Hi just a friend and thank you for the hugs.   

As I have already said Hicky. Iwas just commenting on tonight's show, but as I won;t be watching it again, I won;t be joining in on the discussion threads as I won't be able to if I don;t see it.  But isn't a 'discussion' thread  to discuss the show?  Can't people still join in even if they don't like the show?  Who says only fans can join in?  It says 'discussion thread.'  So I don't understand what the issue is.

Anyway folks.  Night night.  Bedtime for me. 

Grrrrrrrr!   My niece decided she'd join me to watch Strictly and have a Chinese for tea!   I kept wondering what you guys were thinking!    

I've not read the thread yet, but my initial thoughts are

The blonde girl from The Bill is miles better than any of the others at the moment.

I thought Chris was massively overmarked - I didn't think he was that much better than Rav (what a disappointment!)

I like Martina Hingis and was very pleasantly suprised by Ricky Groves who I think was undermarked. 

Finally - first night is WAY too early for a tango anyway!  They usually let them get a bit of experience before they let them on the tango

AND..... I'm really, really, really, really not liking Alesha as a judge.   I mean - badly not liking.   I liked her when she was a dancer, but her comments on this panel are completely pointless, I miss Arlene and I'm actually beginning to feel the same way about her as I do about Ruthie Henshall on Dancing on Ice.  I could well end up not being able to bear her by the end of the series.  Bad move.

Ali Bastian

Ali Bastian has quit the Bill O'Leary to focus on SCD.

After tonights show Joe Calzaghe is not fav with the bookies, they sure am regretting that at the moment lol but it's early days yet still a long way to go and anything can happen, he can improve.

I hope she does well In the training video Kristina was like oh its like dancing with a professional, I was expecting him to be brill haha...Thing I miss about this year ,Karen Hardy  lol

Ali is second fav to win already tonight O'Leary behind Ricky Whittle. Joe did say before SCD that he is useless at dancing but maybe they thought since he is a sportsman he will get it straightaway but I think he will make up for it tomorrow.

Ali Bastian - couldn't remember her name!  She's best tonight.

Another couple of comments.... Kristina has toned down the fake bake and heavy make up and looks loads younger.   I can believe the rumours about her and Joe.    Joe was rubbish.

Also... does anyone think the long jumper woman looks like Javine and when was made up and smiled, Martini Hingis reminded me of Jill Halfpenny.

Right... off to bed  - and I'm out tomorrow night so I won't be able to join you live then either. 

ohh good Yea should be good tomorrow..Its gonna clash with X Factor though

It's simples for me SCD anyday over the X-Factor, ITV replays it on Sunday just after dinnertime or ITV2 in the evening or theres the Net Player, but it's going to be battle of the ratings.


I have high hopes for Ricky and Laila tomorrow, Ali is my third fav and I liked Chris Hollins today.

Yea X Factor is repeated a lot I would use net player but itv/bbc dont let people in Ireland use that service Ali is my fav, think Zoe will be one of my favs as well I think Chris seems annoying, but he is partnered with Ola  So I think il support them

Zoe will be good, I loved her as Tanya Turner in Footballer's Wives. Oh man thats not fair towards you peeps in ROI is it.

Nope c4 used to allow us use 4od..but recently they changed it so we cant anymore..Luckily Shipwrecked is finished so I dont need to use 4od anyways

Have just been put thru what inspired this show so I don't think I will be watching this year until towards the end

Still sucks though, also like they did with the voting on BB, do the shows like X-Factor let people from Ireland vote then?.

Nope..Cant vote in any of them Could couple years ago in X Factor and BB but they just stopped it

, thats a joke isn't it.

Yep..Maybe If I coulda have voted Diana Vickers would made the final of X Factor!

Lol I still am amazed how the hell Eoghan made the final, wanted JLS to win though.

Yea Eoghan  He was so bad..JLS werent my favs at start.but out of F3 I wanted them to win

Teeny boppers, Alexandra's voice sounded like a frog, just another Whitney/Mariah clone but JLS have done great since finishing runners up.

Yea they have Diana is doing well as well..Got a part in West End..and releasing album later this year..Have you heard her track that leaked?

I heard about the West End thing, good luck to her I did like Diana. Nope not heard the track yet.

  this is it..I wasnt sure after first listen..but after few times its real good imo anyway

Didn't watch any of it except the last 10 mins (The Tudors - and Jonathon Rhys Meyers  takes preference) but when I did, I didn't recognise any but three of the dancers who performed last night. Getting near the bottom of the barrel?

I can't take to Alyesha Dixon!!!  I just can't take her seriously!  Who does she think she is, telling others how to perform!!!  Fair enough she won a few years ago, but does that mean they should get Darren Gough next year?

I really enjoyed it last night.....a bit of mindless escapism for me!

Cha Cha Cha or Rumba tonight for them, I can't wait to see them but most excited about Ricky Whittle and Laila Rouass.

Hi Darloboy.
All these dances are pretty difficult for them, and they must be so nervous.
I did think some  judges were a bit hard on them,  they need encouragement to help them get better, if the remarks are too course it puts them on a downer.

I think Alesha will be a good judge, the dancers don't want 4 judges ripping them to bits.
Alesha knows what is needed to win so she is well placed to see how well they are doing or not.
The others will be looking at their feet/hands/steps more but Alesha got to a very high standard so she knows how they should look.

During the group dance did anyone notice Jo Wood? She hadn't a clue, kept looking around her and missing the beat. Hilarious!
No Wonder she was in the papers crying...Brendan must be giving her hell. Looking forward to seeing Anton and Laila , she's just beautiful. Delighted that Anton has a last got a partner he may have a chance with.

Hi Hicky, you're right they need encouragement these people who are complaining about it well you have those who love to moan, theres always been drama every series off the dancefloor as a distraction. Some people take it very seriously like a professional dance competition  instead of remembering it's entertainment and fun, must be so hard for the celebs to remember it all and tiring at times so positive comments from somewhere must be nice to hear.

 

Bellingham 'the new John Sergeant' as 'Strictly' dancers face vote

Saturday, September 19, 2009 - 09:37 AM

The celebrities on 'Strictly Come Dancing' face their first public vote tonight, with actress Lynda Bellingham the most likely to be this year's John Sergeant.

Eight of the 16 couples performed their first dances last night and the audience reserved the biggest cheer for the 60-year-old.

She told dance partner Darren Bennett she would bring some "comedy" to the series.

Head judge Len Goodman declared: "Both legs were down one hole of your knickers," while the acerbic Craig Revel Horwood said: "It was boring. It was full of vacuous looks."

But Bellingham scored a respectable 21 and went down well with the crowd.

Her popularity mirrors that of Sergeant in the last series, who was disastrous at dancing but loved by viewers.

Bookies' favourite, boxer Joe Calzaghe, was left trailing at the bottom in last night's show with a score of 16 for his tango.

There was speculation of romance with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff but earlier the Welshman insisted it is strictly friendship.

"We spend a lot of time together and we get on as well, so that's really good, and we really enjoy the training, and that's about it really. That's it," he said.

Former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian, now Pc Sally Armstrong in the Bill, scored the highest in last night's show with 30 out of a possible 40.

Presenter Rav Wilding, 'EastEnders' actor Ricky Groves, BBC sports reporter Chris Hollins, athlete Jade Johnson and former world tennis number one Martina Hingis also performed either a waltz or a tango.

Tonight the same couples will show off their latin moves, performing either a cha-cha or a rumba.

The remaining eight couples compete for the first time next week, although they took to the floor in a group mambo last night.

They are former 'EastEnders' actress Natalie Cassidy, 'Footballers' Wives' stars Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass, Jo Wood, the estranged wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, former jockey Richard Dunwoody, 'Coronation Street' actor Craig Kelly, former cricketer Phil Tufnell and 'Hollyoaks' star Ricky Whittle.

The BBC has abandoned the Sunday night results show in favour of an extended Saturday edition of the programme which earlier this week waltzed into the record books as the most successful reality TV format of all time.

This series sees former winner Alesha Dixon joining the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips.

Dixon said she was surprised to be asked to take over from the choreographer and controversy which claimed that the decision was ageist had made her think twice.

"I was surprised that I was replacing Arlene, along with everybody else.

"But I understand the industry. Change is important and my feeling is that even if I had said no to the job, a change would have happened," she told the Sun newspaper.

Dixon said she had not spoken to Phillips but wished her the best of luck for the future.

She said the controversy had made her nervous about the reaction of Phillips' friends on the judging panel - Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Revel Horwood - but added that she had been given a warm welcome.

Arlene Phillips accepts offer to write for the Sun to comment about SCD, no mincing words from her.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/st...s-joins-the-sun.html

I have to admit I did laugh at Lynda's facial expressions but fair play to the woman for getting out there and giving it her all. I know I certainly couldn't do it.
Alesha seems to be getting a roasting on other forums. The general opinion is that she isn't up to the job. Feel sorry for her because I think the BBC's decision to fire Arlene and replace her with Alesha could back fire spectularly for the corporation and for Alesha herself. Looking forward to watching tonight.

SAT AM: Strictly Come Dancing contestants face first public vote

Sep 19 2009 By Andrew Jackson

THE celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing face their first public vote tonight, with actress Lynda Bellingham the most likely to be this year’s John Sergeant.

Eight of the 16 couples performed their first dances last night and the audience reserved the biggest cheer for the 60-year-old.

She told dance partner Darren Bennett she would bring some "comedy" to the series.

Head judge Len Goodman declared: "Both legs were down one hole of your knickers," while the acerbic Craig Revel Horwood said: "It was boring. It was full of vacuous looks."

But Bellingham scored a respectable 21 and went down well with the crowd.

Her popularity mirrors that of Sergeant in the last series, who was disastrous at dancing but loved by viewers.

Bookies’ favourite, boxer Joe Calzaghe, was left trailing at the bottom in last night’s show with a score of 16 for his tango.

There was speculation of romance with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff but earlier the Welshman insisted it is strictly friendship.

"We spend a lot of time together and we get on as well, so that’s really good, and we really enjoy the training, and that’s about it really. That’s it," he said.

Former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian, now Pc Sally Armstrong in the Bill, scored the highest in last night’s show with 30 out of a possible 40.

Presenter Rav Wilding, EastEnders actor Ricky Groves, BBC sports reporter Chris Hollins, athlete Jade Johnson and former world tennis number one Martina Hingis also performed either a waltz or a tango.

Tonight the same couples will show off their latin moves, performing either a cha-cha or a rumba.

The remaining eight couples compete for the first time next week, although they took to the floor in a group mambo last night.

They are former EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy, Footballers’ Wives stars Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass, Jo Wood, the estranged wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, former jockey Richard Dunwoody, Coronation Street actor Craig Kelly, former cricketer Phil Tufnell and Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle.

The BBC has abandoned Strictly’s Sunday night results show in favour of an extended Saturday edition of the programme which earlier this week waltzed into the record books as the most successful reality TV format of all time.

This series sees former winner Alesha Dixon joining the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips.

Dixon said she was surprised to be asked to take over from the choreographer and controversy which claimed that the decision was ageist had made her think twice.

"I was surprised that I was replacing Arlene, along with everybody else.

"But I understand the industry. Change is important and my feeling is that even if I had said no to the job, a change would have happened," she told the Sun newspaper.

Dixon said she had not spoken to Phillips but wished her the best of luck for the future.

She said the controversy had made her nervous about the reaction of Phillips’ friends on the judging panel - Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Revel Horwood - but added that she had been given a warm welcome.
------------------ 

I wouldn't worry some love the excuse to moan and be negative, the way some people go on you would have thought something bad happened to Arlene, she's busy now with other projects and no anomosity towards Alesha Dixon so some are just bitter on her behalf and their own.

I can't see what the problem is with Alesha.
The fact that she isn't a profeshional dancer doesn't matter surely.
Phillips wasn't a dancer was she.

I know who I would rather look at as well.
Why do you think they have Cheryl Cole on X-Factor?

It's because some people seem to think it's a professional dancing show Hicky rather than an entertainment show, it does involve dancing but it's celebrities there is still 3 judges there with the experience but Alesha can comment on the peroformance side then the rest can comment on technical stuff. Oh lol she is pretty but I admire her talent.

 Cheryl Cole is a singer in a girlband so she obviously has the knowledge to judge on X-Factor plus she has the looks, but she doesn't have the strongest singing voice she is one who is sooooo overhyped, what is so special about her?.

Strictly Come Dancing: Chris Hollins in the dog house over Ola

September 19th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry.