Strictly Come Dancing 2012

[Tal]

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.

[Tal]

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!

[Tal]

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.

[MANTIS01]

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.

[Doobs]

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

[Tal]

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.

[Tal]

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

[AndrewT]

How much better is it without Brucie?

[George2Loose]

Where is he?

[AndrewT]

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.

[Tal]

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.

[AndrewT]

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

[TightEnd]

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

[AndrewT]

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.

[ShatnerPants]

Denise's Paso was wonderfully intense.

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...