At first, it all looked a bit messy. Even the pros seemed unsure about some things. Since then, I've rewatched it around 10 times and now it seems a bit better. I think the main problem was just the cameras, which were moving around every two seconds. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP UP WITH THAT?! However, despite finding somegood in the performance, the ending still baffles me. The music stopped and, instead of just posing where they were, everyone ran to the back of the stage and threw there hands in the air!!! Also, the song seemed a bit slow and dull for the group dance.

Ainsley: He seemed very overexcited and was a bit OTT with all the shimmies and hip rotations.

Anita: She seemed okay but got lost in the crowd.

Anthony: Stiff but better than I expected.

Carol: Had to be dragged around the floor. I love her but she has to do more than swing her skirt around.

Daniel: Very stompy and also got lost in the crowd with Anita.

Georgia: Seemed very nervous but was alright. She'll improve as time goes on.

Helen: Reminded me of Ali Bastian and Abbey Clancy. Her legs were a bit too straight at times but she's definitely a front runner.

Iwan: He was like an excited puppy. He jumped around cluelessly yet somehow got through the dance without hitting someone in the face.

Jamelia: Had lots of hip action, which was hindered by her bent legs. However, Pixie was similar to this at the start of last series so she'll be fine. She has lots of potential! I reckon she will deliver an incredible Salsa!

Jay: Slightly stiff, which was caused by his nerves and he also had a few slip ups as well as not using his arms very often. But, anyone resemblede seemed that way when they're next to Peter or Kellie so it's fine. Personally, I think he will improve dramatically with Aliona.

Jeremy: Seems very stiff and unfortunately seems like a joke act, especially with Karen, who will probably try to make him one so that they can last as long as possible.

Katie: Surprisingly, one of the best! Is this finally the year that Anton gets a good partner? She didn't stand out as much as Helen or Jamelia but had a lot less mistakes than they did. She is going to be a dark horse!

Kellie: IMO she was the best one there. She had great lifts, great posture, great legs and great hips. Kevin could finally have a winner!

Kirsty: As I predicted, she was very stiff and resembled Rachel Riley and Victoria Pendleton.

Peter: Finally, a male ringer! Peter had great hip action and, with that and Janette's crowd-pleasing choreography, we could have some amazing Salsas and Charlestons from them!

Kellie, Peter and jamelia

I wish I'd read yours first cos I would have just agreed! Great overview!

I was actually disappointed by Helen and Jay, who weren't bad but not great.
Peter was the best by far, but I did expect hi. To be good.
The rest were as I expected, Anthony slightly better (of which I am pleased). Kellie was the better of the females, though I expect with Kevin we won't see much improvement though some nice dances.

Katie surprised me most in the positive kind of way, while Carol was mostly not very good (not helped by sticking out like a sore thumb in that heavy ballroom dress).

Out of the ringahs, both of the youngsters were kind of disappointing. Perhaps nerves?

For the rest, it was not really surprising. Though Ainsley did seem to do some dad dancing and Anthony was really not as good as the reports had it (the person who posted the spoilers said that he and Jay were the standouts!).

I found it very hard to concentrate on who was dancing well, but Jamelia looked outstanding, and Peter, Helen and Katie looked good too.

This is the vid, by the way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3CEn92Gx-4


Personally, I would rank the women as follows:

1. Jamelia
2. Helen
3. Katie
4. Kellie
5. Georgia
6. Anita
7. Kirsty
8. Carol

(especially Kirsty made some obvious mistakes; she messed up the tilting of her head to one side and she could be seen looking for her mark sometimes).

Peter Andre was excellent but I thought Anita has showed real promise - could be a dark horse in this competition I reckon and I think people are underrating her.

I was a bit disappointed that Kirsty seemed rather stiff as she's gorgeous and seems really nice, so I hope she can catch up a bit. Daniel is going to be awful, isn't he?

Peter and Jamelia were both very polished at this stage. Kellie looked good too. The Clifton hatahs will be furious. But Andre is the one to beat.

I didn't see it and haven't seen scd for a few years, but i thought Vine was the weakest based on other's replies. PS, responses with the confused smilie () are banned.

She's partnered with that arrogant, smug git "from Grimsby" - it's in his contract that he gets partnered with a finalist every year.

Between him and Peter, I don't think I'll bother this year. Two idiots (I'm being kind) potentially in it for the long haul, no thank you very much.

Katie for me.

Peter for me too.

Voting for Kellie IMHO is a wasted vote to be honest really, I prefer to vote more on a competitive level rather than for the entertainment factor. 😀

Bye then 👢

It was hard to tell..the routine was fairly basic and they all seemed to pull it off quite well.

Daniel seemed to have the least camera time, so difficult to judge more than he looked like a rabbit caught in a headlight. Pleased to see Jeremy at least has some rhythm and had a go.

Shame the two (Carole & Jeremy) who actually looked like they would genuinely enjoy the whole SCD experience will be early boots.

I absolutely loved the opening dance & so excited that SCD is back but I couldn't focus on any of them if I'm honest...the camera was all over the shop!

Obviously Peter Andre and Jay (Hair) stood out but as for the rest, I couldn't say.

Where was wee Daniel....I only caught a brief look at him, they stuck him at the back.

p.s. not keen on Olas partner..seems OTT.

How is voting for Kellie a wasted vote if she looked like one of the best? Sorry but as far as wasted votes go Kellie is one of many that doesn't look to be in that category

There were quite a few who all looked good, could be one of the most open years ever. Makes it quite interesting

Best: Peter slightly edging Jamelia with Helen following close behind. It all felt a bit strutting to camera but that's ok for an opening group dance,

Worst: Handful of not quite duffers: Daniel, Jeremy, Carol, Ainsley, Jay, Anthony and Iwan who all looked as though they will have to work hard over the next few weeks to avoid an early doors exit. The edit was so tight that it was hard to judge but this group impressed me least of all. A bit too much Saturday Night Fever finger pointing

Best Female:

Kellie - obvious dance training, but I don't care if she produces good dances, which it looks like she will. Had good hips, good legs, and never seemed lost, which is always a plus. Probably the female front-runner, but apart from Carol no girl seemed bad (and even Carol was only bad in a "Fiona Fullerton" way).

Katie - seems to be defying all predictions and being a Latin girl Apart from some slightly straighter legs in places, I couldn't really criticise her dancing that much. She's a natural performer, and with the right teacher (...um...) could nail most dances.

Jamelia - feisty, going all out with the hips and face; just with bent legs throughout. However, that can easily be corrected in 3 weeks, so still looking good. Expecting knock-out Tango and Paso Doble from her.

Best Male:

Peter - has all other males in his dust at the moment. On time, performing well, but a bit forced in places. If he eases into it he'll be consistently in the top 3rd of the leaderboard I think.

Ainsley - while he's got terrible posture, his footwork is solid, and he never seems nervous. Could produce some nice party Latin, unsure about Ballroom, but I've been surprised before.

Jay - should be on this list, but isn't.

Well, the bookies have her in 6th (out of the females!!) at the moment, so perhaps not.

Think that imho she was outshined by Jamelia, Helen and Katie in the group dance (so, I would put her 4th). She kinda reminds me of Tish Dean (with all the face pulling and the energy levels), just lucky that her 40th won't be during the show

Wee Carol looked dire

I saw Iwan and Kirsty being interviewed somewhere and he said he had ADD. She could hardly get a word in edgeways he was such a motormouth, which really surprised me.

...that'll make training interesting...