Just catching up on ITT.

Two K&A songs being used in Blackpool.
Feeling Good - Michael Buble version - Jake & Janette for their AS
Roxanne - Moulin Rouge version - Kristina & Simon for their AT (rather than ballroom Tango)

and

Holly & Artem's Charleston music also being used.

4 years since the magic (and tragic- neck injury) of Kartem's AS...they certainly had an eventful time in Blackpool.

I 'm heading out tonight so will miss the show. I'm sure Jake will do the music and AS justice, the lifts should be spectacular (going by his sensational salsa).

I really want Sunetra and Brendan to get through so hope the curse of the samba doesn't strike. Laughed at Zoe's reference to her successful samba being totally ignored by Brendan and Sunetra on ITT lol! (ok maybe it just went over their heads as it was such a long time ago)

If Judy survives we could see one of the top 4 being knocked out. I'd say Steve is pretty popular (well all the kids I know want him to win), Simon is vulnerable and poor Caroline, I hoping she benefits from the dance off bounce. That leaves Pixie and Frankie and they would win any dance off.

Enjoy the show.

BIB, my mistake. K&A danced to Cry Me a River, of course. Feeling Good was one of the numbers in the Dance to the Music Tour.

High scores tonight! Once again too many ties mean that Judy & Anton have 4 points so may not be in the dance off. It will be a real shame if somebody really good is eliminated tonight.

I was convinced it was the same song too . Still. A minor detail .

I must say that whilst Jake and Janette captured the drama really well, there was very little in hold and the foxtrot elements weren't particularly well done. For some reason, those things didn't seem to bother Len. Hmmmm. He's changed his tune :wry face:

I didn't vote for my lovely Judy tonight, (even though she actually did a bit of dancing). Sunetra, Caroline and Simon got my freebies. Actually liked Pixie's paso best tonight, but don't think she needs my help .

The dance off will be interesting. It ought to be two from Sunetra (), Steve or Judy, but I can't really guess who the public will back this week.

Because if I don't do it now, it won't get done....

Frankie - QS. The dance mat VT was stupid. Sure. Kfg really putting Frankie through her paces in those six inch heels. (Am sure the others were just as bad, but I ff-d them all). Took a while to start, but fun and enjoyable. Didn't benefit from the extra dancers, really and I don't think they needed to do two lots of group/side-by-side. I like Frankie - hope she's safe.
Jake - AS. Not much to add to my post above, Not my favourite dance and I don't feel Jake is improving as much as I hoped he would. Will the salsa turn out to be his best dance?
Suneta - Samba. Yikes. Not great. Hope it wasn't her swansong. She seemed surprised at the scores. ("Eights?! For that?!!!" ). Brendan being more suportive this week.
Simon - AT. Oooh, I don't know. Too much Kristina and not enough Simon, perhaps? . He's one of my faves, but I didn't like this quite as much as everyone in Blackpool. Brooding and dramatic, but slightly off. Before Craig said, I was thinking his hands looked like scoops. Not the most important thing, but detracted from the overall look. Think he's good, though, and want him to stay.
Judy - VW. A smidge of actual dancing and all her usual good humour. I wouldn't mind if she left now.
Mark - Charleston. I enjoyed this (though thought it would never start!), but have gone off Mark . (Also, if you must feature a 'rolly polly' (in Vinthent voice ) it ought to be better than that).
Pixie - Paso. What's not to love about a War-of-the-Worlds/Roman-gladiator-fusion paso doble?? Thought they were both fab, but Pixie needed better shaping and more 'snap' in her upper body. Great number though - really enjoyed it.
Steve - AS. I appreciate he was trying to convey softness, but it felt more tentative from my sofa. Nice dance for a big bloke, though it looked like a paso at the start. Ola looked great and a bit more chipper this week. Like him. Hope he stays.
Caroline -- Jive. I felt Pasta needed to dance down a little, because she was good, but still came out seeming a bit heavy. Loved her blue shoes and like that she gives her all.

I like all the remaining celebs (aside from Mark and he doesn't deserve to go....)

Think Zoe is great on the main show. I sort of wish it was Zoe out front and Claud up top
Lovely group ballroom number to kick off.
Scores were a bit generous.
I understand why they up-size some of the dances for the bigger stage, but sometimes they were just clutter.
Good show overall.

Tonight's result

tonight i was not a fan of a lot of the dances at all. I don't usually like simon but for me tonight he was the best. Him and Kristina were the only couple who didn't have extra dancers in their dance. Steve and ola were undermarked their extra dancers just held the material so were not bad. I didn't like people having extra dancers it was to much and too distracting. It all just looked a mess to me. I couldn't focus on the celeb and pro dancing because they kept getting in the way. Also i don't like how frankie and kevin (i don't like kevin, joanne or karen anyway) but how they were in hold a lot but also seemed quite a bit out of hold as well when Kara and artem were in blackpool Len slated them for being out of hold in the american smooth janet and scott were out of hold a lot as well but were not slated either. I know they did different dances but i just didn't enjoy watching blackpool week much. I always think that because they are in blackpool the judges score really high but then the next week back in the studio they go back to scoring properly looking for the right footwork and arm placements. When Kevin and Susanna did the paso last year it wasn't really great because back in the normal studio it was just average. I was a massive Natalie and Artem fan last year and I miss seeing artem on this series. I really hope Artem comes back to strictly next year when robin is back. I hope Natalie gets a great partner next year i watched her on dwts australia and always wanted her to come to strictly now shes been here for a few years. i liked her and scott in artem and kara's year season 8. Also i think aliona needs a better partner next year aswell. Im quite glad artem is not on this season because i think he would of been partnered with judy as she has always been a fan of his. I really hope he is back for the peoples strictly - it would great to see him dancing someone not a celeb.

i think that they need to get rid of one of the three top girls Frankie, Caroline or Pixie. By having two of them in the dance off and then having to choose between them. I am a fan of Pixie although i do believe she has a dance background. I would be happy to see caroline or frankie leave. i dont like mark wright either, i think he has gone from one reality show which i have never watched gone to the jungle which i did watch and now come to strictly i wouldn't be suprised if he goes on celeb bb in a couple of years. He just likes appearing on the tv.

For the first time, I managed to watch the result show when broadcast, and am glad that Judy has left.
I enjoyed her stay on strictly and amazingly she has helped me warm a bit to Anton. I have always liked her and was afraid she would be made to look as foolish as some of Anton's previous partner's. However she kept her sense of humour and her dignity.
If she had stayed longer I think the dignity would have been jeopardised.
I am increasingly not enjoying Sunetra and Brendan and liking Simon and Kristina.
It may be my jerky Internet reception, but I thought mark's charleston wooden and a bit boring and was gob smacked when Craig gave him a 9 and Simon an 8
I also enjoyed Pixie and Trent's paso..
Our deer have been back and have been chomping on my Swiss chard, which was brightening up the early winter garden. They seem to discriminate against red, as all that is left of the yellow plant is ragged stalks, while the red one next door is untouched and stunning. I was given a bowl of kiwi fruit today, which grow on vines here, they need to be left with apples to ripen.
Our new flat screen smart television has been ordered and we hope to have it in time for the Strictly final.

The strictly quiz is up, tried to cut and paste address and failed.
To my amazement got 8 out of 9 right, so had to show off.
Some very unreasonable friends have invited us for a meal on Saturday night so will miss strictly. I am beginning to care a little at the moment. I am unexpectedly enjoying Trent and Pixie and Simon and Kristina

Snap


Quiz
6/9 .
A pox on the silly quiz!



Week 9 In Training
They all look pretty good.

Double snap

and.......

Double pox!!!

and.......

Thanks Soupy, it's getting down to the nitty gritty now ain't it?!

PS: Thanks to you and Peevster for a loverly day on Sunday.

Great summary. I enjoyed the show and it was the right result.

Mark is a reality pro. Could he really go all the way? Like you Nicola, I'm not a fan. Watched him tonight on ITT and thought he looked as if he had lots lot of weight. It will be difficult to call the dance off tomorrow night.


Oh deer

Thanks Soupy...looks promising but I wonder if the lack of posts here mean that none of couples are inspiring the Kartemites Shame as I always looked forward to reading everyones comments

See Kara is out and about

Family therapy: Kara Tointon moves on from split with Strictly partner Artem Chigvintsev as she heads to Winter Wonderland with her mother Carol

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz3JjzCevAj

I love the festive season

Hi Anam

I shall endeavour to do better this weekend. It's a weird Strictly season for me. I just have not managed to get into it as much this year. I'm enjoying some of the couples but am not really invested in anyone.

I sort of quite liked Mark to start with, but am going off him a wee bit.

I wasn't keen on Pixe to start with but am warming to her and am really liking Trent and hope he stays on (not really missing Bobby tbh, lovely though he is).

I wish Frankie was with a different pro and the same with Steve and also Sunetra. Those partnerships just don't seem to have worked imho.

I really liked Jake to start but he seems to have stalled a bit and I wish he'd stop wiping his nose and punctuating his sentences with yeah!

I quite like Caroline but am a bit frustrated with Pasha. I'm not sure he's choreographed that well this year and you just never really get to know what he's really thinking. I'm hopeful for a half decent frock for her this weekend! Digits crossed!

Um.........who have I missed out? Oh yes, Simon is ok. Kind of gradually warming to him.

I hope you're feeling much better now! xx

Hello Wrenny

Missed your earlier post as I was on posting mine! Great minds and all that..

Taking about great minds I agree with your comments above. I am surprised to find myself warming to Pixie and Trent. Their routines have been brilliant.

Sunetra and Brendan are an odd couple but their ballroom is up there and I'm hoping Brendan choreographs another impressive waltz.

Kevin is definitely a turn off for me but I do think he and Pixie have a good dance partnership.

Caroline and Pasha promise an amazing American Smooth this weekend

Poor Jake, as someone who started with such promise , must be disappointed with his slide. he promises the return of the hips - yeah!

Steve seems to have the public vote. Still cant quite understand those reports in the paper

Simon..yes he is growing on me but doubt he has the public backing

Mark

Feeling much better thanks.

Sounds like you had a lovely time with peeve and soupy

Doing a catch up,on everyone's take re strictly .fair to say we are all of a same mind .Its good but....wonder if it' is all down to no Artem ? Or simply it's lost its magic ? Some really good dancing from the celebs. No press bitching.about anyone being a "professional ",no nudge nudge about secret romances ,unfortunately .no real oomph
Anyhow always nice to see pics of Kara...silly headlines... being out with your mum is good but not quite moving on ..Hope she has met someone and is happy .

Hiya Anam and wrenny, I also largely agree with your take on things
I never did get Jake, though he seems a nice enough bloke. Wrenny you are right about the sniffing
I am jealous of your SW kartem outing. I had 'such fun' early in the year in Topsham book shops. Peeve was like the pied piper gathering women around her. Wrenny was an able assistant. Maybe next year

Agree with above Denny, it was nice to see Kara and her mum.

Am experimenting with bread to take to friends tonight to go with pumpkin soup. Have all but stopped making bread in France as OH is in love with the ' baguette tradition ' that they sell at our local boulangerie. I just can't compete. However on this occasion, I .
dug out some frozen chestnuts that I had gathered earlier in the autumn. I ground them into flour and mixed it with bread flour, walnuts (from neighbours tree) and more chestnut pieces. Hopefully it will taste good. OH had better like it, or he can go back into the utility room he has been painting all day.
Weather gloomy and warm, courgettes won't stop producing. Not very big but very pretty, little green and yellow balls. My neighbour gave me a huge lettuce this morning, I collected 2 slugs and several worms on first inspection.
Hope you all enjoy strictly tonight, will catch up tomorrow, or poss later tonight.
Wrenny forgot to say, I have made my first bird cakes. can't get suet here, but butchers will give you fat from around kidneys, which amounts to the same. So far no takers but I am hopeful.

Got it ..just realised the bit of magic missing from this years strictly is not the non appearance... of Bobby nor the cheek of James ..not even Artems chesticles ....its . No Brucie....simples.

Bon soir Clarty

You MUST let us know when you're next in blighty and we'll sort out a day of walking and nattering or book shop bothering!

I think you'll have to wait until it gets a wee bit colder before you get visitors to your fat balls. I have nothing coming to my garden at the moment. Nice of your neighbour to provide you with protein as well as lucious lettuce! Bread sounds wunderbar! I have to confess, I haven't taken to home bread making..........shame! I still have some that we made that day in the freezer. Not sure what to do with it to be honest. Bung it in the oven for a few minutes??? Advice please Clarty or Soupy or anyone???

As it is s'posed to be raining tomorrow, I should have no good excuse not to submit a critique of the dancing tonight!

OH MY GIDDY AUNT!!!!!

That was WILD tonight! I'm sorry but I just LOVED that Samba. Brilliant send up of himself!
Some great dancing tonight I thought.

Steve was definitely the worst, not surprising with his feet and back issues. Will be hanging out in the spoiler thread.

Not often said in polite company.....

*Roger Moore eyebrow raise*

Just finished watching (on delay so I can ff the VTs and most of Darcey )....Claudia at the end, there! /. Good to have her back.

I know, I'm glad she just about held it together.

I'm feeling a bit like that about Len. He just has nothing left to say!

I'm still not sure if I thought it was fantastic or terrible! It was one of the campest things I've ever seen, that's for sure

Nobody's a dud - which is pretty amazing with 8 couple left - but Sunetra and Steve are unlikely to overtake any of the others, I think and I guess they'll be in the dance off with Steve going. Sunetra got my 3 votes this evening.

(Too much to hope it could be Mark v someone brilliant, I suppose .......)