blonde poker forum

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4k1OKJE7cU

Soooooooo excited! Full-on girly squeaks and furious handclaps!

Enjoyed Darcey's stint as the fifth judge previously but word is she will be much harsher, which I will definitely love. Alesha had clearly studied hard on the technical side, but you can't beat someone who has eaten, slept and breathed dance.

Can't wait.

Ban

Spurs and SCD?

Ban.

DOI is where it's at.

Your loss. I'm charming company

I actually thought you were a nice guy. Mug.

Ban ffs

I saw this and thought "time to land a coup" then realised it was in the lounge and not the betting section. BAN!

Tal your safe might have to get bans on all the scd haters

You lot can all GTFO - Strictly is awesome.

LOVE Strictly with all my heart

Superb stuff.

(http://img002.lazygirls.info/people/aleksandra_ola_jordan/aleksandra_ola_jordan_ola_jordan_DTNcSLq.sized.jpg)

Final Warning.

I thought only Chompy liked this sort of pap & tosh.

I'm incredibly disappointed in Tal, I had him down as erudite & sophisticated.

Wait til ya see the tales he's spinning in your diary

ban!!

It's an odd situation. Abhor reality TV as a rule.

My mom was a qualified ballroom and Latin teacher from the age of 18. I've grown up with her taking lessons and music on in the house, with the relevant dance pointed out to me. Even on the radio: "Lovely samba, this" and then she'd pick out the time for me: "one and two, one and two".

I saw Come Dancing when I was young and so was exposed to how it all works and what to look for.

With Strictly, we sit and watch the action, reviewing the dancing. Who is doing it is kind of ancillary, although we have our favourites!

Dad, to his eternal credit, diplomatically says that he "doesn't mind it".

I enjoy watching people learn a new skill. With Brucie, it's made charming light-entertainment and there's something warmly old-fashioned about it.

Can't apologise for looking forward to it.

Laxie, that was definitely Mantis's fault. Tattle-tale!

JK, yeah I get that a lot. I had a good innings.

Tikay, I can start a Jacobean Drama thread if that offers compensation, but only if I'm allowed to include my own play.

The least offensive reality show out there.  The only reality show where you don't weep for humanity. 

As a judge; Darcey>>>>>>>>>Alesha

I'm in. 

any word on who might be in it?

I know Michael Vaughan is confirmed for it


Usually

Soap stars x2  1 male 1 female

Sports stars(recently retiredx2) 1 male 1 female

Older yet attractive actress

Young ditzy actress

Member of band (Male, sex appeal)

Comedy value - either sex - paired with Anton if female

Politician

Breakfast TV presenter or Newsreader

C list BBC presenter types (Dom Littlewood, Rav Wilding, Matt Baker etc)

etc etc

Paid £20,000 each for the series irrespective of how long they are in, contracted to appear once a week on SCD It takes two too

Rumoured celebs here:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a402940/johnny-ball-to-take-part-in-strictly-come-dancing.html

Is that the correct link, Tal?

Ah! Yes...ish. the rumoured celebs are in the pictures at the bottom.

Basically, the website reckons the BBC is trying to get as many Olympians as possible. Beth Tweddle has been rumoured for some time. Chris Evans has also been rumoured although I don't see it myself.

There will always be an older person and Jerry Hall/Johnny Ball would fulfill that criterion. Neither has any chance of winning, he says judgmentally.

I think the show works well when there are people on there I don't really know. I'd never heard of Chelsea Healy, Tom Chambers or Ricky Whittle before Strictly. All became very good dancers from pretty much nothing (I know Tom had done a bit before but not actual ballroom; just a rehearsed scene from Top Hat - what a film that is, BTW).

Sports people and actors are always good value. Actors listen and are usually able to adopt the character. They like "the story". Sports people are used to the routines (even if not THAT routine).

Thanks Tal, I just wondered, as I could not see any proper celebs.

Bring on Harry Redknapp I say.

Sports people can do well because

a) competitive

b) used to training

c) used to repetitive skills


I mean who can forget Ramps and Karen hardy? Pure joy in sequins


Actors can do well because they play a character...esp good in Latin stuff


I tend to rebel a bit against those who've done dance or gymnastics before. Matt Baker for example or most classically Gabby Logan who I love on sport but on this took it so seriously that the public completely got turned off by her and voted her out week two

one of the classic SCD moments, the look on her face when voted off

Baker had two much of an advantage imho. Same could be levelled at Tweddle if she gets on :s

Yeah, I was always disappointed that people didn't make more of the fact that Matt Baker used to be in a dance troupe for a living before he got started in TV.

Kept Aliona in though, so all good.

Lazygirls.info?

From google images.

Honest.

heard tweddle on danny baker yesterday

she hinted at being on this probably twice

worth looking at the first betting market up

a) she'll be good

b) Olympic year, her profile is high

c) if she is good, price will plummet after a week

For INFO purposes only, obv

I expect she will find Latin easier than ballroom. Wouldn't be lumping on her straight away.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19486965

Stage school, actress, musicals

Likely to be a natural dancer

One to watch

She didn't look too bad on that Let's Dance, in fairness. It's never a question of how they start, tho. All about potential and application.

never heard of her

I get force fed this on an annual basis.  As a result I've had to get into it to survive with my sanity.

Gutted Claudia isn't doing It Takes Two anymore, genuinely loved her wit and unerring enthusiasm.  Zoe Ball was ok last year but no Claud.  Not sure if she is the full time presenter on it now (she was covering last year as Claudia was heavily pregnant).

Disliked Aleshia as a judge but disliked Darcy's occasional appearances more.  The judges have become a parody of themselves and the only one I can really get along with is Craig.  If you watch the American version just once then you see Len takes the role of the nasty judge, as opposed to the nice judge here.  It kind of shines a light on all of the fakery involved.

Of course it's humorously ironic that the BBC caused such a hoopla dropping Arlene for Alesha only for the latter to use SCD as a stepping stone up the reality TV ladder.

Zoe is taking over It Takes Two now full time, although Claudia will keep her Results Show role. I also loved Claudia, particularly the Len's Masterclass segment where she tried to Volta in 6 inch Christian Leboutain platform stilletos. Hard enough in trainers!

Len plays the nasty judge because the other two are so gushing - especially Carrie-Ann Inabo - it is shameful. The US version has so much less content in the dances and the marks are much higher. Len steps in to say "I didn't like all that flouncing about at the start [turns to dismiss the boos] BUT, when you got into hold, your posture was good, your footwork was excellent and it wasn't bad at all"

My mom won't even watch DWTS because she says "it's not even dancing!"

In the UK, there's much more content so the stuff that really "gets on his wick" is less frequent.

Don't deny they have roles to play, tho.

Darcey will be much harsher this time around. If you think Craig is big on pointing toes...

It's just going too much the fake way for me.  Maybe it was always so but it's just so obvious now.  Have the comments appear scripted, look at that debacle when Jennifer Gray was a guest judge.  Everything she said was written down for her, regardless of how a dance went.  And didn't everyone keep going on about a movie from nearly three decades ago...

I get so tilted with it, then I see Ola nearly wearing some clothes and all is ok again.

Victoria Pendleton.

Oh yes.

Seems to be a pretty solid list now of:

Denise Van Outen - 4/1
Kimberley Walsh (Girls Aloud) - 6/1
Louis Smith (Olympic Gymnast) - 6/1
Nicky Byrne (Westlife) - 8/1
Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker) - 12/1
Victoria Pendleton - 14/1
Michael Vaughan - 16/1
Richard Arnold (Daybreak) - 18/1
Lisa Riley - (ex-Emmerdale) - 25/1
Fern Britton - 33/1
Johnny Ball - 33/1
Sid Owen (Ricky from Eastenders) - 33/1
Jerry Hall - 40/1

These are best prices available right now and they seem mostly fair enough. Denise Van Outen is a bit too short, as she can come across as unlikeable at times. Louis Smith has the obvious advantage of already being good at moving about and that - it will be key how much of his personality comes out (as I've thought he was quite dull in the interviews I've seen). I assume Nicky Byrne will be too cloppy to win, same for Vaughan, Pendleton will probably not lose herself enough in the acting side of things (a bit like Holly Valance) and no doubt bursting into tears in training every week will begin to grate after a while.

Don't know enough about Dani Harmer, but she has done musicals before, and did the Comic Relief thing so is a live one at 12s. Kimberley should also do very well as she's done dancing and also has a really good, friendly personality, with a touch of Northern grit which should go down well. Any price you like the rest - either useless or hateful people.

I'd be tempted by Kimberly Walsh at 6/1 (Ladbrokes and Paddy Power) to win, and would also expect Dani Harmer to trade shorter at some point, but don't know enough to recommend FTW.

Harmer very well known by a childrens audience on Tracy Beaker, but not sure they'll be the demographic voting

"'ere Mum, let me borrow your mobile to vote for Tracy Beaker?"

"Sod off at £1.20 a minute."

Was v good on Lets dance though with Outnumbered boy.


If Byrne can dance, I assume he can, then the voting demographic really does help young guys eg McFly man

so I would probably have Byrne and Walsh against the field at up to double the price of the Outen, who never misses an opportunity to say how she trained at stage school and dance school etc but is no value at fours.

I just think that Byrne is going to be too wooden to mean he's going to win the thing - McFly boy was also a really good dancer.

There is definitely a case for betting to green out (carefully not putting this in view of The Camel...)

Someone like Nicky Byrne will get through the first six weeks because the westlifers will keep him in, pretty much however bad he is. After that, he will only stay in if he's decent and we will probably have a good idea whether he can realistically win by then.

The voters tend to know who is a good dancer (Chambers), who is good value entertainment (Hollins) and who has run their course (Austin Healy, Ricky Whittle).

You won't be greening out if if he is shown to be average and still in at week 6.  He isn't ever going to be less than 8/1 if these things are known at that stage. 

Think Kimberly Walsh is the definite bet.  Should be a good dancer and is very likeable.  No betfair market yet. 

I would genuinely recommend avoiding large bets on anyone until you have seen them dance both Latin and Ballroom, unless the intention is to see them through the first few weeks and green out at a shorter price.

You see someone like Holly Vallance week one last year and you'd think she was a shoe-in. A few weeks go by and you realise she's never going to put the work in and she couldn't straighten her legs in the Latin.

Putting Ricky Whittle in the same bracket as Austin Healy in plainly ridiculous darling

This was hot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L1QQ-678xo

I don't bet big enough to make greening ever viable, tbh, Doobs.

Again, it's all about how they dance

Whittle had great natural rhythm but Austin's footwork in the quickstep was joyous. His Paso was hideously under-marked by a needlessly grumpy Len. Craig gave it a 10, I seem to recall.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq/profiles/celebrities


Colin Salmon could be popular. Probably not much in the Latin though

I'm looking forward to seeing who these people are partnered with.

Anton has had some rotters since the faux-pas with Laila Rouass. Maybe he gets Jerry Hall or Lisa Riley? Would like to see Robin get a good, young person. Obvious choice for me would be Kimberley, as he has worked on musicals for years and she has been in Shrek(?) on the West End for a while.

Anton nailed on for Lisa Riley, surely. Comedy factor of him throwing a fat lass around (again) will swing that.

Some bitchiness from Craig, the first trailer with the contestants and a picture of Miss Pendleton.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a405462/strictly-craig-revel-horwood-richard-arnold-will-be-dreadful.html

Something for everyone.

Colin looks to have drawn Kristina, Anton got Jerry.

Hope that helps a little mate.

Where is this from? Thought they allocate them on Saturday?

bobby1 is actually Bruce Forsyth

That's SIR Bruce to you :)

He's the presenter around. At least until TightEnd's appearance on sky tonight...

It begins...

Tracy Beaker was fairly clumpy walking down those stairs.

Pendleton's figure. Holy cow

Hands  (and eyes) off.

I spotted her first.

Flavia and Louis obv going to be strong

Reckon Salmon and kristina dark horses. Think she's really good with the routines

Right. Was running about 20 mins behind, as apparently Virgin allow telephones to ring during strictly.

Denise has rhythm and fab upper body movement. Both Jordans will be pleased with their celebs.

Robin will have hired a chiropractor.

Pendleton and Byrne looked petrified. Both have partners who will whip them into shape.

Colin and Christina won't work - she will be able to dance with a tall guy but he will struggle to dance with someone so small and not sit down while dancing in hold.

Looks great as a lineup. Plenty of characters. Denise/James and Pendleton/Cole will be a row a minute. Real fire in those four.

Could all have been so different


(http://static.unrealitytv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/kimberley-walsh-anton-du-beke-460x469.jpg)


Lost a couple of Quality Street wrappers recently? Think I found them:

(http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/bg/Strictly+Come+Dancing+2012+Launch+41bOaGxuyZBl.jpg)

Have to say that Louis (now favourite) came across really well and the audience went wild for him.

Nicky Byrne had a 'she's not the one I wanted' forced smile when he got paired up with the new one.

Brendleton will be a rollercoaster pair - he's notoriously demanding of his partners so expect plenty of blubbing.

I think Vaughan and Ball will be better than expected, with the real car crash being Jerry Hall - she has an inherent snootiness which means she'll not respond well to coaching and will not improve.

Aliona doesn't look as good with the blonde hair.

Brendleton.

Sold!

Did Kimberley win?

Having assessed all the runners and riders for Strictly 2012 the clear favourite is Denise Van Outen. Did you see how she moved those hips on Saturday? Oh my gosh. Popular entertainer, a natural on stage, leading lady in Broadway/West End musicals, knows how to project and perform, and obv smoking hot. Importantly she looked devoid of any nerves or inhibitions dancing out on the floor which can often hamper performances. As a pro entertainer she will take it seriously and put in the work to produce when curtain drops. But most of all did you see how she moved those hips? She will smash the latin to bits.

Louis Smith is current fav at 5/2 but that is very short for somebody so stiff and wooden. Think he will be doing a lot of cartwheels and lifts to avoid the actual dancing part; and Len wont like that. Denise is 2nd fav at 7/2 which prob isn't value as there are a lot of trials and tribulations in these things so I wont be doing a tosh curry for fred. But she will be the best dancer for sure.

Thought Kimberley looked a bit weighty darling.

Denise wasn't exactly a big dancer in Chicago; did more sitting down than most!

She did have good hip movement and I expect her to be receptive to James's teaching style.

I agree she is the best right now from the little we have seen. Just a very long way to go.

 I will be interested to see Dani Harmer progress. She will lose the weight and she's used to long days and performing. Vincent will be a brilliant partner for her - remember Louisa Lytton?

Annoying and pointless x factor is better

#tryingtogetto300postsalert

Aliona has broken her ankle :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19754666

Only a hairline break but she'll be out for a few weeks.

A few weeks will probably be all Johnny has in the competition.

I'll be interested to see who comes in. Most obvious would be Karen Hardy, who had a regular slot last year on It Takes Two and does the red button commentary.

Johnny Ball's new partner has been announced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19770277

Iveta Lukosiute from the US version of So You Think You Can Dance will be JB's guide.


(http://img.poptower.com/pic-54812/iveta-lukosiute-so-you-think-you-can-dance.jpg?d=600)

She seems likely to be good in the Latin with legs like that. Her ballroom might be where more critical eyes are passed.

(http://cdn.rickey.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/iveta-russell-01-2009-10-07.jpg)

This is her in Las Vegas, demonstrating - confusingly enough - a New Yorker. Fans of the Cha-Cha-Cha will see plenty of these about.

Songs for tonight's and tomorrow's performances:

Friday
Denise & James - 'With You I'm Born Again' Billy Preston & Syreeta -Waltz
Michael & Natalie - 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' Simply Red - Waltz
Colin & Kristina - 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' James Brown - Cha Cha
Fern & Artem - 'Signed Sealed Delivered' Stevie Wonder - Cha Cha
Nicky & Karen - 'I Wonder Why' Curtis Stigers - Waltz
Victoria & Brendan - 'Spinning Around' Kylie Minogue - Cha Cha

Saturday
Lisa & Robin - 'Think' Aretha Franklin - Cha Cha
Dani & Vincent - 'Open Arms' Mariah Carey - Waltz
Richard & Erin - 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers' Klaus Hallen Orchestra - Waltz
Sid & Ola - 'I Won't Give Up' Jason Mraz - Waltz
Johnny & Iveta - 'Drive My Car' The Beatles - 'Cha Cha'
Louis & Flavia - 'Forget You' Cee Lo Green - 'Cha Cha'
Jerry & Anton - 'Everybody Loves To Cha Cha' Sam Cooke - Cha Cha
Kimberley & Pasha - 'Domino' Jessie J - Cha Cha

Some absolute classic songs there; a few safe bets and, perhaps, an indication of the confidence the professionals have in their partners.

Louis will get the crowd going with a lively cha cha in Forget You. That will be Fab if he's on it.

Look out for songs that have a clear beat. We have a waltz: 1-2-3-1-2-3... and a cha cha: 1-2-3-chachacha-2-3-chachacha-2-3...

Clear beat is much easier to follow

Fern and Artem first up.

Apparently Artem has done a Rory McIlroy and turned up late, as he hasn't had time to put a top on.

He's also been beefing up over the Summer.

I expect her to be safe in the first few weeks. We'll see...

Ladies and gentlemen, the kiss of death!

 Forgot her way a few times but first dance over now.

Notice the professional has their weight right forward and the celeb is standing back. Early days :)

Is Fern the dancing pigette?

Don't want "nice Darcey".

Hopefully this is just for the first couple of dances.

Michael Vaughan looks like he's about to face Glenn McGrath at the GABBA.

I've just realised no one will obv be looking at this thread with the live comp on, so I'll wind it in.

Nicky has a lit of improvement to make, but I suspect he'll make it.

OMG I thought that Vicky was surprisingly awful.

Yah, yah. Yah. Yah.

Darcey Bussell will be going on mute pretty soon.

Completely nerved-out, bless her.

If she's going to cry every week, I'm going to get fed up of her.

#harshbutfair

No close up shots of these two. Can't get them both in shot at the same time

Salmon got rhythm. Ballroom will be a big test for him, though. Can't see that working

I was making a cup of tea so missed the intro but they looked very good in that dance.

It took me a while to figure out who was the pro.

Denise sorts out her posture and she is a ballroom lock

Camp comment alert:

That dress doesn't help Denise with her posture; it looks like she's being dragged forward, even though she's standing straight.

OK. Onto tomorrow then.

Too early to say who is a front runner until you've seen them do Latin and ballroom.

Enjoyed the first show tho. So glad it's back

I agree that that front panel was not the most flattering aspect of Denise's dress.

I quite enjoyed the backless aspect though.

What ho!

A night of surprises, methinks. Johnny Ball is better than Paul Daniels was last year but Latin is never going to be his bag. Jerry hall can, as dem kids say, GTFO.

Richard Arnold I know very little about, but he is coming across like the Russell Grant Nano. Not going to work, but Erin ("Miss Whiplash") Boag has absolutely drilled that footwork into him and it was impressive.

Lisa Riley stole the show for me. I did not expect to type that sentence. Full of energy and enthusiasm. I hope Vicky Pendleton was watching because that is how you put the pizazz in the dance.

We can forgive them their nerves but so many will need to improve to mount a challenge in the latter stages.

Louis will improve through the show but he looked lost tonight. He has no upper body movement yet and his hips were horribly forced IMO. That said, he has hips, and that is a huge plus compared to most.

Kimberley and Dani will be slow burners I reckon; both will gradually improve and I can see them doing well.

So much will depend on next week, where we find out if they can dance both Latin and Ballroom.

It Takes Two starts on Monday, with Zoe taking over again.

Any thoughts, anyone?

As soon as Lisa Riley did her first shimmy I regretted gg'ing my Betfair balance earlier in the week on one of the cricket WC matches.

She won't win, but she'll be in for a few weeks for sure.

I missed almost the whole of this evening's programme due to a rather stressful afternoon for the most part being glued to the mighty gooners' eventual demolition of the cud-chewing walrus's pretenders but did tune in just in time to catch Jerry Hall's [ ] performance.

She was truly dreadful.

Denise was the star tonight imo

Agreed. Bet she works the hardest as well. Worked so hard in training she got whiplash.

Thought the gymnast looked pretty smooth as well.

Hello.

Sorry. I was darrrn sarffff in London this weekend, so have not been on the forum.

Def Denise is front runner. I worry whether she's a little brittle, having already had a whiplash injury. Long way to go.

I have a dark horse lined up nicely now, having seen ballroom and latin: Dani Harmer. She has natural rhythm, timing, enthusiasm, chemistry with her partner, plays to the camera and will definitely only get better.

Fab outfits this week.

Lisa struggled quite a bit for me. I think the judges were kind.

My pick Dani was competent and promising enough. Needs to get her hips going a bit but I think she's done enough.

Halloween theme dreadful.show ruined by the filler videos and far too many props. Not a single dance I rate so far this week

It's just a bit of fun for the light entertainment bit of the show. I agree it's silly tho.

Fern's dance was dull as dishwater.

Anyone else think Brendan looks like Elky this week?

So much safe choreography. Convinced this is the least talented celeb series of this

Can't have that. Plenty of potential. A few have a head start, arguably, and there are probably four or five that don't look like they have a chance, but the dances get harder every year.

Vaughan has footwork!

Needs to close his feet on the chassés but I'm completely surprised

...and a good dance by Victoria, too. Nice feet, better posture and good spins.

If anyone wants me, I'll be behind the couch. For someone with so much natural rhythm, Colin has no movement at all. He throws his shoulders up every beat and has zero hips.

Could be some nines for Lewis. The question for me is how much he can improve. Sounds silly but viewers will get bored of him flipping about.

Louis close to a certainty to win I reckon. Not odds on yet either.huge female following will vote for him when it matters

Concluding remarks from me: Kimberley gets a 7 from Len, which highlights why he is different from the others. He gave Michael an 8 because his dance was more in keeping with the dance on a technical level (graceful quickstep with good movement across the floor), where Kimberley had superb shaping but lacked drive in what has to be a fiery paso doble.

The others like the theatre, which led them to give higher marks.

Lewis is ahead of the field at the moment, but Ricky Whittle, Colin Jackson, Austin Healy and Holly Vallance were all early leaders and none of them won.

This week's song list:

Colin & Kristina - Foxtrot to 'Acc-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive' by Aretha Franklin
Dani & Vincent - Jive to 'Dance With Me Tonight' by Olly Murs
Denise & James - Viennese Waltz to 'At Last' by Etta James
Fern & Artem - Paso Doble to 'Espana Cani' by Ross Mitchell Orchestra
Kimberley & Pasha - Salsa to 'Naughty Girl' by Beyonce
Lisa & Robin - Tango to 'Let's Stick Together' by Bryan Ferry
Louis & Flavia - Samba to 'La Bomba' by Ricky Martin
Michael & Natalie - Foxtrot to '(I Get the) Sweetest Feeling' by Jackie Wilson
Nicky & Karen - Rumba to 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing' by Aerosmith
Richard & Erin - Foxtrot to 'Big Spender' by Shirley Bassey
Victoria & Brendan - Samba to 'It's Not Unusual' by Tom Jones

Am expecting Denise and James to top the group tonight. Should be right up their street. Michael will enjoy a foxtrot with a clear beat.

Nicky will be bottom as white man with little observable rhythm early on in the competition does not a rumba make. Fern likely to be down there with him, I reckon.

Victoria will either be sensational or (let's be honest, more likely) will find a samba difficult.


Louis Smith has been suffering with a sick bug and missed rehearsals yesterday. It is unclear as to whether he will dance tonight.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a435339/strictly-louis-smith-misses-rehearsals-with-sick-bug.html

At least he might not reveal who lost this week!

Not a bad overall assessment, if I do say so myself.

Kimberley needs to wear bigger pants for her next Latin dance, or lengthen her dress, else we get another set of swooshing views of her bottom again. Bit unnecessary for evening telly IMO.

Dani not letting me down in the slightest in what on paper I had as being her best dance. Michael carried his ballroom form through as expected, but he's boned without the most incredible improvement since...nope. Just the most incredible improvement.

Lisa was hugely over marked and it really annoys me to see the judges do that. Victoria has so much timing in her and she has lovely legs. I just want her to believe that herself.

Back to form as a show tonight. Much more traditional.

Really loving Darcey. A couple of brilliantly insightful comments for the contestants. Great stuff.

Personally I think Kimberley needs to wear smaller pants for her next Latin Dance but there you go. Either way her Samba was hot. Thought Craig scoring a 6 for the Sambas of Victoria and Luis was ridic, Victoria looks so awkward and embarrassed, I really don't think she will make for a dancer.

Best dance was the beautiful Viennese waltz of Denise, looked like a music box being opened. Worst was Richard who looked liked he was having a stroke at one point.

Not sure why we are all insisting on her wearing pants

Two bits of Strictly news.

1. The Pendleton is reportedly suffering with the loss of muscle in her legs from the beefcake thighs she used to have when she was sprinting. The same report suggests she feels less fit than during training.

2. James Jordan damaged his ankle just before his dance on Saturday with Denise van Outen. It is understood he is unlikely to dance this week and Ian Waite has subbed in (he's the one who danced with Zoë Ball) for training.

James Jordan seems to be dancing tonight. Big risk, if his ankle isn't right.

How much better is it without Brucie?

Where is he?

He just gets a week off in the middle now - because working one day a week is very taxing when you're 200 years old.

Wash your mouth out!

Love Sir Bruce. The undisputed King of Saturday Night Entertainment.

Denise's Paso was wonderfully intense. Louis seems not to have the favour of some of the judges (alright, one) and that might well prove to be a barrier to him winning. Dani continues to improve. I really liked her Tango tonight.

Michael might have danced his last dance (well, penultimate, but you know what I mean), but if he has, he does so having shown a vast improvement.

Gotta love the Winkleman - even if she does get dressed in the dark.

Claudia is hilarious. At the minimum should do the tess job each week. Ideally do the while thing solo. Bruce is awful

She was great this week. Whilst Tess isn't as good she is currently dressing like a woman whose marriage is in trouble so she's alright by me.

Strictly Takes Two is now just about unwatchable with Zoe Ball.

Personally I think that might well be the best paso in SCD history.

I think she'll struggle to win coz she;s peaked too early IMO.

But still...

Best Paso for me was Austin Healey. Think it got 38 because Len thought it was too performancy. The others were livid.

As for tonight, Kimberley didn't do one heel lead in that entire performance and she almost fell over twice in that spin. No one mentioned it at all.

I would still have put her through, but it really annoys me when the judges decide not to comment on stuff so important.

I also get annoyed when the crowd whoop and cheer like the audience at a filming of Saved by the Bell during a performance. No one does that at the ballet when sugarplum fairies are cracking nuts or when Hamlet is gassing on about fate-laden archery.

Sir Bruce and The Winkleman would be the nut combo IMO.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP0e6j-bA0Y

Bit more Flamenco than Denise's, but proper Paso music.

Do you think that playing a 'pop' record takes away from the quality of the dance?

I'm not knowledgeable enough to say that Denise's was as good as Austin's technically, but I thought the performance/acting side of Denise's was more expressive. (Just my opinion)  ;ashamed;

It seems to me to be one of those dances where the expression in the movement is as important, if not even more important, than the technical side of it. (Unlike the foxtrot etc). Is that a valid viewpoint, or am I talking gibberish?

 :dontask:

I talk a much better game than I walk; I promise you!

I think the answer is you have to have both.

OK take Nicky Byrne's dance on Saturday. He gave the performance side the absolute beans and had swagger and style to boot. However, he wasn't pushing down on the floor on the first beat of the bar and that meant he wasn't travelling very far across the floor, which, in turn, meant that the dance lacked drama when they were in hold.

Denise was brilliant. I liked Austin because he danced like a bloke with all that power in his appels (the stomping)

The technique gives the dance its identity; the acting and performance side make it more believable.

If I stood up and read "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York", it would mean nothing if I didn't give it a bit of oomph.

For me - a total novice (with a mother who was a qualified teacher of ballroom and latin for years) who just loves watching - I prefer proper music, but I don't mind when they have the odd, appropriate modern song, if only to show that the timings are the same.

"Never let the right hip know what the left hip is doing" and "you've got to swing both ways Michael" were the best judges comments I think but i feel that Michael Vaughn has probably played his final innings.

He was a good sport though.

He took it very well.

Mixed bag tonight. Overall, I was a bit disappointed. Louis was good but he still doesn't dance with Flavia.

Lisa was overmarked for me, too.

Think it's Michael's time to step aside come tomorrow night.

My bet on Dani Harmer at 38-1 continues to look good. Am intending to lay it off in the final, unless anything changes my mind.

1. Tess's dress????

2. Katherine Jenkins - just bizarre

Welcome Jordan and his professional dance partner Denise Van O

DVO has really begun to piss me off, open begging for votes on the show and social media when she's basically so close to being a shoo-in with her previous stage training.

hope the harmer cracks the final three with Louis and DVO

This annoys me no end.

She's had less dance training than Dani, Kimberley and Lisa. There has essentially been a witch hunt that has ruined the best dancer's chance of winning.

Kimberley has been dancing in a musical in the months leading up to Strictly.

Denise consistently at the top of the training schedules with Dani consistently at the bottom. She must be doing all that work for a reason.

That said, I backed Dani at 38-1 after week 2...

Also have dani @ 25s - was reccomended in tft... be a decent sweat if she makes the final

Ya welcome :)

Correct result tonight IMO

Would love to see Dani win, should be a cracking final

ahhhh it was your tip!! Ty sir has made a decent sweat so far! :)

I haven't watched any of the shows but I have a bet on Kimberley pre event. What kind of chance do you think she has now guys?

thanks

Tal is the slightly flouncy expert, but I don't think she'll win (although she has been consitently top quartile all series)

A punchers chance if Louis slips up on Saturday

http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/strictly-come-dancing/strictly-come-dancing/winner

I had almost given up that she could win judging by the market but she is getting shorter by the day now so I am a little more hopeful but having not watched a thing I am guessing it is either just weight of money or voting figure numbers driven. Do they release the weekly voting numbers( ps, i don't even know if that's what they do so forgive me if that's just rubbish) or is it simply results of the judges that decide things?

thanks

Half the score is the judges votes, Half the public vote

The public vote is for a couple of hours on a Saturday night only

I don't see any public voting figures released


Tal and I disagree slightly on some of this. Denise Van O is the best dancer but does not seem to be too popular with the public, who (precedent Gabby Logan) seem to get turned off by the slightly needy, and the press turned a bit against her

Louis is a bit formulaic and wooden in the latin, but has the Olympic factor, is the last bloke standing and the voting demographic thinks he's got a great arse

I think Kimberley, Denis and Dani have great arses, but 30-50 year old blokes generally don't watch it or vote for it


So, yes you have a chance which as an ante-post punter is all you are asking for 16 weeks in, isn't it?

They don't release the voting figures but we get an idea if people fare badly if they finish in the bottom two (and thus the danceoff).

Certainly in previous years the final has been decided purely by public votes (not the judges) which can leave scope for value in opposing a person who scores highly but doesn't pull in the votes. Denise fits the bill this year though that already seems to have been priced in as she's the outsider.

I would love to know the voting numbers.

As to "Nimble Kimble", she wasn't doing a lot but the judges now absolutely love her. Girls Aloud vote might help now the Wotsit Factor has finished.

Denise is the best dancer IMO and her Charleston - which will undoubtedly make a reappearance next week - could again steal the show.

Dani has done nothing wrong and Vincent is popular with the "grey vote" but taller people look more elegant when the dance is done well and that could be a problem.

Louis has been in front the whole way but momentum is a bitch in these things.

Kimberley is the one making the move ATM. Whether the public react to Denise being in the bottom two twice in a row might make a difference.

FWIW I thought the judges over marked Kimberley the last two weeks but I'm not in charge :)

#flounce

Cheers guys, I was thinking of backing her again at 15/8 given it is 11/1 bar the front two and she seems to be popular in the betting this week.

is there a reason that Kimberley would be a seen  as a better result for the show than Louis or the others?

Not that I'm aware of. If anything, it would be more BBC for the Olympian to win.

Girls Aloud have already performed, too.

Louis isn't masculine enough when he dances - he still dances like a gymnast. Pascha is a clever choreographer so I would expect a good showdance. He is with Kimberley.

Your money is better placed than mine is with Dani at the moment.

Cheers

I believe Kimberley would be THE most perfect result.

;)

'haha, I would put the spread on 'total minutes Tikay has watched this show' at 0-0 as it's a cert.....but I bet you will be tuning in on Saturday tho  ;popcorn; ;gobsmacked;

You bet.

How is Pendleton doing?

Tikay obviously followed the Kimberley tip on the Fred.  The one that was put up long before we had seen her doing Latin and ballroom. 

::)

Hi Tal... Can you give more details about Denise's lack of dance training compared to Dani and Kimberley? My wife says it is not fair that Denise is in the show because she was in the musical Chicago for 4 years or something like that, and so she has lots more prior experience/training than the other contestants. But perhaps this is completely untrue? Is it correct that Dani/Kimberely have had more prior dance training that Denise? Also, what do you mean by 'top of the training schedules'?

I can't believe how many intelligent and shrewd poker players / gamblers / Tal watch this drivel.

I despair, I really do.

This pretty much sums it all up:

http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a444149/strictly-denise-van-outen-chris-evans-ruined-my-chance-of-winning.html

As for the training schedules...don't tell Camel...but...if you watch It Takes Two, there has been a feature where they list the partners in order of the amount of hours they have spent training. Michael Vaughan was top during his tenure but now Denise is consistently up there.

Dani is usually towards the bottom and obviously Kimberley has had weeks where she was light.

I love that I don't fit into any of the other categories :D

Don't be such a snob Mr Camel!

Tbh, I have never watched Strictly Come Dancing before. But this year Max, my seven year old, got really into it - so it has become a family routine for us every Saturday night. We get the kids ready for bed, then all cuddle up together on the sofa and enjoy the show. Max knows everything about it, and gets hugely excited before every show ("Daddy, I can't believe Dani is going to do the Argentine Tango. I can hardly wait!" etc). Freddy - my three year old - cried his eyes out when Lisa Riley lost in the dance off at the weekend. He loves to dance along and try to copy some of the moves. Max, on the other hand, takes it extremely seriously and prefers to watch carefully and give his critique on each performance. We all guess the scores after every dance, get really excited when anyone gets a 10, and argue about who we are going to vote for. The kids LOVE it... and therefore so do we.

Apart from anything else it is something lovely to share together as a family. And as these sort of programs go, it is MUCH better than most of these celebrity/xfactor type things. It is a very positive and heart-warming program, and sets a great example to kids. It is abundantly clear that the contestants work extremely hard in training every week, and as such it is a celebration of excellence through effort. Moreover, all the contestants, dancers and judges clearly really like and support each other. I'd sooner have my kids watching this than most other things on TV. There is something wholesome about this program; it is just... well... nice.

Is is an intellectually stimulating show that deals with the topical issues of the day? Of course it isn't... it is Saturday night TV with the kids! But myself, Immy and the boys look forward to it every week. We have a big Strictly night planned for the final on Saturday, and Max in particular is beside himself with excitement about it. We will all be gutted when it finishes.

@ Tal ... thanks for info. I will share this with Immy and the kids tomorrow.

^^^^^^^

This is fine.

That's what the show should be, a bit of a laugh and family entertainment.

But, debates about training regimes, and "not putting their heart and soul into it" etc etc

Dear oh dear oh dear.

But that is part of what makes it entertaining Keith! For example, Max will LOVE reading the link that Tal posted and will definitely form an opinion on the issue of hours trained by each contestant. It's part of the experience for him. This sort of show is much more fun if you suspend your disbelief and pretend that it is 'serious'. Max certainly thinks it is very serious!

A 7 year thinking it's serious is great.

Hardened degens thinking it's serious is sighworthy

Like I said, you've got to suspend your disbelief! Of course I don't really think it is serious. But I enjoy it more for finding out a bit about the contestants, and stuff like that.

Also, there is nothing wrong with watching a bit of mindless non-serious TV from time to time. Not everything has to be high brow or intense. Which is why I think it is a bit mean-spirited and snobby of you to say you can't believe how many intelligent people watch the program and that you 'despair'.

Some would say the same thing about an intelligent person spending countless hours of his time watching sport on TV.  Many of us spend ages watching/reading about/analysing football for example. Yet to many people football is merely a bunch of grown men kicking a piece of leather around an area of grass, and they would struggle to understand how others think this is 'serious'. And these people most likely think it is 'sighworthy' that we waste our time watching sport when we could be doing other more useful things. It is the same type of judgmental attitude.

It might help if - in my rôle as counsel for the defence - I go back to one of my opening posts on this subject, which was in response to some of the Blonde Illuminati's calls for a ban (in just about jest):


That's all there is to it.

X Factor with all the feint praise, hyperbole and chavvy lunacy summons up so much bile I could develop ulceritis during the theme tune.

Big Brother is a parody of itself now, when I had hoped naïvely that the first series would be a social experiment. Even I satirised it in 2004 (but that - as a famous philosopher once said - is for another day).

DOI does nothing for me and although I don't watch it, I'm largely ambivalent towards it.

Jungle is an ITV 4:58pm concept that must surely be reaching the final layers of lacquer in the barrel.

As for the in-depth stuff, I love knowing things. Watching something when you understand what is going on is miles beter than just seeing colours and shapes. If I want to watch people on a show, seems only fair that I want them to be trying their best. At the very least, it is OK to make the observation if you think there is room for improvement.

It won't change my life but I love the show and pretty much everything that comes with it.

Does this help Keith?


http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/strictly-come-dancing/strictly-come-dancing/winner


5/1 about a 15/8 shot gives me a warm feeling down below.

Hypothetically, of course.

He said Intelligent.

Someone else (me) who likes this stuff fancies Nimble Kimble pre-start at a good price. I am so unintelligent that it remained unbacked by me thouh

Not much.

I have no beef with people betting on it, 7 year olds engrossed in it or adults sitting back with a large g and t and enjoying it.

What I find distressing is the hoopla surrounding the show and normally intelligent people getting in a tizzy over some technical aspect or other.

It's not a dancing show, it's an entertainment show ffs.

What about 8/1 for this to win DOI? As low as 9/2 now.


http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/dancing-on-ice/dancing-on-ice/winner



(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/SAM1.jpg)

(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/SAM1.jpg)

Get this commercial TV pap off our thread, please!

she isnt that bad tal no idea who she is though


but back on subject glad to see Denise in the final allthough i would of prefered erin boag as she is the star of my 50 fantasys

I meant dancing on ice chat. No place for that here

Two shows tonight - no Sunday results for us.

6.30 is the main show. The results are on at 8.50.

Dream final would be Denise v Dani.

Realistically, am expecting the other two to be there instead.

Good a thread for dancing on ice.  Have backed Gareth Thomas at 16/1 as missed the value.

In the words of Malcolm Tucker, FTFO!

Technically, Dancing on Ice has to be harder than dancing on the floor doesn't it? ;whistle;

Different kettle of fish.

Nice start from Denise. Kicks and flicks are fantastic. Looked a touch flat on her feet towards the end as she got tired but I'm expecting 36+ here.

Missed a bit on her footwork :(

Shame for her.

Should be interesting this one as I didn't think much of her footwork in the Viennese Waltz last time.

If they don't say she doesn't close her feet this competition is rigged.

Judges are pushing for a Kimberley win IMO

Bugger, he was brill.

What happened?

Kimberley won it?

The 2nd part of the final is later, Our girl did well but the fav did better.

Denise just did the best dance of the series AINEC.

Louis hasn't looked like he's dancing with Flavia all series so I wasn't surprised to see him off pouting on his own tonight. No one seems to mind.

Our girl is next up...

I'm expecting Louis's showdance to be very good. He has all the strength and flipping about. Flavia choreographed a brilliant showdance with Matt D'Angelo all those years back.

Denise - Show dance - best dance EVER on Strictly IMO

I fear our goose is cooked.

Completely agree with the judges, I'm afraid.

She is the most improved dancer out of the four but one is far better and the other two are slightly ahead on the night but significantly preferred.

Her hope is for Denise's unpopularity with the voting public to continue.

I'm pretty much hoping Denise wins now, as I really believe she deserves it.

Yes that dance from Denise was stunningly good. I really hope she wins it now.

Pasha almost fell over!!! That would have been game over. Finished late.

This should be marked down.

Don't know why I even bothered typing that.

This will get 39 and I'll get one of my headaches...

Anyone got any paracetamol?

Too balletic and gymnastic for me. And he still doesn't look like he has any form of emotional connection with Flavia.

To me, it was OK and the second best showdance but not the sort of thing you'd rewind.


But....he's odds-on favourite for a reason...

After all the dances tonight Dani should go in 4th  >:(

Denise has been the most consistent dancer since show one but as Tal said will she get the public vote? I hope so

I thought it was v v good to my untrained eye. I missed the voting there,did they get a full 40?

They did.

Denise v Louis would be the fairest final.

Louis wins this, Kimberly 2nd :(

Also, this.

Yes they wee the best dancers, hoping for a public boil over now.

Well the correct result.

Sorry to anyone who backed Dani on my recommendation but we had quite a ride from week 3.

Come on the public. Get on Denise!

Don't forget Denise will be doing the Charleston and that was a knockout.

This could actually happen.

Honestly, how can she not win?

I could end up pickling me walnuts tonight.

Kimberley will get a good mark for her face and strength in the staccati. However it isn't her best technical performance. I'm not convinced her feet are right or that her posture is perfect.

It was miles better than her effort in week 8, nevertheless.

I'd give it 38

Crikey this is a tough school, did Kimbers score 118 out of 120 tonight and unless this guy makes a mess here they will be second on the night.

That wasn't as good as the first time he did it as I think he got the start a bit wonky.

However, he finished better and added the standing back somersault.

Bobby, the final tends to see the judges over-mark to show off the talent. Not a bad final three tho.

Louis trading at 1.1.

15-1 Kimble
20-1 Denise.

Need a Susan Boyle type upset now.

Here we go, then.

Do the bookies know the voting figures or will a lady celeb be holding the glitter ball?

Credit where it is due, he has been up there the whole way through the competition and the best 3 dancers made the final.

Been a cracking series.

No more reality TV for me for another 9 months then...

Thank you for the thread Tal most enjoyable.

Thought it was one of the best series so far, I still think Denise was the best dancer overall and her 3 dances tonight were by far the best, but congratulations to Louis, amazing lift in his show dance.