Is anyone going tonight

Do the judges score them and do they have a winner on each night?

Natalie isn't dancing! Karen is dancing with Ainsley and Joanne is making up the numbers in the group routines.

I assume it's due to injury (someone mentioned Gleb droppping Natalie in rehersal?) but it seems very strange that Natalie hasn't mentioned at all on social media, just tweeting that's she's excited for the tour to start

But there is a reason Natalie isn't dancing so Karen could fill in with Ainsley but they still needed another pro to fill her place in the group dances. Oti is doing the German version of Strictly again which starts during the tour, Kristina is pregnant and let's face it, they weren't going to wan to invite Ola back, so Joanne is the only remaining option!

That's pretty poor form of Nat IMO... she has been tweeting only today about how excited she is about the tour and showing pictures of her and Ainsley together. Obviously its not her fault if she's unable to dance but surely it would be better of her to tell people what is going on rather than let her fans be disapointed on the night when they realise she isn't dancing?

I agree!
I am Surprised it's Karen that is dancing with Aisnley as I would have thought Joanne would a better fit.

You could see on the press shots that Natalie had her ankle taped (like a bandage but very discreet).

That was pretty much my thought, she should have at least said something to let fans know.

Perhaps they were waiting until the last minute to see if she could dance or not so she was told not to say anything.


Jay got 3 X 10 for his jive and won the audience vote.

Possibly but the fact she was shoved at the back in a different dress for all the press shoots yesterday makes me think they were pretty sure she wouldn't be doing it (I may be mistaken though!). Honestly it wouldn't shock me if she'd been told not to say anything though. I wish her a speedy recovery!

Jay McGuiness gave Helen George black eye during Strictly tour rehearsals http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-...our-rehearsals

What is the point??

This is just another example of backstage injuries. It can happen to anyone.

No that's wrong because there's pictures of Ainsley and Natalie together on Getty images. How do you know? I think she will be dancing with him because they wouldn't draft Karen in right at the last minute. She would have to learn two new routines that she didn't even chereograph

Yes, there are pictures of Ainsley and Natalie together in the press shoot but that does not mean Natalie is dancing with him at the minute. And we know because Karen has tweeted she's dancing with Ainsley until Natalie recovers.

Anyway, they didn't draft Karen in at the last minute, she's always being doing the tour as the spare female pro to even up the numbers in the group routines.

And it wouldn't take long for her to learn the routines. She may well have had to learn all the female pros' routines anyway in case someone gets injured/ill and she has to step in at the last minute. They might have one of the male backing dancers similarly covering for all the male pros.

Clearly Natalie is currently not fit to dance but is expected to recover before the tour ends. They needed another female pro for the group numbers, so Karen dances her own part in the group routines and Jo fills Natalie's part. If/when Natalie's sufficiently recovered, Jo will leave the tour and Karen will drop to her original role of only doing the pro numbers.

Maybe they're not saying anything because they only expect Natalie to be out for a few days? Though I guess she has to be cautious as she won't want to jeopardise her own tour with Ian later in the year. Still poor form though not to even announce it - it's as much unfair on Jo not getting any official recognition of being part of the tour as it is on Natalie's fans who are expecting her to be there.

I know because of a number of tweets and pictures from last night confirming it, I wouldn't have posted about it if I wasn't sure, but thanks for accusing me of lying

when I posted that there clearly wasn't a reason - not a known public one anyway!! Natalie and Ainsley were photographed together at the press launch, Jo was in the group photos as was Natalie and Karen but Jo wasn't mentioned in any of the tour line ups

what you have posted ONLY came to light when the show kicked off last night and Karen was dancing with Ainsley

Possibly - but I still think it was very off to post on Twitter yesterday that she was excited about the show that evening when she wasn't performing!

I can't believe the stick JDarcy is getting for posting FACTUAL information as well, this forum is ridiculous sometimes.

Sorry, but that article explicitly states that it was Helen's fault; she tackled him, it went wrong. It's horseplay, Jay did nothing other than exist and have an elbow.

Loving the idea of Helen rugby tackling people though.

I apologise, I only posted that to explain why it was Joanne rather that one of the other pro girls. I understand that when you posted there was no confirmation of why she was on the tour

I believe Helen said it was entirely her own fault as she went to 'rugby tackle' him and clumsily (her words) collided with his elbow

I didn't state smth, but just copied the title of the article.

Dear me, Jay fans are a sensitive bunch arent they? And I speak as someone who supported him throughout the series, I dont think anyone would ever seriously think he'd given Helen a black eye intentionally.

Pics on Twitter from yesterday show Ainsley dancing with Joanne... now this is really getting confusing!!!

Someone on the J & A thread who spoke to Ainsley reported he thinks Natalie could be back by Tuesday.

It's already been discussed above - Ainsley dances with Karen in the solo dances and with Joanne in the group dances - means Karen will still stick to the same part in the group dances when Natalie returns and Jo will leave the tour, much less hassle than Karen having to learn Natalie's part in the group routines and Jo having to learn Karen's.