Plus I think the couples connect in their own way. Some are effusive right from the start and in others it grows as they spend together.

I agree with you Buddy and Loueez.

Those body ripples looked very smooth! Great potential there!

On past form if any pro can ruin your chances it's James

Oh the potential to resurrect our old argument/banter

She clearly didn't think having James would ruin her chances And it must be a bit disappointing to really want to get a particular pro and then not get them, whereas Ann, Jimi and Felicity got who they wanted! Definitely a better idea to go into it open-minded and not having a favourite pro, although I'm sure if any of us were in that position we wouldn't be able to help ourselves wanting a particular one!

Do you know, I almost put in a disclaimer when I posted that as I knew you'd read it and be cross with me!

James has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to early eliminations, is what I meant.

Hehe am I that predictable? I wasn't cross, it made me laugh, and I knew you'd know I'd reply, so I thought i should

I know what you meant, and you're right, he has been unlucky with eliminations. It did surprise me that they let Kara and Tina both say in their interviews that they wanted James, because obviously at least one of them wasn't going to get him!

Well the BBC was lodged up James' arse for most of last series (whether rightly or wrongly, I won't attempt to judge!), so I'm only surprised they didn't have clips of all the female celebs and a couple of the males saying they'd like James as well

Have to agree with the others on the thread. I really liked the look of Kara. I don't usually like the cha chas on Strictly because sometimes they veer into disco type dancing but Kara's movements look nice and precise and cha cha like. She does look amazing as well. Beautiful figure and legs. I am so jealous.

Jimi was dreaming of getting James.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/enterta...6331-27338158/

Sorry, can't resist.....

Have to agree with the others on the thread. I really liked the look of Artem. He looks amazing as well. Gorgeous face, eyes, smile and bod. I am so jellus of his wife!

Huh??? Unless there is something I don't know about Artem is not married.

Peter & Erin's video now available http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00b9tf9

Interestingly at the end Erin implies that they've had much less training time this series that they would usually get.

Lili is Artem definitely divorced from Giselle Peacock? I know he was with Carrie Ann Inaba for a couple of years, but I never knew why they split. I did wonder if it had anything to do with him being part of Burn the Floor at the same time as Giselle.

Peter is making the effort, and he wont be bad, but 'good' ballroom dancer might be stretching it a bit.

Erin makes a good point about the short time to learn the dance/s, as some are trying to fit in a bit for week 2 as well.
Thats going to make it more difficult for those with little or no experience, such as Gavin , Paul etc.

We have had dancers such as Austin, who had no previous training but learned so quickly that he was excellent on week one, but we missed seeing him progress to that level because we saw little of the training, which was at least 4 weeks I think.

So we may see more of them learning this year, but the ones who have not had previous training could be eliminated early, yet have a lot of potential.

I saw an interview with Artem and he said he and Giselle divorced after he did SYTCD. After the divorce he started dating Carrie Ann and they dated for 2 and 1/2 years and she wanted to start a family but Artem was not ready. This info came from him. Anyway as far as I know he is single and has never spoken of a new girlfriend at present.

Back to regularly scheduled programming.

Thanks Lili!

Tina doesn't look too bad, although not dancing in the shoes - not good, hopefully she's mastered that now. Her problem might be the 12 year old they've given her to dance with, will his mum let him stay up that late on Friday night

On the basis of the training video Tina could be quite good. Moving on, if Jared was competing for Geek of the Week he has certainly succeeded ! So uncool he is cool, perhaps. Or maybe he is wearing the glasses to look like a nerd to disarm the opposition !.

Tina is looking good!

Tina has great co-ordination and her spins are really good. She has the potential to be a contender, and if they dress her right, she will be the hottest babe of the contestants.

I like that Jared just gets on with wearing glasses if he wants to, and he seems to have his plan mapped out in his head. How good he is at choreography and teaching we will have to wait and see, but they seem to be working well together as a team.

Tina does look good. Jared looks to be doing a good job. I do hope they do well, given all the negative comment about Jared.

This is interesting. I started off with a predisposition to prefer the older contestants (as wanting to prove that age doesn't preclude someone from dancing well) and the established pros. However I'm liking the look of Patsy (ok not so young), Tina and Kara and the new pros. Interestingly they seem to be trying focussing well on technique which I thought they might not do. So I'm really looking forward to seeing the show on Friday and Saturday.

There does seem to be a lot of exaggeration of Jared's youthfulness. He has quite a strong jaw line and looked a bit Clark Kentish in the training.

I dont think Jared will be teaching her how to be sexy, like Vincent did with Rachel, but I think Tina will manage that OK.

I think Tina's training vid managed to show us all that a certain ex-judge was totally wrong to write her off.....

Same ex judge was beautifully put down by another one of her victims yesterday

Radio DJ - So Ann to you have a response to Arlene saying you have eaten too many bagels?

Ann W - If I have eaten too many bagels, she has eaten too many sour grapes!

Let's see if Gavin can prove her wrong too....

Tina's video completes the set - all 3 of the new boys have got very good partners.

I'm sure Vincent would have loved to get Tina (dancewise) but Felicity may start with higher popularity.