Paul Killick took the show very seriously!

Verona & Paul were a pretty unlikeable couple. Paul was over-competitive, a rule-breaker and a backchatter. And Verona was always complainig about how unfair the judges were.

Paul was pretty unlikeable all the time.
He used to share studio space with John and Jane and he was very unpleasant to his students. Even when he was teaching in the next door studio we could hear his voice and the things he shouted were really horrible!
No way could I have had any lessons with him, I might have been tempted to smack him in the mouth!

A little blurry present...

The first episode of Strictly:
Opening
Natasha
Lesley
Chris
Jason
Verona
Claire*
David
Martin
Ending

*May not play in some countries due to restrictions on the Robbie Williams song

Does anyone know any more about Jason Wood's death? Early reports on the Internet said he died in his sleep (at the age of 38) and autopsy results were pending. Can't find anything about the results.

Katie the first four uploads are 'private'. And why have you made them only open to those that have the link?

That would be because people are told to vote for their "favourites" it was never meant to be a serious dance competition, right from the off.

The series creator (whose name I've embarrassingly forgotten) once gave an interview in which she said the idea had come from watching old clips of people like Bruce Forsyth, Bob Monkhouse etc, who were known as "all round entertainers" who could act a bit, dance a bit, sing a bit. She thought it'd be interesting to see if "modern" celebrities could do the same thing.


I absolutely loved Lesley and Anton as a pairing and she turned in some surprisingly good routines as well.


I don't think there ever was a follow up to it, I was trying to find something the other day.

Me too. They are still my favourite SCD couple ever. I always thought Lesley was better in ballroom than Natasha, who was quite stiff at times. I also think Lesley is the only partner Anton has had that he's had real genuine chemistry with, not his latter years forced friendliness he displays with his partners.

As for the posters who commented on Paul Killick taking it too seriously- I don't think that was the case at all. Paul was a riot and a rebel. I loved him. What people need to understand about the first series is that nobody took it that seriously, it was a sort of experiment that everyone put their heart and soul into and totally respected the ballroom and latin world, but it was more innocent and therefore a lot more fun. There was one week where everyone broke the rules and put in lifts where there weren't meant to be any, got points knocked off as a result but didn't care.

Bringing back zombie thread as someone mentioned series one today and I do not know how to transfer these links cross threads...thanking katie p for putting them up. Came across them only because I was looking up Jason Wood (RIP, did not know he had died until recently). Assume it was the sudden death syndrome that also took his uncle. Such a shame. The judges look so young and Tess is such a rube in these. Kerplunsky/Sparkles did well to say she had been forced by beeb to take part.

Thanks Katie.

Natasha's necklace didn't last long!

Juts watched the first one (Natasha) - brilliant!

Her discomfort level is epic

I had forgotten (mercifully) how much it was 'The Bruce Forsyth Show with added dancing'

We had our first 'ThisGurl' from Brendan in the very first episode!