Pretty much exactly what I was going to say Lateone except for BIB
For me, the standard of dancing overall is actually better than usual - though there's a bigger range of abilities. It's the production that's the problem - dance orders, camera angles, Claud 'gagging' (and she has been gagged this Season) and inexplicable music choices are turning what should have been showcase SCD into (at times) car crash TV. Such a shame

Many thanks for the report, Emma. Love hearing these behind the scenes tidbits we'd otherwise never know about

Week 4 Quiz

12/14

I think they're making it too easy. (One of the questions asks the name of the newspaper Mark's reading before becoming Superman....alongside a picture of Mark reading the newspaper before becoming Superman )

10/14 for me. Probably because I wasn't into it last week. I did get the Mark one right!

Fab report Em Peeve did well to 'clock' you two during the show! Sounds like you had a great time, now please come back soon to tell all about the after show 'stuff'! xx

I was a bit under the weather at the weekend so watched the show through slightly feverish eyes - but I quite enjoyed it!!

Waaaay, too many poor dances all in a row and I agree with OS (was it you?) who suggested some of them aren't putting in enough time.

[ETA: it was lateone and OS ]

Please don't let Donny ever come back (like Nooney, I FF'd to stay sane). The VTs made me want to have a tantrum, so I FF'd those too and tranquility was restored.

Please ban the audience from clapping 'along' with the music - it really fought with the timing and the rhythm of the dances.

I laughed like a drain at Claud's underpants. Again, it may have been the fever

Anyhoo....

Alison and Aljaz - Jive: An almost impossible task for Alison, and while she deserves credit for still selling a performance, of the judges, only Craig and Darcey's marks (4 and 5) were realistic. The 7 was silly. I don't have enough (any ) technical knowledge to really say, but do wonder if Aljaz could have choreographed a less hoppity-kickety jive and gone for a smooth swing style. He might have been criticised, but she might have had a better chance to do well..... Choice of Footloose as the song was more ironic than iconic

Steve and Ola - QS: I really quite enjoyed this, although I hope they rest the animal references from now on. He made some errors and his physique detracts from the elegance, but he was quite light, very enthusiastic and engaged. Enjoyable choreo (if we must have themes). Ola's doing well with him. Donny's advice was stooopid and I'm glad Karen Hardy said so!

Jennifer and Tristan - FT: I'm so sorry lovely Tristan didn't get a better run at things and I get the feeling Jenny didn't really have the time to do enough training. This was the most free we'd seen her though and there were 3 others she would have survived against in the DO, but in the grand scheme of things, I don't think she was going to get massively better. Why was Tristan rowing the boat at the blunt end?

Simon and Kristina - Rumba: Kristina's shirt was at odds with the cha cha dress underneath (not the reference to the film, which I understood) and hid her movements. Simon was stop-start and was dancing in his head rather than his hips (which he acknowledges). I'm finding him a bit frustrating and still don't know what to think about him, but Kristina (like Ola) is giving him proper choreo.

Judy and Anton - QS: Beautiful dress on her and actually, I thought she found tiny moments of freedom and dance-ability, but overall it was poor. I wish they would send her to acting lessons or hypnosis to loosen up. Anton's reply to Donny did make me laugh .

Tim and Natalie - Charleston. I hated this. Didn't like the concept or the choreo and his execution of the steps was non-existant. Didn't like all the 'Fagin' crouching down. Why did lovely Nat look like Vod?

Caroline and Pasha - Rumba: The music demanded a certain dramatic 'punctuated' style and she executed it well, but I prefer a sinuous, smooth style, so I didn't love it. Pasta's jacket didn't help things. I really like Caroline though and love how she commits to it.

Scott and Joanne - Samba: Ugh and double ugh. Hated every moment.

Frankie and Kevin - Paso: Other people have better memories than me and say he recycled last year's choreo, but I hated last year's paso and rather liked this one. Frankie put in a good effort. Not so keen on kfg, but liking Frankie more and more (Dare I say, she reminds me a little of Kara in some ways?)

Jake and Janette - Waltz: I liked it better on second watch but agreed with Len about the character of the waltz not really being present. He was a little too ominous for me, but I loved the concept and tone. Janette's dress was gorgeous and I liked the lighting and general atmosphere.

Pixie and Trent - QS: A bit saccharine, but I liked the choreo and she performs really well, but it didn't quite catch fire for me. Quite liking her, but I'd like her more if she didn't do that 'little girl' talking

Thom and Iveta - Charleston: Found his faces off-putting. He did much better, so I'm not really sure why this didn't grab me.

Sunetra and Brendan - AS: I loved everything about this, especially her gorgeous arms. I can see she didn't get the 'in hold' exactly right, but it was a pretty good effort and the music and choreo and dress all came together. I love how well she uses her acting. My fave of the night.

Mark and Karen - Paso: I don't especially like Mark, but I really enjoyed this! The lighting effects with Karen on the building were ace and - I'm swimming against the tide here - I thought the music and theme for a paso had great potential. His execution wasn't great, but he bust a gut going for it, so credit where it's due. Kind of hilarious and brilliantly awful.

Soupy despite your fever or maybe because of it I agree with a lot of your points. You inspired me to watch again and for once my post is OT.
I was a bit sad that Jennifer left. I thought she looked very beautiful and did some steps that looked like proper ones to me. (having seen a french lady in pink dungarees. My dungaree fetish has risen to new heights)
I have had to watch again to check out the rowing the wrong end of the boat. Tristan seems to have sat down in the wrong seat and facied the wrong way. His dancing seemed a bit naf throughout, with some very odd jumps.. Praps it was part of the draaama.
Also they were both singing along. Is the beeb thinking about a musical version of Strictly. Claudia would be fabulous.
I was bewildered by Kristina's shirt, not getting the reference and thought perhaps she was covering up to silence her too sexy for my shoes image
Agree with all you say about Tim and Nat. Someone on the main thread referred to the possibility of them doing a rumba. God forbid
Why is Vod making all these Strictly appearances. Can't remember who copied her last tear was it Natalie/Artem?
Frankie and KevinWell Soupy I am struggling as I am getting to like Kevin against the judgement of my prejudiced self. Maybe this version was better cos Frankie is not so in your face as Susannah. Also Kevin did not seem to be frantically dancing like last year. I was able to watch his partner.
I agree that there is something Kara like about her. Maybe a combination of build, modesty and ease of movement.
Thom and Iveta.:) Strictly the musical part two. The mouth thing was a bit unfortunate as it was quite large. Someone had told him to act, so bless him he tried. Sadly it distracted from the dancing, but at least he let go.
Brendan and Sunetra My favourite dance. I love Sunetra, maybe it was just because she is a good actress but she glowed through the whole dance. Somehow I think she loved the dance and her happiness flowed out of every pore Am in real trouble here in the absence of Artem, Brendan is one of my favourite pro's

Loved the enthusiasm and excitement .hope we can all feel that as the show progresses
What about Artem and his journey on DWTS ? Saw he switched partners this week

They got burlesque as their dance he wasn't happy allegedly doing that altho he looked pleased with his partner on the night..lots of raunchy moves ,mainly lifts ,little dancing all very intense ..Being broad minded helped

For his UK followers the chairography .was familiar(how many times have most of us re watched that)? Not as good or as classy when performed by Kara in the Tango but I admit to being biased .
Loads of pictures and interviews available on his fans fan page
Saw Kara briefly on the Chase ,..She will be on Lewis again this Sunday

Is Lewis shown on a Sunday in Scotland DQ? It is a Friday for us southerners. I have posted a short article on Artem's thread about Jenna.

Artem's own Facebook Page seems to be providing lots of the photos from DWTS

I think not being well was the key to enjoying Mark's paso .

Hope your leg's better .


Hee! I know what you mean .


It's odd. Thom and Iveta seemed to have all the ingredients to be sensational. I think he's one of those 'good on paper' contestants.



Strictly: the boiled cabbage of comedy. S'about right . Gosh, how I long for some genuine insights into the training room, both for the progress and to get to know our pros and celebs. ITT is as bad. It feels as if the producers want to control every inch of the show


Exactly.




Just quoting to nod despairingly.




Finally! Some good news!

Glad you got to see it, anam .

Artem and Janel - Burlesque

I you haven't watched this (and are interested!), BE QUICK!! ABC are running round purging YT. This is the only one I could find with the full segment. The sound is distorted and the picture has a banner covering part of it, but best I could find today.

ETA: No sound on the actual dance. Will look for one with music!


Right. Take two. This one is much better. (Will leave the other one there as back up )

Lea and Val - broadway (Artem's proper partner in the switch. Producers overplaying the jealousy card......)

Friday it is

Now they've got her swimming.
Kara Tointon, all around fitness queen.

Looking good even though she didn't say much.


I didn't guess the murderer. Anyone else?

Thought tonight's show was a big improvement over last week.

Me too! Phew!

Me three!

Tonight's dance off and elimination spoiler.....

Morning all. I was a bit underwhelmed last night. Didn't get terribly excited by anyone.
However I did fall in love with janette's dress. I want one, despite the fact that she could fit twice into the size I would need.
I have started a strictly virtual wardrobe .
Janette's dress
Jennifer's dungarees, but sparkled up a bit.
I was a little moved by Pixie's emotion after her dance. People on the spoiler thread being a bit mean and suggesting it was staged.

To balance life up as the view here is that the show was not boiled cabbage, we are off to lunch at yet another thank you knees up for our help at the fête in the summer. Menu a Breton cabbage speciality, followed by dancing.

Great report Strictly*Emma, thanks so much for sharing.

Soupy, loved Claud’s underpants gag too. Loved your thoughts also (Natalie = Vod )

Clartster, I thought the show was better this week.

I think Jake is my boy, I think he’s the one I’m going to be rooting for this season, I really like Sunetra and Caroline too. Pixie is growing on me, but after reading Clarty's comment I'm not sure now . More to like this week than dislike, I felt.

Frankie and Kevin - very nice and easy to watch. She just needs more muscular shaping but she’s a lovely mover in general. I'm getting the Kara comparison (boy, do I miss seeing Kara and Artme dance).

Mark and Karen - gotta love his enthusiasm and the effort he puts in. I thought he did a good job, had me smiling all the time.

Judy and Anton - better than ‘oh dear’. Her best so far.

Simon and Kristina - I really enjoyed the Cockerney cheese-fest. He looked more relaxed.

Alison and Aljaz - loving Aljaz. If Alison could just lift her feet more she’d look so much better in her dances. I love the way she acts the dance and she’s a great mover.

Scott and Joanne - how many more friends and relatives can Scott bring into his VTs to help his cause?. He’s just pretty terrible but so like an uncoordinated child doing his best at the Panto you feel for him (another man/child comparison ).

Steve and Ola - He really goes for it doesn’t he. Lovely attitude, lots of chest and lifts, not much bounce or dance.

Pixie and Trent - Very nicely done. A restrained dance, I think Darcey was right.

Tim and Natalie - Well, there are limits to my cringe-tolerance and I just couldn’t watch really, I saw glimpses, moments but I just couldn’t watch. Bless him.

Sunetra and Brendon - I think this was her poorest dance so far, she just didn’t look comfortable for a lot of it. I still love her.

Tom and Iveta - I think Iveta has lost her mojo, this was sort of a yawn-fest. Okay I suppose but not for me.

Jake and Janette - He just goes for it without embarrassment or cockiness. I always enjoy watching him despite me not having confidence in him prior to the dance. Love Janette and her dress too, Clarty.

Caroline and Pasta - Just really like Caroline, I think she’s a lovely girl. Not my favourite dance from her but she’s great and they make a lovely couple.

I'm such a bad Kara and Artem fan really, I haven't watched either of them in their new venture. Bad Nooney.

Agreed with you lots Nooney, but am just dashing off, so wanted to quickly endorse this and doubly the BIB. Am wondering why. Have my suspicions, but they're really gossipy thoughts with absolutely no substance....

Clarty - Janette's dress was a corker. Beautiful.

I thought that the show was greatly improved last night. The solution for me is to record it and watch it on FF, thereby skipping all the faffing about before each dance. Perhaps not quite in the true spirit of the show, but it works for me.

Slightly OT, but if I see another pair of muppets dancing for our delectation on ITT I may well reach into the screen and try to murder them. Same goes for nans bearing edible gifts. Enough production team, enough.

BIB - I was wondering if they're really dull at dancing because the gossip is true.


Watching FF is defo the answer, that's what I'm doing too.

Yep, yep, yep about everything else too.

BIB. I didn't know there was any gossip but have just caught up by reading what the Daily Mail and Mirror have to say so I now know what may or may not be going on I'm warming to Thom and Iveta. I'm glad she finally has a decent partner and I think the last two weeks Thom has started to put a bit more personality into his dances. He's very good looking so don't blame her if she's smitten (I'd be)

I enjoyed last night's show. Quite unexpectedly, I like Jake and Janette. I hate his character on East Enders but he is a good dancer and I look forward to continued entertainment from these two. The third couple I'm supporting is Sunetra and Brendan. I like her personality.

The VT with Pixie taking Trent home to meet the family and looking at family photos was reminiscent of K&A.

Poor Scott really is a terrible dancer. Tim isn't very good either I hope Judy stays for another week so her sons can attend the show but she can go after that as far as I'm concerned; not a natural dancer.