WoooHooo! Great news

This is just beautiful and so poignant, BB, and gave me shivery goosebumps and ocular leakage.

I can imagine J doing something very similar in - say - a dream sequence added to Big. I think it would be wonderful and move people and of course show off more of what J can do.

Good morning. all.

I was just thinking,( dangerous I know) with the way Strictly seems to be going at the moment, what changes ,improvements, if any, would people make to put to put it.back on track.

Lucky you!

Just total fairness and consistency with the "judges" (and a new panel) plus one new capable host who does the scoring part too with no need for the upstairs bit.

Fantastic news!
I didn't know you were both going as well.
There will be quite a crowd of us now!

I think what Strictly sorely lacks is a compere who's clearly in charge of proceedings, and can keep the show flowing, whatever crops up. Someone with the clout to bring the fudges into line when they start to get silly, and capable of delivering unscripted and funny asides off-the-cuff, instead of the increasingly unfunny and clumsy efforts of Tess and Claudia. I think they reached their Nadir last year with the marbles and the chocolate-smeared face. Both before J&A's dances, no surprises there.

I'd be looking for a cross between Anton and Rob Brydon - dance knowledge, panel-controlling clout and very funny off the cuff. If they could get someone with those qualities, it could transform the mood of the show and bring it back to the family entertainment it's supposed to be.

When she wasn't trying so hard to be funny, I did warm to Claudia last year because she was clearly concerned for Jay and absolutely delighted when he won. But I think she'd be better on ITT, with Zoe doing the scoring bit.

Now that Len's off to pick up his pension it would be a perfect time to make changes, and if there has to be continuity on the panel I would keep Darcey and Bruno, because Darcey generally tries to be constructive and Bruno has the courage of his convictions.
Borewood's panto persona is well past it's sell-by date and I doubt his departure would cause many tears. I wish they could persuade someone like Matthew Bourne to join the panel, with ideally, Aliona, who'd make a great judge I'm sure. Bit of a pipe dream, but you never know....

I am now going to seriously start throwing my toys out of the pram, 'cos I wanna go too. It would be lovely to meet up with you both again, as well as the others.

I know exactly where you're coming from with your "I had convinced myself until then that it was impossible". I'd felt the same about Plymouth (and Edinburgh) but then thought 'no, I can do it' (even though my knees are still recovering from the walk back to the Antoinette. )

But what a super Christmas pressie. You've got a lovely hubby.

Well Nelliek it's thanks to you that I am going to Dublin! I thought it was impossible and then suddenly thought-why not , it's worth asking my OH if I can go; the worst he could say was no! Even so-I kept chickening out of asking 😂 However Friday night a perfect opportunity to pose the question...My OH asked if it was ok for him to go on his own to Grenada for a friends wedding blessing and reception....So I said of course and took the plunge and asked if it was ok for me to go to Dublin!! 😂
I was still amazed he said yes though! I haven't flown anywhere on my own so was fairly convinced he would say no!
Once he said yes I went into planning mode -while he was booking trip to Grenada! Then I felt really guilty as I knew my partner in crime Ahouch would love to come as well! I am so glad you are coming Ahouch-it is going to be great fun!!
Wish you could come too Nelliek would be great to see you again! Will be lovely to see you again Jayfan!

Naaaa. People aren't particularly protective over Jay's rumba. It was a good rumba, but not a historic one. It's the jive that's iconic and was Jay's lasting contribution to the show.

I don't think Danny will get 4 x 10s this week. They're still going to be holding him back. Or perhaps they will if Ore's ballroom this week isn't as good. He still had problems with his ballroom hold last time we saw him, but Jo is an extremely good ballroom teacher so may have been able to iron out a lot of issues.

I think Aliona was triggered by 3 things - Len's "move over J", Kev's tweet and explanation being taken up by the RT, and finding out that the Jive was blocked in the States (probably also in combination with long-held bitterness over Len saying Kellie should win last year). She lost her temper. One should never tweet in that state, as what comes out is almost never thought out properly and can easily go over the top.

*sigh* any responses to defend Aliona - or even explain the context - merely cause the thread to be bumped and it then gets extended because others then want to reply. It's the nature of these things. So while I want to put the above paragraph on the citrus thread, I am determined not to! In fact, why am I even reading it? Stay off the main Forum, TT!!!

Great news ahouch, very exciting - do report back!

Have a great time all of you going to see Big. I am looking forward to your reports and waiting for end of March (if I remember well) to have it in London.

Yes - 'just be a kid again' - it would be perfect, wouldn't it?

Here's the link again in case anybody missed it


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjonL9tZqic

Really hope it comes to West End - travelling elsewhere to see it really isn't on the cards. )

ETA: I wonder what J's hair looks like now???

Morning, everyone! (09am here)

Woke up to more feisty Aliona tweets according to the "What you've missed" section on twitter. I'm actually loving it Also, I still don't know why would the show invite someone to talk about your sister... I mean, what were you supposed to do? Throw her under the bus?

Last year was the first time I ever watched Strictly, but it was pretty obvious that it was all about the Cliftons. I'm glad the show didn't cheat on the public vote, though.

Anyway, we all know who the deserving winner was, so that's all that matters

Also, congrats to everyone who's going to see Jay on BIG! I'm so jealous (in a good way) and so so so happy for you all! Have a great time and please get a Jay hug for me

So exciting!
Come on Nelliek and any one else from this thread - lurker or contributor- join us in Dublin!

I think kmelly might be coming to Dublin too? Never quite sure if I have understood Twitter correctly.

TT- don't go there!
I slightly disagree with you as I grew to love to rumba through the SCD tour. I was almost too nervous to enjoy it during the show. If Danny gets 4x10s, then so be it as long as no-one feels the urge to use the opportunity to have a dig at Jay or Aliona

I have not found a picture of Jay's newly shorn hair, but the young lady who sat next to him the restaurant (who is from Brazil I think) but didn't want to bother him (Katy Perry) has tweeted a lovely clip of her trying to teach him to say something in a foreign language when she met him before.
Very nice if you can find it.

I remember that video!! The Wanted went to Brasil before coming to Peru. They had a lot of interaction with the fans there. Loads of lovely clips <3 There's one of Jay kissing fans, too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lE84V0IjdE

Yes BB agree with both you and Korky, it rearly wouldn't take much, just the right people .and possibly tweak the format just a bit. They have the perfect opportunity next year, to change the panel, and make those tweaks. Shan't hold my breath though.

I'm not sure if the scripted jokes (e.g. marbles) are Claudia's idea. She works much better off the cuff. They just appear to want to have some Tess and Claudia 'together' moments.

Tess needs to shut up before the judges' comments - the things she says are in the nature of judging herself and it's not appropriate.

Craig's panto act is fine so long as he keeps it from being personal.

Matthew Bourne would never have the time - especially round Christmas he tends to be putting on his own production.

We need a ballroom expert as the 4th judge. I know - Jo Clifton!!

Some of the posts on that cancer of a thread is really driving me up the wall.. apparently Aliona is not a nice person as if they freaking know her personally. She is genuine I'm sure a lot of you guys have met her how was she did she seem like a nasty piece of work. I really am trying so hard not to post on that thread it seems like these people are calling her nasty when they are doing something far far more worse. Calling a person nasty without knowing them personally. Aliona has spent time with people on strictly therefore she has every bloody right to say what she thinks since she interacted with them. It's funny how she got along with the old cast/pros of strictly I remember the time she first started she was and is still loved I've seen YT videos of her and the old strictly family where everyone just got along now I always get the inpression that you need to fit a certain mould in order to be a part of something. Aliona's too good of a person to try to be something she isn't. My minds exploding by the 'bulls bollo*ks' that's being written on that thread 😂😂😂😂

Stay away!!!

deleted - changed mind

You could take the pragmatic view and ignore them.

It's only human to want to defend someone you admire, but so much more effective to ignore the jibes completely. The kind of people who post like this are only seeking attention, and if they don't get it they'll give up.

TT - Matthew Bourne adores strictly, he may well quite like the idea of judging for a season or two.

I think Jo Clifton would make a very good judge - her dance critiques on ITT last year were interesting and informative. I didn't mention her because of the conflict of interest, I doubt if even TPTB would stoop to that.

Tess is hopeless, in my view, she just doesn't have what it takes. Yes, Claudia is good off-the-cuff, but those little skits are just cringeworthy, and she'd be better suited to something like ITT where she'd have a pretty free hand.

Borewood, well, that's a matter of taste. He hasn't got any.

Ditto!

Although it's getting quite hard not to respond to posts which call support of J "blind fanaticism".


Not worth it really, and at least the endless polls seem to have disappeared for now.

I know not everyone will ever share the same views I have on Aliona but come on theres being critical then there's being borderline spiteful.. it's always the same old posters really why don't they go watch their favourites on YouTube and leave the woman alone.