Ricky and Ali are leading the bookies odds at the moment thanks to Joe's disappointing dance clearly showing he was overhyped, still anything can happen a long way to go but I expect Chris and Ricky's odds to shorten after tonight but i'm excited to see the other 8 couples already now.

I think Ali looks a bit like Zara Philips. She's a cracking dancer but wouldn't rate her as a beauty....just mentioning it as her looks have been talked about in this thread

Jade has thighs most bloke would kill for

I hope Ali hasn't peaked early too, but well she just seems so nice and so unaware of her talent and elegance, I think Brian can bring out the best in her...


Apart from tonights travesty it looks like it is going to be a good series.

I think she is a classic beauty Fairfax, her features are standoutish

Each to their own I guess. Why the rude smiley. I wasn'tbeing rude Does standoutish equate 'beauty'?

Ziggy  one of my favourites too....can't believe he and Martina went.......Joe should have gone, crap dancer and not remotely entertaining

I think her main attractiveness is her eyes - they are so almond shaped

She won't peak too early, Ali has trained the most so far and has quit the Bill to focus on SCD so she is that serious about the show, she can improve and lots of chemistry there with Brian. You won't be disappointed she was like that in her HO days Cigs.

 isn't rude honey.  

Sorry Fairfax wasn't meant to be rude, was more a we disagree but it doesn't matter type smillie

I don't normally go for slender blondes (ok all those who know me stop laughing)

Buy Ali just has something captivating about her, her eyes, her smile.

 I'm sure. And you never looked below neck level ONCE did you Cigs?

Ricky W and Ali, by tomorrow Ricky Groves and Chris Hollins odds will have gone up.

Jade has pins 

Of course not Cariad

I think Martina was the sexiest female sleb, well apart from the teeth

Still waiting for Lilia am sad there is no Karen

I thought the result of the dance-off was fair.
Rav Wilding made obvious improvement in his second dance - much more emotional involvement for one thing.
Martina Hingis, to me, never looked remotely like a dancer and would have a long way to travel before she becomes one.
It is already interesting, after only two programmes to see improvement in certain individuals.
So far, I think Brian and Ali are rightly placed ahead of the rest. (I would have put them even further ahead.)

OOh yet forgot Laila Rouass she is dead sexy too, love her in primevil

Pins?
Them's not PINS. Them's Size 1 knitting needles at least.

I have seen Phil before, can't remember if it was DOI of what.

I knew who most of the celebs were apart from Jo until it came out about her adulterous husband and Richard Dunwoody.

I bet if they were round my neck I wouldn't be able to get away.

She'll always be Amber Gates in Footballers Wives to me.

Tuffers was in IACGMOOH I think he won it or came second

LOL Darlo, what about the sexy dodgy copper who got off with Ben and his dad in Hollyoaks or was that before your time

Brisket Who do you think looks like a dancer?

Did he leave her for a jockey

Laila did appear in HO as a copper, Dale Jackson I think her name was but then ITV brought her out of her contract for footie wives programme. Lisa Snowdon last year was a hottie she was my fav and improved so much, Rachel Stevens too. Kelly Brook I couldn't stand at all.

Martina Hingis crashes out of Strictly Come Dancing as Jade Johnson sizzles

By CLAIRE BATES
Last updated at 9:39 PM on 19th September 2009

Tennis ace Martina Hingis and partner Matthew Cutler were the first couple to be voted off the Strictly Come Dancing competition tonight.

Martina faced Crimewatch presenter Rav Wilding in the dreaded dance off. Both couples were dancing moody rumbas.

Although judges Craig and Alisha voted to keep Martina on, Bruno voted for Rav and head judge Len, who had the casting vote, agreed.

The former Wimbledon champion was handed a two-year ban from tennis in 2008 after being found guilty of a doping offence. The 27-year-old Swiss star tested positive for cocaine while competing in 2007, which may have swung public support away from her.

Boxer Joe Calzaghe was surprisingly saved by the public despite languishing at the bottom of the leaderboard after two dances that the judges said 'only a mother could love.'

At the start of the show Olympic athlete Jade Johnson and professional Ian Waite, got pulses racing as the first couple out on the dance floor.

Jade sizzled in a skimpy gold sequinned number that barely brushed her thighs. She ended the routine with an impressive splits.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said: 'Those legs could crack walnuts. I'm envious! Nasty and naughty and I loved it.'

The couple were awarded 52 out of 60 for both routines combined, placing them second on the leader board in the first elimination show of the new series.

She was swiftly followed by a sultry Ali Bastion, a former Hollyoaks actress who now stars in The Bill.

She came first last night with a romantic waltz and wowed again this time dancing a rumba.

The actress proved she had great chemistry with American dance partner Brian Fortuna. But Judge Len Goodman criticised the routine and said: 'There was a lot of posing and posturing.'

New judge Alisha Dixon disagreed. She said: 'You looked beautiful and are amazing to watch.'

And picky Judge Craig Revel-Horwood back Alisha. 'You looked gorgeous,' he told Ali and Brian. They achieved an impressive 30, pushing them to the top of the leader board giving them 60 overall.

Lynda Bellingham, 60, followed with her dashing partner Darren Bennett. She was strapped in tight in a juicy red gown, with silver lacing. They performed a timid but precise Cha Cha Cha.

Judge Bruno Tunioli said:'It was like watching 'Carry On Strictly Matron'! But you do have a good time.'

They were awarded 44 points overall for both performances.

Meanwhile Crimewatch presenter Rav Wilding was desperate for a better second dance after he came close to the bottom of the leader board last night.

The ladies favourite came out in a crisp white shirt opened to the waist. 

'Rav!' Judge Bruno exclaimed after their rather posturing routine.

'The image of the smouldering hulk.'

But the other three judges were disappointed with his efforts. They awarded him 21 overall, giving him 41 overall.

Cheeky chappie Chris Ollins followed with a rumba and is fast turning into the dark horse of the competition.

The BBC sports presenter, who did well with a tango last night, was praised by all the judges. Judge Craig said they had a real emotional connection during the dance. The pair were awarded 30 which gave them 56 overall.

Boxer Joe Calzaghe crashed and burned last night with a tango judge Len said 'only a mother could love.' But he hoped to come off the ropes fighting with a spirited Cha cha cha.

Both wore purple satin and certainly looked the part but once again Joe stumbled his way through his routine.

Judge Bruno: 'It was terrible. The footwork was poor and you have no sense of rhythm.'

Judge Craig also came straight to the point. 'I have two words,' he said. 'Rigor mortis.'

Calzaghe scored only 16 points, giving him a combined score of 32 and leaving them languishing at the bottom of the leader board.

Tennis player Martina Hingis followed and was praised for making beautiful shapes but her transitions between the steps were criticised as being flat-footed. However the judges said she had great potential. Her rumba achieved 24 points giving them an overall score of 46.

Rounding off the competition was an entertaining Cha cha cha by EastEnder Ricky Groves and partner Erin Boag. They nearly stole the show with an energetic routine that got the audience cheering along to their cheeky if technically flawed performance.

'Did you have rocket fuel for lunch?' Judge Bruno asked. 

All the judges agreed it left them smiling.

They were given 26, which gave them an overall score of 47.

 

The other eight celebrity couples, including EastEnder Natalie Casside and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood's estranged wife Jo have a far easier start to the competition.

They only need to perform two group dances this time around and won't be judged until next week.

Strictly Championship winners from 2008 actor Tom Chambers and partner Camilla Dallerup returned for a reprisal of one of their most popular dances as the public voted for the first time this series.

Strictly goes head to head with The X Factor for more than an hour this evening.

The two shows have occasionally overlapped by up to half an hour, although during the last series Strictly usually finished before its ITV1 rival began.

But the BBC has abandoned Strictly's traditional Sunday night results show in favour of an extended Saturday edition, which is part of the reason for the clash.

Earlier this week Strictly waltzed into the record books as the most successful reality TV format of all time.

Of the ones we have seen competing I think Ali definitely, and to a lesser extent Jade.
In the group dance Ricky Whittle looked good.
But one of the pleasures of SCD is watching people improve and become better dancers.
I look forward to watching some of them look more and more like dancers each week.
I didn`t think Martina held herself like a dancer; the poise seemed lacking.
I am not saying Martina Hingis would not have become a good dancer eventually, but with an elimination in week 1, time was against her.

Thanks Hicky

I think I agree at this stage  with one comment - Chris could now be the dark horse of the competition but we still have the other 8 couples to go yet

with the lovely matt out of the competition it should give him more pro spots with Aliona  this looks a good partnership

Hi everyone  Chris Hollins is the big surprise I think he is really good but it is really too early to say who the winner might be.Bruno is a scream he is so OTT.

Looks like the papers have joined this backlash against Alesha Dixon, they do love to twist things though.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs...xon-115875-21686199/

I don't really think it's fair having to learn 2 dances for the first week.
I also don't think that anyone should go in the first week, they don't stand a chance, they must be so nervous and to be dancing live for the first week, and having to listen to judges remarks as if they are profeshional dances when they aren't even dances, and won't be for a long time.
I just think it's unfair.

I think it's fair because it's gave them time to get used to doing 2 dances already rather than waiting late into the series, this mixed groups was a good idea better than having guys one week dancing then the girls the week after. At least all the couples got a chance to do a Latin and Ballroom dance before one had to go which is a benefit.

Boooooo, don't want Lillia to go early, she's my favourite

What's that then Darlo?

For me the worst dancer on the two nights didn't go - Joe, he was flat footed and wooden, but may improve I suppose.

None of them really grabbed me tonight, hoping that next week will be better, think it will be as I cannot wait to see Phil Tuffnell on a dance floor and also Anton will be dancing, my favourite professional, reallyhope he does well this year.

Rav I was not keen on, the best for me tonight was Chris, thought he was really good, but will wait and see the others next week and then decide who my favourite is going to be.

Aleisha was fine, nervous I thought but she has an insight into how the celebrity dancers are feeling and the other three judges are the professional dancers so they provide the professional assessment, anyway for the last couple of series' Arlene had been really getting on my nerves, she was downright biachy at times IMO, and she definitely had hr favourites, hope for a bit more impartiality from the judges this year. 

Please please BBC get rid of Brucie after the end of this run, his jokes are no longer funny and he is starting to be embarrassing, tonight he was making my toes curl!!

My niece has decided that guy from Hollyoaks is "Well fit" and will win!!!

Lovely to have some glitter and sparkle back on a Saturday night now the nights are drawing in!!

Good girl, I am also hoping my fav Ricky Whittle wins this series not because of those reasons though.

loving rav..for obvious reasons but in all seriousness i think he pulled it out the bag on the dance off.  I think the girl from the bill is very good, I think ricky whittle will be good. Hope Joe goes soon though, im amazed he got through.