Ah, I've just watched the show and it was weird not seeing the usual familiar faces. Very glad Brucie has mainly hung up his taps, sooooooo glad.

I'm not sure who to support yet, there seems to be a lot of very nice peeps and so I'm happy to just enjoy this year.

My main concern is how to keep up with all my old muckers on DS, I just hope we all end up supporting the same celeb/pro. It wont be the same if I don't have a 'home' somewhere on here with all the lovely swoonies.

Noooooney!!! Big hugs and welcome back . It is a bit weird without Artem as a focus but there's lots to like among the celebs, so I'm hoping swoonies will stay home here - at least some of the time - for the usual chatter. Who caught your eye from the launch show?

Hello lateone

Just spotted some lovely smiley pics of Artem,

'And on Sunday, actress Lea Thompson was spotted at a Hollywood dance studio with her dance partner Artem Chigvintsev to get some more practice in before they both make their debut on the nineteenth season of the hit show.


The Back To The Future star looked very excited as she was seen kicking her feet up and showing off her new moves following her dance rehearsal.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz3Ckt9HuJt

He looks happy!

Hello!
I was pleasantly surprised by the line up and there appears a good mix of characters to keep me watching.

I initially thought, poor Alijax he's going to get squashed but by the look of the group dance at least he has someone with natural rhythm...he'll still get squashed
Jennifer and Tristan are going to have some 'craic', I just hope she can drop her shoulders;...

Thom

BIB: I thought that too. I'm loving that there seems so much more coming out of US about the show/partnership/other dancing bits than there EVER was about Artem in UK.

I'm much more excited about DWTS than SCD at the moment. I was out last night so haven't seen the launch show yet - iPlayer cut out on me earlier this evening - grrr! - but I have read the spoilers etc. Poor Judy - wanting Artem and getting Anton!

Wingi my thoughts entirely. Poor Judy, let's hope Anton decides to play things a bit straighter than in previous years.
I am in England staying with my mother and only saw half the launch show, no preferences at all. Will see if anyone hooks me.
Lovely to see Nooney posting, now where are the others.

Lovely to see you all here too - Lateone, Clarty, Soupy, Anam, Wingi and the Wrenster! Sorry if I missed anyone out. I haven't gone back pages to see who's been around.

I'm hoping everyone congregates here for general chat too.

I saw the images of Arty in LA too, Anam, and thought exactly the same. He looks very happy and relaxed. I still can't get over how strange he seemed (to me) when he was with Fern, and withdrawn last year too, so it's good to see him back to himself.

Soupy, I know Thom is eye candy, but I'm not that drawn to him particularly. I'll have to wait to see who gets me excited, I suppose a lot of it does come down to the dancing. That's shocking isn't it.

Is Tristan meant to be our Maks? Not sure I'll be able to bear the Oirish overkill he and his partner will suffer...groaning already.

Hello Swoonies , lovely to see you all still here, Waves to Noonie , fridgie, Wingi, ana, wrenny and all the old gang.

Managed to watch the opening show live, didn't see any of the last series until it was finished but am determined to join in again this year. I even know one of the contestants........ Scott, he is lovely so I hope he manages to stay a few weeks even though he can't dance.

Pixie seems a tad annoying and paired with Trent bit Midwich Cookoo's. Simon and Kristina also "in it to win it", worrisome crotch action to come I fear. Am loving Tim and Nat as well as Jennifer and Tristan.

Supposed to be working at the mo, so will get back to it but I promise I will keep in touch this year xx

loving all the old names appearing on here

Well Judy can pretend she's got,Artem see he sent her happy birthday and a good luck tweets ...hope her work ethic rubs off and Anton doesn't feel obliged to,act the fool
Plenty of pre show pictures coming out of DWTS .and yes Artem does look happy .
Lea seems to appreciate him and I was pleased she brought up that he had been a champion in UK .
Don't really like DWTS but I am looking forward to seeing what they do together and of course how Len reacts to him

Not sure at all about SCD. .this year ..Agree with all the comments must remember the old adage ....Never judge a package by the wrapping.
Hope we all warm to it ,as the weeks go on

Hello lovelies!

Chuffed to see some old friends on here, Noonster, Salsameg (how's Baka? will she be giving us the benefit of her experience this year???) Now we just need EF to pop her lovely head in the door!

I've just re-watched the launch show with Mr Wren and will hope to give my initial thoughts on couples sometime tomorrow. Till then, I'm off to snoozeville. ZZZZzzzzz

A little bit of rehearsal footage with Lea and Artem from about 1.50 on this video

I just wanted to thank Soupy and Peeve for joining Mr Wren and me on Sunday night. We had a blast!

Well here are my initial thoughts about the couples which could easily change as we get to see more of them.

The Blokes:

Gregg and Aliona: I don’t mind Gregg. I don’t get any newspapers or mags and so haven’t heard any gossip to put me off him so far. He seems to me to be excited to learn to dance. Aliona wasn’t best pleased though was she!

Steve and Ola: I didn’t know Steve but he seems lovely. I can’t help being a bit disappointed that he got Ola for a partner. She’s going to have him doing knee slides isn’t she and I do wonder how much effort she’s going to put in given how things are.

Tim and Natalie: I was utterly gobsmacked with this pairing. Just didn’t expect it. Poor Natalie as always was brilliant in not showing her disappointment. I can imagine that their ballroom could be quite good, but am already shuddering at the thought of his latin.

Scott and Joanne: A match made in heaven imo. Joanne looks like she will be a lovely supportive pro which I think is what Scott is going to need. I hope she can coax some half decent dances out of him.

Jake and Janette: I’m sure he’s a lovely bloke and all that, but……………well, just not my cup of tea. He looked pretty good in the group dance and so I hope that Janette, who deserved a medal after last year, gets the chance to show what she can do with a decent celeb. I don't think he looked that pleased to get her.

Thom and Iveta: Controversial I know, but I haven’t really taken to him so far. There didn’t seem to be much personality showing so far and for me good looks just aren’t enough. I hope to have my mind changed and I’m chuffed that Iveta has got a contender.

Mark and Karen: Again, I’ve never watched TOWIE and am not aware of tabloid ‘stuff’ and so don’t have any preconceived prejudices about him. He came across to me as cheeky and charming. They looked good as a couple.

Simon and Kristina: He’s another one that I haven’t taken to straight away. Maybe some personality will come through as the weeks go on. I’m sure he’ll be in for a while.

The Gals:

Pixie and Trent: So far, I’m afraid I’ve not taken to either of these two. When Pixie talks, I just don’t feel like we’re hearing the real person. Maybe she’ll relax into it more and show more of her real personality as the weeks go by. I won’t hold my breath though.

Alison and Aljaz: I actually think this is a good pairing. I don’t know yet whether she’s going to become a bit irritating. I hope not. It will be interesting to see Aljaz with a bubbly personality.

Caroline and Pasha: She hasn’t really registered with me so far. I’m sure she’ll be in for a while.

Frankie and Kevin: She looked great in the group dance. I’m still in two minds as to whether I like her or not. Maybe Kevin will bring out more of her personality.

Jennifer and Tristan: I didn’t know her before, but I already love her. I didn’t notice whether she was any good in the group dance. I hope she lasts a while.

Sunetra and Brendan: I don’t have anything particular to say either way about her so far.

Judy and Anton: I really REALLY wish she hadn’t got Anton, but she seems happy with him on the surface. I hope he plays it straight with her as I’m quite quite sure she will not want to play the fool! I’m not holding my breath though!

At the moment, I can't see me debunking to any particular thread so will stay in here for the time being!

Nice to see several familiar names posting again.
I watched the launch show on iPlayer yesterday.
It won't be the same without Artem … but, just a few years ago we watched some favourites leave the show and several new pros come on the scene and wondered what it was going to be like. I'm hoping for a fun season. Also hoping I don't get too involved, don't have to look at spoilers and don't spend too much money on voting (but will use my free internet votes).

I'll be posting here and looking forward to reading all of your posts .

Also looking forward to seeing Kara in Mr Selfridge when that starts .

Lea and Artem have the foxtrot for their first dance on Monday night. Two of the men have FT also. The rest are dancing cha cha or jive. No info on the music, but I hope it will be something slightly upbeat. (I'd rather see a beautiful, elegant FT but my perception is that foxtrot seems to be regarded as boring on DwtS and something lively might go down better ). I read somewhere there will be an elimination on Tuesday which is slightly terrifying - one performance and then out the next night for one couple. Or even two.



I've been given some suggestions by another fm about how to watch, but haven't tried them yet. Not sure about the legalities, so won't post the info on here, but will let you know how I get on and will let anyone who's interested have the info via pm.

Hi all

Long time on the fringe looking in, I would love to be able to watch dwts now Artem is there, WHY OH WHY CANT THEY SHOW IT LIKE THEY USED

Artem. (I thought he'd done some strange addition to his tattoo, but I think it's the 'watermark' on the photo!)

Haha, I thought that too yesterday!!!!! Checked all the new photos posted today to make sure it wasn't!!!!!!!!!!! :kitty

Artem and Lea at the opening of a new dance studio. Blogging about who was at the party, Kristyn Burtt mentioned "Lea Thompson (who stuck by Artem most of the night--I mean, who wouldn't?!"

and another pic from Artem's instagram

First Steps. Looks like Scott has the cha cha. Bless .


Backstage pics from the launch show. I can't help looking for a glimpse of you know who.

[quote=Wrenny-24;74726939]I just wanted to thank Soupy and Peeve for joining Mr Wren and me on Sunday night. We had a blast!

Wrenny glad you had a great night, now who won the prize for the most correct pairings

Tee hee. I think you (via email), Wren and I all drew with a mighty impressive THREE correct guesses, whilst, Mr Wren, peeve and barabaram (via email) achieved a paltry two. Tsk, tsk .

I think we can safely say the producers were thinking differently from us!

As Wrenny hosted, she was awarded the prize*. Thank you for supplying it, Eselle, I know she will have taken it to bed and read it from cover to cover!

*The Strictly Annual 2014

Rehearsal pics - some nice ones of Lea and Artem . (Thanks Lili)

Not sure what Artem says here (I'm stuck to your dress???). Thanks Karma Ardent