The fact that we had just one male celebrity in the Christmas Special speaks volumes about who they did and didn't think would make the final.

Jill was an easy choice as Darren went out very early in the competition and I reckon the producers knew Christine would not make the final (despite the fact that she did a fabulous job) freeing up Matthew.

I also reckon they expected another male - Austin - would be in the final (didn't most of us?) ruling out Colin Jackson dancing with Erin. And they probably ruled out Gethin because Tom had such a strong chance of being in the final with Camilla.

But the most telling choice was Kelly. I think the producers did not expect Brendan and Lisa to make the final, hence Brian standing in as a last minute replacement.

It was a real shame because I would have loved to have seen more male celebrities take part.

Well, I'd say the thing with Kelly was, given the sad events of last year, they obviously deceided to have her back for the Xmas special and for example if Brendan went out early this year they would have been dancing together, however as he made the final with Lisa, the only other option was to have another pro dance with her & I guess due to the fact that it would seem Brian is now the new "Blue Eyed Boy" on SCD - the chose him !!!!
They did well too!! AND it was great to see Brendan in the Xmas special once again too!! Happy Days all round!!

I think they picked Jill because she's Saint Jill and can do no wrong, Alesha because she's the last winner, and Kelly as a kind of pay back for her having to quit under such tragic circumstances.

Inviting Kelly back was both smart, in that she's one of the Strictly's most magnetic personalities, and fitting given the circumstances of her withdrawal. They knew she would deliver even if she had to switch to a brand new partner. A popular move judging by the audience response.

Unfortunately it was Austin who effectively made way for her...but I suspect we'll see him on a future Special as he too is one of the most prominent characters across all the series.

I disagree, actually. I think what was telling was Kelly going on Jonathan Ross early on in the series and saying that if Brendan went far in the competition, she'd dance with another pro. Around the same time Alesha said that she was doing the xmas special with Matthew regardless of how far he went with Christine. I think the producers had hoped Brendan would go far with Lisa and Brian had been earmarked for Kelly right from the start - they knew he wasn't going to go far with Heather.

Jill's return (dancing on the second show, signing up for the tour etc) means they must have signed her up for the xmas special pretty early on - they must have known Darren was going nowhere with Jill.

I think they had Camilla, Erin, Brendan, Vincent and James + their partners as contenders for the top 3 places - just as most of us did - and they weren't wrong. To accomodate all of the 5 aforementioned pros as strong possibilities for the xmas special with their celebs, Colin (who said he'd been asked to do it) wouldn't have been able to dance with Erin, so this may explain his invitation being revoked (if that was what happened) as unlike Kelly, they could easily have him on next year.

I dont think it was ever intended to only have one male celeb in the xmas special I am sure that Austin was meant to be there.

I agree, but why is she Saint Jill? She's not the best dancer, just the best dancer from Eastenders. The reason is, she's already in the pay of the BBC and so they keep wheeling her out, she probably doesn't cost as much as the others.

Same applies to Tom Chambers, they'll keep wheeling him out year after year. It's boring and until they stop inviting BBC soap stars into the SCD competition and then having the judges favouring them over all others, knowing that the easily led viewing public will vote for them too, I for one won't be watching SCD again.

Thank goodness for Dancing on Ice, where the best ice dancers win on merit.

But they HAVEN'T kept wheeling her out. They've tried, but she a) asked too much, then b) was working then, c) had a baby. They've had to rely on showing the jive ad infinitum to keep her memory alive.

Perhaps that's why I got the impression she's always on TV. It's not as if it's even a good jive, it has been hyped up out of all proportion, mainly because the other contestants haven't been able to jive.

You only need to watch old black and white news footage to see that most of the general public could jive better than Jill in the 1940s/50s without having the benefit of intensive training with a dance professional.

It is all a matter of opinion - we're not experts - in my view she did a fantastic jive - one I will always remember - can't say I've noticed much old black & white footage of the public jiving & what I have seen I've quickly forgotten..
Jill is a great all round dancer!

Glad Jill won, she looked slightly plumper, than usual, but now, realise, from other posts, she's just had a baby, congratulations, and well done on winning, because I cannot imagine she's been able to practise much, with being pregnant, and having a baby...

I didn't warm to Kelly Bore, sorry Brook, this time or last time, she just, bores me... it was lovely to see all the other dancers back on the floor.....
but Tom I feel just performed the same old tripe.. leaping around, too the most rediculous choice of song...

but Tom I feel just performed the same old tripe.. leaping around, too the most rediculous choice of song...[/quote]


this made me laugh out loud, Rachel and vincent also brought out the old tripe in the Rhumba, same old same old, at least with Tom and Camilla's routine it caputured the essence of christmas entertainment, and looked nothing like tripe,
Rachels was so predictable, and so safe and boring yet again.

Is this the first time you are watching Christmas Special?

Since series 4, the current contestants often reharshed their routines they have done in the show because they simply have no time to train. Mark Ramp's Christmas Salsa was essentially the same as his actual Salsa, Emma's Christmas Samba was essentially her tittarubba Samba in the main show, Matt's Waltz essentially the same as well.

Then in series 5, Alesha did the same cha-cha (changes to the end bit), Letitia did essentially the same foxtrot, Matt did essentially the same rhumba style (except the beginning it's different and there were lifts in it), and Gethin's Christmas Waltz was essentially the same (except the beginning).

So, what IS your point about Rachel and Tom? In fact Lisa did essentially the same QS she did in her semi-finals too...

As Jill has just had a baby why is she classed as 'already in the pay of the BBC?' Also she hasn't been on TV for ages for the same reason.

I for one enjoyed her dance with Darren as she chose to do something different unlike the other celebs.

Kelly said months ago that she was doing the xmas special and that if Brendan was still in she would just dance with someone else.

I thought Kelly and Brian were a great partnership.Not saying she and Bendan weren;t - just that Brian and her seem to hit it off really well given such a short time. I think he and Kristinaare brilliant new additions.

Last time I saw her on TV it was channel 4 (Shameless).

I wonder about the wisdom of having this year's contestants in the Crimbo specials at all since they tend not to have the time to do anything new for them and end up with slight variations on this year's routines - if they can get more previous year's contestants to do new stuff then that I think would work better - it was nice to see Jill do a dance she's hasn't had a crack at before.

It was more likely that Jill was there because she is in the tour. Her, Rachel and Tom.

Just showed for me how much the rumba costumes Rachel chose actually hid. The Xmas special Rumba seemed to lack the leg flexed hip sway and just looked like a stiff legged hip sway. But it may just have been the camera angel.

Thought Kelly was great & it just shows that if things had been different how far she might have gone (either that or Brian brought out the best in her).

She was indeed, but, as I have said elsewhere since last year's programme, she has hosted Dirty Dancing - The Time of Your Life and been a judge on the programme.

She introduced one of the celebrity choreographers as her salsa teacher, so she has obviously had loads of practice and tuition in those twelve months.

I am not saying this to detract from her performance - I thought she should probably have won - but just to put things in perspective.

Originally Posted by Bonny1
but Tom I feel just performed the same old tripe.. leaping around, too the most rediculous choice of song...

Quote:
Originally Posted by kitana
this made me laugh out loud, Rachel and vincent also brought out the old tripe in the Rhumba, same old same old, at least with Tom and Camilla's routine it caputured the essence of christmas entertainment, and looked nothing like tripe, Rachels was so predictable, and so safe and boring yet again.

Is this the first time you are watching Christmas Special?

Since series 4, the current contestants often reharshed their routines they have done in the show because they simply have no time to train. Mark Ramp's Christmas Salsa was essentially the same as his actual Salsa, Emma's Christmas Samba was essentially her tittarubba Samba in the main show, Matt's Waltz essentially the same as well.

Then in series 5, Alesha did the same cha-cha (changes to the end bit), Letitia did essentially the same foxtrot, Matt did essentially the same rhumba style (except the beginning it's different and there were lifts in it), and Gethin's Christmas Waltz was essentially the same (except the beginning).

So, what IS your point about Rachel and Tom? In fact Lisa did essentially the same QS she did in her semi-finals too...


Yes i have watched the christmas specials before, thankyou.
I was merely pointing out that the poster i quoted above who said Tom produced the same old tripe, and in my hap hazard way was trying to say the same as you they all do the dance they did in the series, maybe with little bit adding.

My hubby and I commented on the same thing in the final. She didn't seem so comfortable with it. The first time she did it, it was amazing. I didn't like her that much through the series but loved the rumba the first time.

another mess up by the judges votings i always thaught the xmas specials was the top 3 couples against previouse years champions and maybe occasionally a taken amarican couple even though for me kelly was the best dancer what was she doing there in the xmas special she didnt make the finale she didnt even finish the competition yes i knew she quit for personal reasons her fathers death but maybe gethen or matt should have been there instead what next . next years xmas special will involve seargent

Kelly was there BECAUSE she had pulled out. It was the BBC giving her a chance to dance again, as they could not put her back in the main show