Definitely

A pleasure to read such a positive post

I look forward to it every week and love Strictly .I will miss it the instant it is over but have tickets for the Pro tour in May !

All three Charlestons were hugely entertaining I enjoyed them all
The pro dances are a pure joy every week

Alis dresses are all wonderfull and all the girls look so elegant and so pretty

I love ITT and the dance machine is a scream as is the Masterclass , the Paso was hilarious !!
I loved Chris ' blue shirt , so out of character and not what he would wear
Claudias shoes fascinate me , no clue how she stays upright .
Mathew Cutler is a sight for weary eyes and brightens my day

My daughter put the Strictly theme music as my phone ringtone and as I typed it rang .
Do do do dodo dodoooooooooo , do do do do do=

I LOVE this thread - thank you for starting it. It's like coming in out of a horrible cold place into a warm and cheerful atmosphere where people are allowed to make jokes (at themselves and others) without getting things out of proportion. Strictly is fun - there's enough bad stuff happening in the real world without so many people getting bitchy and uppitty discussing a TV PROGRAMME for **s sake!

Everyone on this thread gets free cake from me for keeping it real.

I do have an axe...but it's very sharp already.

I have to admit this series hasn't been as good as the others I've watched but the one thing that set this series apart is that I haven't disliked a single celebrity this year- usually there are one or two that I don't like but I warmed to all of them this year.
I will really miss Strictly when it ends, can't wait for next year.

Hooray! What a nice thread. People have already written all I would have said, so I shall just add my name to the list of people who thoroughly agree with the OP.

I'm taking shelter in this friendly thread while I wait for JohnFromWales' latest Musings. It's a bit cold and worrisome out there.

Thank you for a positive thread

Can we add Ian Waite's red trousers and Richard Dunwoody's cha cha cha to the list of standout fabulousness this series please?

My positives......

Costumes have been "fabulous darling"! - I especially loved hearing Craig describe them on ITT....hilarious

Ronnie "on the phone to Bruce" - brilliant

Ricky W's dancing

Ricky G's comedy - never was a fan before, but in the early weeks especially he made me giggle.

Jade showing her more elegant side

John Barrowman's blatant drooling over Ricky W

Chris and Ola's charleston....in fact brilliant idea to include the charleston altogether - not so sure about Rock and Roll but let's stick with the positives...

Matthew and Aliona (is that how you spell her name?) as a partnership in the pro dances

Brendan going all soft and pussycat like with Jo Wood (enjoyed the storming off too though - don't cut those claws altogether Brendan )

Matt Dawson talking about Craig Kelly on ITT - say what you think Matt!



I could go on, but I'd be here all night.

I know this will be contentious:

I like the fact that I liked every single couple this year and that I was really sad to see each one go (well maybe apart from one - Blackpool anyone - although Craig's contribution this year was priceless).

I also like the different abilities and qualities that the remaining couples bring to the floor (Ricky is an excellent dancer, Ali is very elegant and graceful and Chris is just really entertaining).

I like the fact that we can still have threads in which Ali, Ricky and Chris fans can talk to each other like normal people.

Thanks for this thread, I've not been posting much recently so its great to find a thread like this OP . And I think its a great thing to be positive in life too!

Things I have appreciated this year;

* Not really having a favourite per se and just judging things on a dance by dance basis.

* Chris and Ola's journey and the way he has really gotten into the spirit of Strictly, even if they aren't the best couple technically, they always make me smile when I watch them dance and I go all warm and fuzzy and happy inside lol.

* Vincent and Flavia's Argentine Tango, Tango Waltz, and in fact any pro dance they do, I just can't take my eyes off them, I think they are brilliant.

* LOVE it when I pick up on something the celebs need to work on technically, say it out loud and then have it repeated minutes later by the judges.

* I am loving the different hair styles this year, well done hair stylist lady!

* Also the beautiful colours of the costumes.

* ITT, especially James Jordan's backstage reports ( am REALLY liking James this year), the dance challenge and the funny bits at the end.

* THE BLACKPOOL SHOW!!!!!!!!!! Adored it and hope Strictly is broadcast from Blackpool again in the future.

Phew! Waded through the swamps of vitriol and managed to find my way back here!

Lovely to have some company. I'd forgotten about the getting to do two dances at the start of the series (seems like so long ago!). I thought that was a nice idea as I always felt sorry for whoever went out first given that (a) all that build up and they only got to do one dance and (b) maybe they were unlucky and the first one just didn't suit them. So this seems a lot fairer.

I like the three couples left in the contest and think they all deserve to be there.

I haven't heartily disliked anyone this year

I've loved nearly every Pro dance

Have turned my (unreasonable) dislike of Flavia in previous series into loving her this one

Loved them returning to Blackpool and want more of that

Love James behind the scenes

Loved the fact the WUM don't get to me this year as I don't have a favourite to defend against the usual vitriol

Love the fact my phone bill hasn't suffered this year at all

Loved Brendan & Jo,Brendan & Katya,Matthew,Ian,Vincent & Flavia,Brian,Ola,Ola & James

Loved Tess in front of house Loved even more Claudia in the tesspit

I'd forgotten about the two dance thing at the beginning as well (how long ago does that seems now?!) but I thought that was a brilliant idea. It's always such a shame to see someone go out after only doing one dance, especially when you got people like Gary Rhodes last year who only entered to do ballroom and then got stuck with two Latin dances straight off.

I'm also now looking forward to the Argentine Tangos at the weekend. I know they won't be anywhere near as good as Flavia and Vincent were last week, but I spent, er, a while last night looking back at past efforts and there wasn't a single one that I thought was really danced badly. I also looked through the showdances (I'd forgotten how much I loved Alesha's and Matt D's from series 5, actually) and can't wait to see this year's efforts. Will we get dramatic paso based one, or a funky cha cha cha, or a comedic musicals-themed ballroom option, or something elegant and American Smooth-like, or a complete mess... or something else entirely? I *need* to convince the friends I'm visiting that weekend to let me watch the final!

hi Fredless Ginger (great name btw)

thanks for this thread, I was getting very disappointed by all the negativity on here

I agree with everything on your list and can I add

*especially Matthew and Aliona's hip hop samba*

I have no axe to grind. We have the right three couples in the semi-final and the unfair DO has gone. There's no longer anything to whinge about.

Yay what a lovely thread.
This year I have enjoyed:
-The Charlestons, I thought they were a really great and fun addition to the show.
Blackpool, just loved the show being back there.
-Team Cola, I love the partnership, love the dancing, everything!
-Ricky and Natalie, I think their American Smooth was really good and I'm happy that he got the opportunity to do a big lift even if he doesn't make the final.
-Ali and Brian, I love the beautiful technicality that she brings to each dance.
-Claudia!
-James Jordan. I've always loved him and I'm especially happy that other people have started to like him this year.
-The dance off has gone. Team Cola are my faves, but if they don't get the public vote that's fine by me. The public's favourite should be in the final, regardless of whether it's who I'm supporting or not!
-Lilia's reaction after she got zero on the dance machine. In fact that's possibly the highlight of the series for me!

How could I have forgotten Blackpool!!

It was absolutely amazing (even if I didn't manage to get tickets). Just imagine how fantastic it would be if we could have the whole show from there.

This thread needs a big bump (is that illegal around here, I forget).

I like Natalie!

Thanks for reminding me of Ian's red trousers, those were awesome.

I can't wait to see Jade's tango, I hope she can do it.

Ricky Grove's cha cha cha needs some kudos...I think I watched the whole thing with my mouth open, when I wasn't laughing. I miss him.

Why did they only spend one week in Blackpool? That was so good!

Lilia's reaction to scoring zero will go down as one of the classic non-dancing Strictly moments. Priceless.

Brilliant thread.
- For me all the calamity of this series has been brilliant.
- Ola and Chris being so adorably cute together
- James's comments on ITT about Chris behaving with his wife.
- Ricky not only being easy on the eyes but a fantastic dancer and such a kind and humble soul.
- Ali's beautiful princess moments during her ballroom dances.
- The charleston dances which were fun and new.
- Everyone starting off with a ballroom and a latin dance so we see how everyone does at both.
- All the pro dances have been exceptional.
- The costumes have been so beautiful.

All in all a really watchable series

I've been really enjoying the series. We've had some lovely dances, some great parternships, the Blackpool show was fantastic, it was brilliant to see Tess and Claudia take care of business so well when Bruce was sick, and there's still potential for some classic routines from what's still to come.

Bring it on!

Yay, positivity!!!


WHY I LOVE STRICTLY 2009

- The pro-dances have been stunning.
- Katya has been a brilliant addition to the team
- jade & Ian were brilliant. Such a shame to see them go. Fingers crossed for their Tango in the Final
- I'm also gonna stand up for Alesha here, I think she's done a fairly good job
- Ali's ballrom dances have been so beautiful
- ITT has been SOOOO good this year.
- Claudia doing Tess' job was brilliant, one of my favourite weeks.
- And finally, Vincent & Flavia's Argentine Tango. Wow!


Ohhh....and BLACKPOOL!!!

I am loving it all ,. I will miss it so much when its over and yearn for next year
Then I will say " Oh no one can be like last years gang " again , and find that I will warm to them !

Love the dance machine , the elegant , smooth clean lined pros look like you and I on the machine !! Awkward and sloppy and useless .! Great craic !