso. Concentrating on Firey attitude, passion and footwork 😉

La Voix (Chris Dennis) and Aljaz

Next dance : Cha cha cha 😑

Joking that there will be drops to floor, acrobatics 😯 Aljaz was genuinely worried 😂 so he said.

Karen and Carlos

Next dance : Quick Step

Enjoyed their dancing but Karen's challenge are heels.  Told to wear them day and night by Carlos 😅

Trying for quality. 

Choreography Corner with Neil Jones

As ever tends to disagree with some comments made by judges and explained why. Liked Karen's dance on Saturday. 

Generally happy show 😊 

[Cleoriff]

WEEK 4 SONGS AND DANCES.

• Alex & Johannes – Rumba to Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
• Amber & Nikita – Argentine Tango to Angel Of My Dreams by Jade
• Balvinder & Julian – Paso Doble to Diablo Rojo to Rodrigo y Gabriela
• Chris & Nadiya – Salsa to Maria by Ricky Martin
• Ellie & Vito – Couples Choice to Golden by HUNTR/X
• George & Alexis – Tango to Viva La Vida by Coldplay
• Harry & Karen – Rumba to It Must Have Been Love by Roxette
• Jimmy & Lauren – Couples Choice to Soca Medley
• Karen & Carlos – Quickstep to Marvellous Party by Beverley Knight
• La Voix & Aljaž – Cha Cha to Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar
• Lewis & Katya – Foxtrot to L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole
• Stefan & Dianne – Charleston to Dance Monkey by Tones And I
• Vicky & Kai – Samba to La Isla Bonita by Madonna

Not sure about the music for Amber's Argentine Tango. 

* I've posted that song / video on the relevant thread and I wouldn't have used it for an AT.

[sheepdog]

Goodness, I wish I hadn't youtubed that Jade song. Definitely definitely not an AT tune so likely to kill her chances of a good score unless the technique is top class. This early on, it's a big big challenge and seems to put more emphasis on pulling off decent ballroom dances later on in the series. At the risk of being voted out for being boring then. 

Weird choices again: rumba to Fast car which is a downbeat song about lost opportunities in life so failing to see the romantic element there. On the fence with the Cha Cha to Hit me with your best shot. Actually no, its not a cha cha listening to it now. Samba to La isla bonita which can work or not work depending if they go with the tempo of the tune and let it flow. But the DAO singers may have another opinion. 

Obviously Stefan's going for the Aussie theme again with Dance Monkey. Next week, Salsa to Men at Work with Down Under...or how about a Tango to this remix which could work:

and there's AC/DC & INXS who have been tunes before. 

[Cleoriff]

Just noticed that Balvinder, who was in the dance off last week, is doing a Paso on Saturday. 

The music is a good choice so we can only hope she hasn't lost her confidence. 🤔

[TallTrees]

Strictly I.T.Two  Wednesday 15th October 

Presenter :  rara : Singer, Professional dancer, and Choreographer. 

Married to Aljaz

The Hot Seat 

Amber - Nikita

Talking about next dance A. Tango

Amber says training for this is worlds apart from the last dance. Feeling it's very difficult but pushing hard.

Vicky - Kai

Next dance is the Samba

Vicky is finding training hard work and hasn't been getting on with the shoes.

Lewis - Katya

Over the moon and shocked with the votes last dance. 

Next dance is the Foxtrot 

Feeling anxious, may not be able to match last efforts.  This time they are focusing on the footwork. 

Nice interlude with two of the professional dancers : Nancy and Michelle talking about how and where they started dancing. 

Nancy started in China and Michelle in Cyprus.  

[TallTrees]

Strictly I.T.Two 

The rara Interviews 😑

Lots of discussion going over the previous dance and some training for the next dance with each couple.  

Hot seat couples 

Alex and Johannes

George and Alexis

Jimmy and Lauren

Costume Time

Showing : Ellie's dress material and the design drawing. Dress is metallic gold, lots of glitter with gold trainers.

and

Alexis' dress is a regal shape with corset bodice, lots of beading.  It has slots in the skirt for movement. 

Then 2 strange looking mannikins, No. 1 showing Katya's Foxtrot dress. Looked more like a rag on top and completely covering a very nice looking beaded bodice, only viewed by lifting the edge of the rag,  didn't get the idea at all.

No. 2. Nadiya's Salsa dress. Bright red with fringing. Hasn't decided whether fringes long or short 🤔 

Apparently tomorrow is very exciting 🙄

[Cleoriff]

Amazing the amount of training they have to do in a week.

So many of the celebs say rehearsals go better than the dance on the night. Read something that made me laugh. Apparently Vicky who did the Charleston was wearing a headress and a wig for her dance.

During rehearsals, the headress and the wig fell off. The dressmaking team had to stick the headress onto the wig  to make sure the damn thing didn't fall off during the show. 😂

[TallTrees]

Vicky's wig and band looked awful 😖 

Didn't suit her looked clumpy (if that's the word) @Cleoriff