We can't do anything, Drizzle. They'll keep the format while the ratings are so high. And would you sell your soul for money?...

Have finally caught up with reading the thread, so thanks for all of the photos and links.

Great that Big continues to get such a brilliant response, but it's not a surprise really. It's one of the few things I'd bother to see more than once, given the opportunity.

Have also watched the Strictly exit show for Len, and was pleased to see J given a decent amount of airtime. He spoke so well.

It would have been a travesty, too, if Jay and Aliona hadn't been included in that "Len's top 8" performances piece. Although including it for the music was a bit off - how about the dancing?

No,I wouldn't but so admire people like Mel and Sue, who didn't go for the dough.

Topping up his pension. Not a nice man in my view, he totally destroyed any respect I may ever have had for him last year. Once Brucie left, there was no-one to deflate his over-sized ego, or those of Borewood and Darcey. Bruno at least had the courage of his convictions with Jay. The rest were, and are, a waste of space.

It's been such a full-on time for Jay, juggling KD with rehearsals and performances of BIG, and with so much and so many depending on him, but he's more than risen to the challenge and continues to deliver the goods in sparkling style, if audience reaction is anything to go by. Very well done that man!

Lovely article, thank you CatO, and a pleasure to see what a happy company it is.

OT but if anyone missed Ethel & Ernest on TV tonight it was beautiful, and so touchingly evocative of its time. Very well worth watching indeed.

Didn't mention the Oompa dance in Len's list in my post as I didn't like it much - not enough waltz for me and too much 'show'
(but I like Kevin).

Yup, definitely agree, all J and A's dances were special - was hooked from the first Waltz
Thought it was good though that Aliona was mentioned twice

Yup, Whiffle's post - beautiful photo


Ah, thank you - that's a lovely article - and he's complimentary about Jay, Diana and the rest of the cast


So glad Big is going so strongly

Agree, J came across so well on the Strictly exit show - good publicity too for millions of viewers for both Jay and Big

Agree - including Jay's Jive for the 'music' in Len's list was a bit off - especially when his dancing was brilliant

Should think many people think J and A's Jive has the edge over Jill's jive - I definitely do! (and I've seen every Strictly from the beginning).

Would have loved it if Len had included J and A's Tango or Rumba - as they're dances he particularly seemed to like.
(I love the last Paso best, but as said before, don't think Len would include it )

ETA Get the impression J looks on the ups and downs of Strictly as 'just showbusiness' - and it did bring him to the notice of Big's producers
(think on Biggin's Buggy?)


Yup


Agree - OH and I loved that.


ETA Oh StrictlyRed, poor Debbie Reynolds - so terrible to lose her daughter

(OT again)

Dear God, yet more sadness.

Breaking news is that Carrie Fisher's mum Debbie Reynolds has been rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected stroke.

Hi all, bit of a lurker to the ATs, was actually a Helen fan until she got voted out then ended up sending most votes Georgia's way in the final but I come in peace.

Just on my way home from Big in Dublin, and have to say Jay was fantastic in it and it was a fantastic show all round, although the dance numbers didn't exhaust me as much as the ones in Mary Poppins last year.

But glad to see he's doing well. It was also an unexpected bonus to only end up 18 rows from the stage after initially having upper circle tickets way up in the rafters!

Thanks for dropping by with your lovely appraisal, Jeffiner! Thrilled to hear your words and so pleased you enjoyed Big so much.

With admirers.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C0zJAk8XgAAyS8X.jpg

Thank you too Jeffiner


Happy photo Korky


Just watching the highlights of Sport Relief 2016 on BBC1

J and A briefly noticed at the start of their 'run' - just after the ant
Then a brief clip from their interview - of all the 'famous' runners interviewed only J and A, plus Danny Dyer, were featured in this highlights programme.


Nice to have a bit of time to post, but off to bed now.

Night night

Thank you for dropping in to say how much you enjoyed BIG, and from such good seats! My brother was a huge Helen fan too, but it was Jay all the way for me.

Thank you so much Jeffiner for taking the trouble to post and let us know what you thought about Big. Very much appreciated.

Jay has tweeted about Carrie Fisher.

What a year - reminds me of Noel Coward saying he'd got to the age when he was grateful if his friends lasted through lunch....

Anyway to brighter things. I wonder how Aliona's getting on - she's gone very quiet on twitter and it would be lovely to hear how she is. I expect she's really missing dancing - probably the first time in twenty five odd years that she hasn't been preparing for or performing something or other dance-related.

I do hope she and Jay manage to get together on the dance floor at some time in the future - I can't see her wanting to stay out of what's been her life for so long, and that she loves so much. If a TV company can make programmes featuring ageing bores like Len Goodman, I'm sure someone can come up with an idea featuring this fabulous partnership in an interesting dance-related programme! As I've said so often before, I'd love to see them in Argentina, looking into the AT in depth - it's something that clearly fascinates Jay and I'm sure they could come up with something sensational. Or maybe the ballet schools in Cuba that were featured briefly in Carlos Acosta's recent programme. Dance can be TV gold in the right hands.

Watching one of those TV programmes the other night about people splashing oceans of cash at Christmas, I thought of Aliona as it featured a concierge company similar to the one her OH has been promoting - it may even be the same one, but it's not a job for the faint hearted from what I could see, the temptation to wring some of those people's necks must be very hard to resist!

Para by para...

Julian Barnes says that he and his numerous friends have a metaphorical bet on who of them will depart next! I've just listened to a R4 programme which confirmed that statistically far more well-known people have died this year than ever before. So sad about Debbie Reynolds now and virtual proof, I think, that stress is physically bad for us.

Yes, Aliona hasn't tweeted or promoted anything for almost a fortnight. Maybe she's in the throes of moving.

I like to believe that A and Jay will dance together again. Kristina had her baby in June and has been dancing a lot again - most recently with Glen/Glib. ( ) If the desire is there...

I read Carlos' autobiography which was fascinating (and which was serialised on R4) and he's another determined personality. I do agree that while J and A are telly gold they could present a dance-related programme together and be taught authentically and then do demonstrations.

VIn is welcome to his cutthroat commercial world...

Lastly, a cheering photo of Jay with an admirer yesterday.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C01_nAbWEAAst5-.jpg

Isih - I should like to apply for the Jayjob of Scarf De-bobbler or De-piller please.

I am amused by the name Graham Norton used for him when he joined as a new pro last year - Glob!

To whom it may concern:

My name is Jay and your ear I'll bend
How dare you nobble my new best friend?
It may be grubby and a bit pill-flecked
But I'm quite at home in something checked
And when I'm trapped in a fan-filled huddle
It's very nice for a warming cuddle!
So there really isn't the slightest need
For a new appointment to be decreed....

Jay seems to have a selection of different hats - gifts from fans perhaps?

ETA -Nice verse BB . Over to you Korky?

When my youngest son was a toddler he had a security blanket that was carted around everywhere with him. The only way it could ever be washed was to prise it from him when he was asleep put it on a fast wash and tumble dry it before he woke up.

Now I'm not suggesting that Jay's Big scarf is a security blanket but the same technique may have to be used to keep it clean. Just prise it away gently from around his neck when he is asleep Korky and quickly wash and dry it and then wrap it back round, he'll never know

My name is Korks and I am your Dresser
And part of my job is Scarf Assessor.
I notice that yours has many a bobble
And do not wish to cause a squabble
But now that you are a musical star
Your clothes must never be seen below par,
So if you refuse to remove your neckwear
I will find a way all your clothes to ensnare...

So the game's afoot on fooling me?
As a scarf, I'm of one of high degree
No Persil suds shall touch my pilling
Not even if I may seem willing
For an Aquascutum toting guy
I'm specifying - Cleaning, Dry!

This is all very well, but when I have tried this technique with son, nephew, great-niece, great-nephew Jayalike (currently in disgrace for being an awkward little s*d, btw), grand-daughter, grandson (both mine and neighbours) and assorted cats .............

It doesn't smell right!

Then the only viable solution
Is to take it to an institution
Which dry cleans scarves within the hour
And wait for Jay to take a shower
Then scoop it up from off the floor
And race with it out of the door
And beg and plead for service urgent
And specify not a scrap of detergent
As a multitude of germs it must harbour
(And by the way its label says Barbour)
Then dash back with it across the town
Just in time to towel him down

Hmmm... I'll try tonight.

Jaypic ❤
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C026-EiXgAApX3V.jpg

I think that is Katie, a Jay admirer on Twitter from the US.
Lovely to see all his fans supporting him and getting the chance to meet him again or for the first time.