For the fun, enthusiasm and pleasure that you brought to this year's SCD - I've enjoyed every minute.

I love how you've embraced the glamour and glitz of SCD, but even more importantly the sheer joy of your experience.

It's clear that with you Flav had a ball and your genuine thanks to your partner and everyone else involved in SCD was moving and sincere.

I'll miss you.

Aw, what a lovely thread! Russell has been great, what a fab attitude he has to life!

he really did bring tears to my eyes tonight lovely lovely man

Loved him and the attitude he had. Flavia really did seem to enjoy dancing with him.

Such a nice idea for a thread . I loved every second of watching Russell & Flavia dance, they were a brilliant partnership & provided a lot of entertainment.

It was clear that he loved every second of the experience, I'm sad to see him go .

Even though it was his time to go I think he's been well, epic! He thoroughly deserved to get to Wembley and it's been a joy to see him dance. I had a wee tear in my eye when he left.

This is a lovely idea for a thread Ignazio and I absolutely agree

Him and Flavia were fab together, and they both brought a bit of great fun to Saturday night TV. They were a brilliant partnership and clearly had a great time while it lasted.

I for one will miss them each week as they certainly made SCD more enjoyable for me this series.

So long Russell, you won't be forgotten!

Flavia did so well with him.

Nice thread Ignazio

x x x

Thanks for a fabulous thread!

... I've loved Russell & Flavia's partnership this year ... they've both obviously worked very hard, but much more importantly both had a ball ... the best thing about SCD is when the partnerships just work, and this one has been a joy to watch right from the start. Russell's knee's obviously been effecting him this past few weeks, but despite that he and Flav have also worked exceptionally hard at the dancing, love how much content they shoved in, despite this recent push for props & showdancing every week! ... hope once Russell's knee's fixed they'll dance again, even if it's just for the joy of being together in a theatre! x

I wasn't a fan before strictly, but anyone who can make Flavia laugh like that, is ok with me.

Despite my thinking it was time for him to go this week, I too had a tear in my eye when he thanked Flavia. The man has been a revelation to me and, I suspect, to thousands of others. Go on, 'fess up - how many of us reacted with an when it was rumoured he was to be on the show? And how many Flavia fans fulminated against the Beeb for pairing her with him?

Well, I'm happy to admit he proved me wrong and that he brought a lot of joy and enthusiasm into Strictly. Well done, Russell, you can be very proud of your performance.

A lot of people expected him to be the 'joke' contestant, and I admitted I was one of them. But what a pleasant surprise. He has rhythm and even though he wasn't the best dancer around, he actually attempted more ballroom basic steps than Harry ever did, esp. in his jive, canon ball shootout notwithstanding.

However, I have to say he would have overstayed his welcome as the competition is now hotting up and getting really competitive.

Russell is the first 'joke' celeb I have enjoyed watching on th showBefore this series I've never liked the 'joke' contestant (that's a teeny understatement ), but Russell was another kettle of fish. Before he hurt his knee, we saw him learning to dance and it was clear that he had musicality, rhythm and was light on his feet. He worked his socks off ever week and his partnership with Flavia was one of the best ever on the show. I've never seen her have as good a time with any other partner - they had a ball together!

It was his time to go, but what a night to go on and his leaving speech was typical Russell. Not a sign of a sour grape, just simply his appreciation of the sheer enjoyment at the time he had on the show. What a guy!

PS Thanks Ignazio for a great thread!

I think Russell was the best contestant ever. He thoroughly enjoyed his Strictly experience and it was a pleasure to watch his enthusiasm, how he embraced the whole Strictly experience and how he entertained us. He just loved the glitz and glamour of it all and it shone through. What a thoroughly nice man - down to earth, friendly and sincere. I will never forget him flying through the air and the look of sheer exultation on his face. He couldn't really dance but who cares - he was great and I will miss him. Thank you Russell and thank you Ignazio for starting this thread. xxx
Last edited by samiskim : 20-11-2011 at 21:50

Russell was brilliant fun all the way through and he clearly had the time of his life

He and Flavia were wonderful together and I will really miss their routines from now on.

Well done to Russell and Flavia, such a pleasure to watch

Alll the posters - esp Ignacio - have got it in one. While never even pretending to be the best dancer - he was still the best SCD Sleb EVAH!!

Basically - because he "got" it!!

JJ

I cried when he left. What a lovely man. And I honestly think that Flavia had great fun dancing with him. Thank you Russell - it was fun!!!!!

I have to admit that I could never stand Russell, until he joined the show, but I ended up looking forward to seeing him every week. The sheer joy that he displayed was very infectious, he never moaned and was always positive. I thought that he was really gracious in his departure speech, and the affection that he and Flavia showed for each other was obviously genuine.

I hope this opens up new doors for him, he deserves it, and I will certainly miss him!

The best at showing sheer enjoyment simply for being there!

How rare is it for someone not to say one negative word throughout the whole of Strictly. Even during his Samba when he was clearly struggling with injury, even on ITT after long weeks of training, even on being eliminated! He always said "I absolutely love the {Insert dance here} Every week, without fail. He learnt to dance, he lit up the floor, and he was just enjoyable to watch- and with Flav he was always onto a winner. Such a lovely chap! It was inevitable that, if not this week, he hadn't any more than a fortnight in him, but what a way to go.

Len was spot on last night; "No matter how many years of strictly, everyone will always say "do you remember when Russell Grant flew out of that bloody cannon at Wembley?""

Goodbye Flavant. Gone but never forgotten.

In the words of Craig Revel Horwood "Immortal!"

They should have played 'I've had the time of my life' for his final dance. It was good to see how much everyone liked him and Jason was first to give him a genuine hug, Feel the love!

Where's that limerick now, Ignazio?

I was never a fan of Russell before SCD, but I'm big enough to admit I was wrong. What a lovley, lovely man. His joy at being part of SCD, was wonderful to see, he made me smile. All the other celeb's seemed to like him too, and I will miss him, next Saturday.

Great thread Ignazio. I totally agree with your sentiments.

I didn't expect to like Russell, but he is so genuine, good-natured and so utterly without delusion he is definitely a real star of Strictly.

A true gent really. Well done Russell!

My sentiments exactly, thank you Russell, I shall miss you too. x