I'm a Helen fan, so I'm biased, but she did say that she isn't used to being herself in front of the cameras, so she was probably very nervous.

1. Peter got saddled with a poor pro dancer.

2. Aliona's new hair makes her look old

3. Love Tristan+Jamelia, Anthony+Oti, Georgia+Giovanni and Kirsty+Brendan

4. Ola was front and centre during the promo sequences...very glad that she's back

5. Even though, i've never heard of most of the celebs this year...they seem like a good cast overall...should be another good series.

Think Ainsley and Natalie could do well - if she gets him to be serious

Love Gleb

Love Anita too - and lucky girl to have a good looker!

Hope DoD goes first - very cringe-worthy before they start the dancing

Sorry Robin Windsor is not there

1. This will be a year where better dancers go out first and the less able but more well known celebs stay in.
2. I hope that they go back to proper training videos, the thought of some of these in 'funny' training films makes me cringe- Daniel I'm looking at you!
3. Hope Ainsley makes it to Halloween week. Just to see what Natalie comes up with.
4. Not convinced that Aliona and Jay are going to be around that long unless he conquers his nerves.
5. They need new blood on the judging panel. The comments are really stale now.

1. Great launch show best for a few years. Really sets up the series nicely.
2. We thought that Anton and Carol was a fait d'accompli, so very pleased to see that he was paired with Katie.
3. I really must be rubbish at picking up body language because I thought that Jamelia and Tristan looked happy to be paired together (am going to watch back to check again!).
4. Brendan's routine with Natalie, Joanne and Kristina was lovely.
5. Agree with others that the camera work for the group dance was rubbish and it was difficult to judge how everyone was doing.

1 Tess & Claudia were fantastic together, Tess has really calmed down and looks less wooden ie enjoying herself. Love it.

2 The whole show felt very positive and everyone enthusiastic. Maybe the not so famous names bring more vibrant personality which I'm all for.

3 There's not a single contestant I dislike after watching the launch; Jamelia I really liked which is surprising.

4 Caroline's returning dance was so disappointing, I felt no energy or excitement apart from the music.

5 I'm so excited for the 25th already!

1. I didn't sense anyone was displeased with who they were partnered with (that's not to say I wasn't!)

2. Natalie had reason to be but seemed happy enough to be paired with Ainsley. Maybe he has some moves she's spotted but I struggle to see him challenging the younger athletes, actors and singers - sadly. So another earlyish exit for Nat.

3. Peter's an even bigger cheeseball than Mark Wright!

4. Iwan, don't be too full of yourself.

5. Yes to the rest. I'm another who took to Oti straight away. Gleb and his 90s hair not doing much for me though.

Originally Posted by Monsieur23:
“1) Anton has never received a score above 7 from any judge for a party Latin dance; that could change week 1 with Katie by the looks of it! ”

I think he got 8s for party latin when he danced with Lesley and Patsy.

I seem to recall that too BruciesChin.

Unless Ultimate Strictly is wrong (and I'm willing to be told it is), neither Lesley nor Patsy received above a 7 for a party Latin - "party Latin" means Cha-Cha-Cha, Salsa, or Samba (the upbeat hip-action ones). He's actually pretty consistent with his Paso Dobles and Charlestons (in a good way) and his Jives (in a... not so good way). Rumba's a bit of a mixed bag, although Katie could turn out a fair one.

It wouldn't surprise me if neither Lesley nor Patsy got 7s because back then the scores were much lower. Scoring in the first 5 series was much stricter than in later series. A 7 was a really good score and not nearly as common in the early stages of the series. Ultimate Strictly is usually pretty accurate.

1. Most of the pairings were pretty good

2. Disappointed that Katie got Anton. I have her as a potential winner. However, the blue rinse brigade might vote for Anton notwithstanding his Latin and maybe he can win and ride off into the sunset and start his second career presenting and appearing on game shows and panel shows.

3. Liking the cast this year

4. Good launch show

5. Some good dancers might be stymied by lack of public support or being perceived to be too much up themselves. e.g. Kellie Bright, Georgia May Foote, Peter Andre, Jamelia.

1 - Ainsley and Natalie look really sweet - either she's a very good actress or they are genuinely getting along - loved the shot when she rested her head on his shoulders.

2 - Old didn't look too happy - but maybe she wasn't expecting to be man-handled so soon!

3 - Brendan looked happier than Kirsty.

4 - Pleased that Carol got Pasha instead of Anton - with Anton she'd have gone the predictable route, but with Pasha at least he may try to teach her properly - but Anton will also have to pull his socks up this year - first time for a while that he hasn't had a duffer and chance to show that he can to Latin if he tries...

5 - Felt sorry for Janette that Peter couldn't seem to match her enthusiasm - I think they will probably be a good pairing (to be honest probably better than if he'd been paired with Ola).

Point 2. Most definitely. She has good facial bone structure, needs a shorter choppy style to show off her features.

1) Strange awkwardness between Helen and Aljaz especially considering that he usually come across as so affable.

2) Loved that they didn't keep it predictable by giving Carol to Anton and, by the same token, was made up to see Pasha get the nearest thing to a duffer for once.

3) Darcy uncharacteristically badly out of time in the judges entrance

4) Brendan getting Kirsty - BORING and PREDICTABLE - should have got Katie and Anton Kirsty

5) Kellie, Peter, Jamelia, Helen and Katie celeb standouts in the group dance.

My thoughts:
1. Helen George really needs to think before she speaks - really happy with her partner as she thought she was getting Anton!
2. Poor Pasha is clearly not going to win for a second year.
3. Stop with the sexist comments about Gleb. You wouldn't get away with talking about Ola like that so why is it acceptable to drool over a man? it's just embarrassing.
4. Really not keen on Iwan - far too cocky.
5. Nice to see Anton get somebody who might get beyond the sympathy vote for a change.

1. In the group dance I think Helen looked like she might be a bit of a dark horse.

2. Was pleased Anton got someone who might be half decent.

3. Peter Andre seemed to get the biggest cheer although personally I think he's a bit of a bell-end.

4. Don't like jamelia, used too but after seeing her on the Bear G show and her moaning whining and bitching it put me right off her. She acts very "entitled".

5. I liked the lady from country file, and Kirsty and Jay seems very sweet.

BIB Would this be the same "poor Pasha" who has reached the final 3 out of 4 years and has never (until now with Carol) had a partner over 34??!

Thanks for the reply. I thought he got 8s off Len and Bruno for the Cha Cha, maybe he got 8s for the jive which I suppose is not a party latin.

1. Tough to call the winner. Lots of people, particularly females, with potential

2. Could be too many good female dancers, there could be some good dancer versus good dancer dance offs, which is always a pity

3. I think a someone coming across as a strong winning personality will win, it as opposed to the best technical dancers

4. Following on from 3 I suspect Helen George will turn out to be a top notch technician that doesn’t have enough of a personality to win

5. Difficult to make really sound judgements from dance off due to camera work and proliferation of dancers on the floor. Didn’t see enough of some celebs, particularly Georgia, Ainsley or Daniel, to tell whether they were good or not

1. Love the Ainsley/Nat pairing
2. Iwan very irritating
3. I think Jeremy Vine could surprise a few with his ballroom
4. Haven't heard of most celebs and even now find it difficult to put a face to names.
5. No obvious joke contestant this year

Anyone think Anthony and Oti for a showmance??

True, and I know it's fair to spread the duffers (sorry Carol) around, but I do really enjoy his choreography, so it's more poor me! She might be somebody who responds well to training so it's a bit unfair of me to write her off straight away.

She has a long time boyfriend.

1. Delighted that Peter got Janette, she made a star out of a mediocre celebrity last year, with Peter great things can happen

2. Amazing launch show, the best in years.

3. I found Iwan over the top and out of control.

4. Peter and Jamelia seem to be the best movers

5. About time Pasha got a dinosaur