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]

I suppose,  the Thunderbirds tune was needed to match the Theme of the dance @Cleoriff 

The professional tried to bring it together 😅 she's got a tough job all round there 🙄

Thanks for the scoreboard, very helpful, it is a fair representation of the dances.

I'm on a different page really,  not looking at techniques just the entertainment but I realise the show is for technique near perfection.   I will bring a different perspective 🤣  as I don't mind where the feet slide or the arms fling or the head bends as long as it's fun   😂 🤣 😅 😍

I agree, I like the Argentine Tango .. danced professionally it is fantastic,  

to put it Craig Revel Horwood's words "gorgeous darling " 😂

[pgn]

Well, 61bpm in the Thunderbirds theme, y'know, just sayin'...

😁🤐

[Cleoriff]

@TallTrees 

Thing is. if the music is totally wrong for the dance then the dance looks awful. Thunderbirds is an iconic tune but not for a Paso, as no matter how hard you try, you can't get Paso moves into it.

Same with 'Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N' Roses ....too loud and too damn fast. 

Lewis's tune 'The Plaza of The Execution' was absolutely right for a Paso. Stirringly dramatic, allowing Lewis and Katya to make all the right Paso moves and hold correct posture, bringing skill and drama to the dance. . 

For week three, that was a stunning dance. 

[TallTrees]

Very punchy @pgn 

61 bpm plenty 🤣

 Brains has it.... hope he stops before strings break-dance 😂

[Cleoriff]

And compare Thunderbirds (FOR A PASO)  with the Plaza of The Execution

[pgn]

Plaza trumps Thunderbirds, hands-down, @Cleoriff 👌

[TallTrees]

Nice @Cleoriff like the tune. 

Thanks for the video player. 

[Cleoriff]

RESULTS SHOW. 

A new way of announcing the contestants who are through.

First 5 announced immediately 

Lewis

Amber

Chris

Harry and Alex. 

As they go to see Claudia, we only get to hear a couple of next weeks dances.

Amber and Nikita are doing an Argentine Tango

Harry and Karen will be dancing a Rumba. 

We then had the most stupid dance I've ever seen by the professionals.

The next 4 through

Ellie

George

La Voix

Jimmy. 

Ellie and Vito will be dancing Couples Choice

George and  Alexis next week performing Tango.

Our musical act was Lang Lang the wonderful pianist. (He was a cut above the usual mediocre acts we've grown used to seeing on SCD. 

Back to the 4 celebs waiting patiently to see who was in the dance off. Vicky, Karen, Ross and Balvinder

Ross v Balvinder were in the dance off

Balvinder saved, so goodbye Ross.  (Back to Hollywood)

[sheepdog]

---

It was too much to hope to have just a decent simple group routine after 2 good weeks wasn't it. Minecraft inspired but might as well have been the local dance college doing the routine. Which is where Neil Jones might as well go considering he's just background footage now. 

Lang Lang was lovely and could quite happily not have had the dancing going on. The erhu is a wonderful instrument (least I think it was but love it anyway). Please BBC give us more of this classical type stuff instead of some artist du jour with questionable lyrics let alone a tune. 

Suppose a big tick for both Tess & Claudia for their outfits for the "results" show. A big red X for the milking of the dance-off contenders. Just get on with it will you. 

Only thing about the dance-off was that Balvinder needs the judges scores as she has no fan base to rely on. So unless she is in the top 6, she'll be a regular in the dance-off for the next few weeks. 

Oh dear, rumba for Harry next week but to a good song: the challenge is on! Worse still, George gets a tango to Coldplay. Mis-matched dance to tune but then again, its Coldplay isn't it so he's not helping himself at all. 

[TallTrees]

Sunday Dance Off

Great got to see my favourite dance 🙂

Thunderbirds are go

Well done Ross and Jowita 

Loved it funny .. 😄 

Lang Lang was very good wondering why he would play on this very mediocre show however really pleased to hear him - brilliant. 

The professional dancers Robot Themed dance was muddled and uninteresting, no doubt well danced every foot and arm in place 😂

Quite entertaining this evening everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. 

TD's outfit looked as if it had been rustled up at the Great British Sewing Bee 🐝 

🤣 🤣