AnAm Cara

Is this what you meant?

Russia's greatest love machine... https://t.co/WKYIUglvi4

Yes!

Thanks Mayadewi

I concur with what you said earlier...got to embrace the campness of SCD!

Rehearsal pix for tonight's show

Abbey's frame looks nice

WarDrobe have clearly found a dress shape that suits Vanessa and made it in a dozen colours

Debs looking powerful

Patrick - can't tell anything

Julien has his chest out. Joy.

Rachel has her shoulder up and her elbow down. Looks pretty though.

Fiona's got her leg up

Karen and Dave are looking dynamic and funky . What dance is it?

Ben is doing some standing.

(But he's gone sleeveless so predict a 'Gooorrrr! Show us yer guns!' from Tess )

AnAm cara

You are welcome. Looking forward to seeing Artem in the professional dance tonight.!

..I love this thread!

Me too

Hi Poleanna - another prodigal daughter.



Hope you'll relent, Rosamunda.

Wasn't a good look, was it. On another thread someone described him as looking like 'an organ grinder's monkey' - ouch! Hope Wardrobe ease off before they turn him into a cartoon character.



Keep the faith!



Know what you mean. Maybe anticipation is better than realisation!

Ashley: bit flat footed but not bad. Didn't seem very focused - but that's not surprising!

Tony: well, he gave it a go. Don't think he'll be too heartbroken about leaving, though.

Susanna: tough to get a Jive in the first week. Loved the attitude. She was struggling towards the end - but who wouldn't be?

Mark: he seemed the most comfortable in his own skin, if you know what I mean. Think he might surprise us - if he can stay in long enough.

Sophie: liked her routine - gentle and floaty. Another one who didn't seem altogether 'present' though.

Natalie: uber competent and obviously driven. Hope they won't overdo the 'Artem's met his match' storyline. Super competitiveness hasn't really worked well in the past - certainly didn't do Gaby Logan any favours.

As for the track. I felt no connection whatsoever between Rasputin and their routine - epic fail!

I enjoyed it much more watching it a second time. Yes, Artem's costume was awful, he was tangoed, the bright smile was so camp. And yet he really enjoyed himself as did Natalie.
I found Tony and Aliona so uncomfortable to watch.
Sophie EB's dress was awful too. Ballroom dances need long dresses. And the tattoo looked all wrong too. Brendan looked so traditional but the finished effect was just wrong.

Can't wait for tonight!

Ooh lots of Artem in the professional dance!

Bruce sending himself up!

Love your verbocity Dave looks like he is doing river dance legs. I am sitting on my suitcases waiting for Rob to take me to ferry port. Hope you are all enjoying strictly.
I will I player it tomorrow.

If that's how you felt last night Soupy heaven knows what you thought of the show tonight. I thought it was AWFUL! Won't say disappointed as my expectations were low...but not much talent there (save Abbey, maybe Patrick and I really want Fiona to grow in confidence - Anton's choreo really stood out tonight, the rest was dire!)

*waving from the quayside...safe crossing Clartem ...you didn't miss a thing tonight...you will have the benefit of fast forward button tomorrow

Yes, the standard was low. I can't remember a series when so many of them went wrong in the first dance.

I hated Deborah Meaden's dance, Ben Cohen was hard to watch and the hairy biker, oh my days! My OH with no training could do better.
On the plus side, Rachel and Abbey were better than I thought they would be. Will not do Natalie and Artem any harm to have a bit of competition.
Going to stick my neck out and say a female celebrity will win this year.

Enjoyed the show.

Really good Saturday night entertainment. I don't mind Bruce. I hope when I'm his age I'm still as full of energy. Actually enjoyed seeing a few people close to my age having a go. Isn't that what life's all about!

After the roller coaster rides of Kara & Artem, Holly & Artem, Fern & Artem, I'm looking forward to a quieter, more normal autumn in which I'm just enjoying the dancing and not voting like a madwoman. I'm hoping to have a spoiler-free series. Of course I wish success for Artem & Natalie but am not going to be obsessed about it.

Will still be here as I enjoy reading a range of views, catching up on gossip and the photos posted by so many of you. Also still a big fan of Kara's and hope she has a fabulous premier of Last Passenger and continued success with her career.

Poleanna!!!!!! Nice to see you........to see you....... Would love to see your no nonsense opinions on the dances if you feel you want to.


Really sorry to hear that Rosa, like others have said. I hope you pop in here from time to time anyway even if you don't end up watching Strictly.


Precisely my thoughts mayadewi.


Yep *nods slowly* agree with you Noonster. OH and I managed to get back in time to watch the show tonight. I really enjoyed it. Loved LOVED Dave and Karen. Tis what Strictly is all about! I love a mix of great dancing and others who put their all into it and embrace it. I think that is what we've seen from most of the couples in these first shows.


I'll be here too and also in the N&A thread.

I'll watch both shows again tomorrow and then post my thoughts hopefully tomorrow too.

I actually enjoyed it!!

The best bit was when the rain made the satellite signal drop out!

I jest - I did actually like it. Some of it. Got my expectations well an truly re-callibrated now

Ben - Bless him. I wanted to give him a hug. A dancing wardrobe with a lovely, lovely smile.

Fiona - Awful music and messy choreo (to my eyes). Stumbly in places and Anton was lugging her around but she has real potential.

Hairy Dave - danced like a drunk uncle at a wedding but he made me laugh out loud. This is a Good Thing. Loved Darcey's comment about falling in love and Karen wetting herself up in the Tesspit.

Rachel - she looked lovely. She's very nice. Pasha is very nice. The dance was very nice. It was all very nice.

Julien - Please let him be the first to go.

Debs - Some decent bits and quite a lot of Robin hoiking her around. Got something to work with though, I think.

Patrick - hunched over but looks like he has rhythm. Satellite prevents me saying more.

Vanessa - faff, faff, faff! A veritable fafforama! With stompy bits.

Abbey - Long intro and I missed a bit near the end, but it looked lovely with some gorgeous lines and great chemistry. Hurrah for Abbey!!!


My faves tonight? Abbey and Hairy Dave

♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ... Sittin' on the dock of the bay.... ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬

Cheesy music on the brain. Can't think why. Have a good crossing

Well I'll probably be there in the end too as I enjoy lurking in the thread, but I'm definitely watching the show on FF. No voting for me this year unless I'm allowed to vote Julien off

Well that was an interesting experience! Ended up watching Friday's show with my teenager "side-boob spotting"

Here's my views.
Ashley & Ola It was so PINK my steam TV couldn't cope. This rather distracted from the dance. My son rather liked it however
Tony Oh dear.
Susanna & Kevin The jive is a fave of mine and this didn't disappoint. I thought there was a lot of choreography there for a first week, executed well save the ending. Really liking Kevin. He's like a shaken bottle of pop.
Sophie & Brendan Hated the dress. Too short and showcased her tattoo....WHY??? Nice lines though. She was better than I expected.
Mark Wasn't sure about wardrobe dressing him as a sparkly Ninja Turtle (with the mask) and I'd be lying if I said it didn't detract from an interesting concept that was nicely danced.
Natalie & OoompahLoompah (thanks Denburn) Oh me. Not WarDrobe's (thanks Fridgey finest moment was it? The red and ORANGE clashed but the TV coped better than the with the pink. It was a difficult set of steps well presented. Natalie didn't disappoint and I look forward to her getting better. I worry for Artem on so many levels....

Tonight's show I enjoyed less as the general standard of dancing was lower.

Ben, Dave & Vanessa & JulienAbout what I expected to be honest. Except Janette - I enjoyed her dancing. First impressions can be wrong.
Deborah I enjoyed this as Robin didn't do either the 'camp' thing he usually dishes up for his celeb or the jerky, acrobatic stuff he does with Kristina. Going to enjoy this partnership develop.
Patrick This jive was never going to do it because of the music chosen. Didn't like the choreo or the execution. Mr OrkneySarah thought there should have been more kicks and flicks - he has more left legs than a centipede so that was NOT a compliment.
Fiona Anton has gone up in my estimation. The choreo was pleasing and he is is a dreamy ballroom dancer.
Rachel My baby's fave as he's an ardent Countdown fan. Delighted and surprised at the chemistry with Pasha, I didn't think he had it in him. She seemed unconfident during the build up therefore didn't expect much in terms of content - WOW!!! That was a difficult routine well-danced.
Abbey Unbelievably difficult choreography again danced believably. I really warmed to Abbey and to Aljaz too.

After the first few car crash routines I think this might be a good season. *whispers "Artem might not be my favorite this time"

Glad you're still here!

I don't usually have strong reactions to people, but Julien is actually scary and I just find I don't want to watch or listen to him. The mute button went on I'm afraid!

BIB It's free online, so you can vote away to your heart's content

Perhaps sound could mike Julien up differently to the other celebs?

He doesn't need a mike at all.

Thanks Wrenny. I was looking forward to the new season but for some reason I found last night's show a tremendous let down - my fault I'm sure. But I shall look in from time to time and I too look forward to good news about Kara's film.

Wonder if there will be a queue of strictly die hards wielding axes outside the doors of his fashion house on Monday morning? Only a mother could love him I'm afraid.