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]

I agree @TallTrees. Just adding filler to everything really. 

They really think we are stupid. Trying to con us in believing the Sunday show actually DOES take place on Sunday. When the whole thing takes place all on Saturday night. 

I've seen some FB posts on the Strictly websites with people arguing about it. 😂

[TallTrees]

🤔Hummm @Cleoriff 

Yes...  WE (BBC) do SO MUCH 

we really need more more licence fee 😅

All the fees spent up on er er.. yeh but,  no but😂   I say little and nowt, replays famous for remixes bit of this bit of that look  New Programme. 

Or maybe executive salaries bonuses and the very overpaid "stars" commentators, presenters.....I could go on but boring 😴

[TallTrees]

Strictly 

3 Paso that's good for an interesting comparison

@Cleoriff 

[Cleoriff]

I think (hope) Lewis will produce the best Paso @TallTrees 

One of my favourite dances. 

[TallTrees]

Agree a nice dance 💃 🕺 @Cleoriff 

Probably Lewis will produce the best dance.

Can't visualise Ross in paso .. but hey I may be astonished. 

Chris may be OK. 

Lewis more than likely given the VW dance style.

[Cleoriff]

WEEK 3 Movie Week.

Good opening number by professionals 

Stefan has been unwell all week so has been given a pass this week. 

Amber and Nikita. American Smooth

Excellent dance. Great heel  turns. Scored 35

Chris and Nadiya. Paso Doble. 

Did ok but very few Spanish lines. Awful music Scored 22. 

George and Alexis Couples Choice. 

Excellent dance. Good synchronised movements. Scored 31

La Voix and Aljaz Waltz. 

Much better when she stops messing around. Needs to improve posture Scored 28

Ross and Jowita. Paso Doble.

The less said about this the better. Poor and terrible music Scored 19

Balvinder and Julian . Foxtrot

Good dance although footwork wasn't good in hold. Very elegant Scored 26

Karen and Carlos Cha Cha Cha. 

Did well with this dance. Arms needed more control Scored 25

Jimmy and Lauren . Rumba 

Didn't they do well. One judge said best Rumba seen. Scored 28

Vicky and Kai. Charleston

Did ok but no swivels in this. Great lifts. Scored 25

Ellie and Vito. Samba 

Good performance and joyful. Timing out at times. Scored 27 (overmarked)

Alex and Johannes. Quickstep

Great character. out of sync occasionally and a bit of gapping. Scored 30

Harry and Karen Salsa. 

Good  dance. Great lifts Scored 32

Lewis ands Katya. Paso Doble

Absolutely superb. Great music  and performance. The dance of the night Scored 37. 

@sheepdog I will be watching the US F1 next week but will watch SCD when I can.

[sheepdog]

So this year's Movie theme week brings us more obscure songs that require little to no cost to the licence payer. Just throw them at a dance and hope the viewers don't notice...

Tess undergoing the same tanning depth as Claudia though someone should point out that pink really make you look old with self-tan. Opening routine:had to play in my head: "You spin me round" by Dead or Alive with all that whirling. Which was a better choice that the forgettable one being sung. 

No Stephan so perhaps a bye-bye over next week? Oh and for some reason, the BBC decided to bring back Cynthia Evrio for movie week. I'm guessing "Wicked" is the reason. Rather a lot of platitudes to her and pointless advice from her. Thankfully, she wasn't involved in the scoring. 

Amber: Pleasant and definitely used her stage presence experience. Now to maintain that is going to be a challenge. Interestingly, none of the cast reacted with the score when both of them were running around afterwards. 

Chris: Paso No-please. Posture issues from before better but basically walked it. Another dance-off beckons I'm afraid.

George: Thought this was rather odd to have a CC this early one and looked more like a strategic decision to build up confidence. Which worked this week but the dances don't get easier from now on. 

La Detour: And thankfully took out the comedy and produced a pretty good dance. Definitely needs to work on the turtle neck and the gapping. 

Ross: Pasa Hopeless. @Cleoriff Thunderbirds theme is legendary especially performed by an orchestra. But not tonight. Double paso dance-off I think on "Sunday".

Balvinder: Elegance, extension and spark. Needed all of that really to build on from last week and that's what she needs next week to avoid the mid-table exit.

Karen: Went to Etiquette class but needs to go to Elegance school. Far too much masculinity for me however, it was a a good routine and lots of technique but needs that feminine touch now especially when it come to rumba. Talking of which...

Jimmy:  Did his part very well and the continuous movement did help a lot. But it's the rumba so fortunately a dance to do now whilst there are worse contestants still left. 

Vicky: Failed to live up to the potential in the VT's. Did look heavy and you could see the point where the lifts expended her energy. Shame really as a little more in the swivels and a little less lifts could have scored a few more points. Dented confidence. 

Ellie: Throwing her arms in the air like she still doesn't care. Didn't like the footwork on this. Hard couple of weeks coming up where posture and technique is going to be critical factors.

Alex: Just about lived up to expectations but spent far too long in getting to the dance. Too much characterisation for me and that might have played a big part in the gapping.

Harry: Dancing without a shirt is not only a bold statement, you need to be absolutely confident in your moves to pull it off. And boy that's not a problem with him at all! Now will he able to pull off the ballrooms with class and elegance with control?

Lewis: You know he did do his signature move again but in this dance it was absolutely perfect in-tune. Wasn't worth the 10 from Motsi because it was too damn short! 

2 hours 25 mins for this show? Think I'll be using the fast forward button on iplayer next week. 

[TallTrees]

Strictly Show 

The presenters TD and CW turned up with matching pony tails 🤔

TD didn't look too bad and CW could see out from under her fringe, a bit more!

The Judges were accompanied by lady mentor who wore a ring through her nose and had very scary long nails 💅 

SB -  face still looks false and is still on 🤣

The Dances:

Strangely in a light-hearted way I enjoyed all the dancing ignoring techniques.

The Thunderbirds paso doble -  Ross and Jowita, was so funny. Jowita presenting a comical dance depicting the Thunderbird puppets which attempts to hide Ross's inability to dance a convincing Paso Doble.

Clever, worked to some extent.

The dance produced by Karen for Harry was very good. Colourful interesting and suited Harry the pace and moves were well presented. Enjoyed that.

Lewis and Katya their Paso Doble was very well danced good pace all the way through.  Enjoyed.

Ellie and Vito were so happy and jolly lots of good pace and enthusiasm. 

Everyone danced well. The costumes were very good, fitted the characters well.  

[Cleoriff]

Latin dances are my favourite. I love the Paso Doble although I prefer the Argentine Tango. Far too difficult for week three. I am still stunned at Lewis and Katya's Paso tonight. Sadly the other two had totally the wrong music.

I know Thunderbirds music is superb @sheepdog but oh so wrong for a Paso

This is the scoreboard

[Cleoriff]

Just one more gripe.

Both Shirley and Motsi need to stop their slobbering and Ooohing and Ahhing at the sight of Harry's bare chest. It's embarrassing!

If Anton did this to a female contestant, he'd be kicked out of that BBC door before he could take another breath. 

Sorry, but you can't have one rule for the female judges and another for the males. I actually thought Harry looked a bit uncomfortable with it all.