I like the fact that there is a whole bunch of them who are of the same standard, pretty much.
My favourites throughout have been Ali and Brian. I think they are beautiful dancers.
Ricky Whittle is hot on their heels.
I'm afraid I cannot warm to Jade for some reason. (This may sound silly but I think the overdone make-up puts me off - it's a bit like a clown.)

Oops, I think I inserted your image in the wrong place!  

I understand what you mean about the makeup - I have NEVER liked blue eye shadow up to the eyebrows!   I think she has probably not worn a lot of makeup until now, and I wish she had someone to advise her.

Only a little short of an hour an half to go!  

I used to wear mine like that, when I was 13!

Uh, Gel?  SCD starts at 6:25, not 5:25.  Sorry!

SCD only has a 15 minute clash with XF tonight... SCD starts at 6:25 and finishes at 8:15 pm. XF starts at 8:00 and finishes at 9:35 pm.

  I think most of us used a trowel to slap it on when we first started wearing makeup!  That's what makes me think that Jade has never really worn a lot of makeup before. I used to look like a clown when I first started wearing makeup and then I learned less is more.

yeah
I'm sure I'm on the right time, am I not?  
17:13 now, so it starts in just over an hour
which was an hour & half to start time a short while ago
I think you're just trying to confuse me here!  

I don't give a monkeys about XF, haven't been watching it, I only ever watch the auditions
Although am aware of the twit twins/ brothers, whatever they are! 

Did you change your post?  I thought for sure it said half an hour before and I haven't even started on the wine yet!

ok, just to clear this up, in 7 minutes times, strictly will be on in another hour!  

I love Blackpool 

I don't believe you!  

Random!  

I haven't, but am thinking about it and I did use some to de-glaze while making my stew for dinner tonight.  AND I didn't use 50 pans like Heston Blumenthal did this morning!  You know he never does the washing up!

'tis exciting stuff, aint it   

lazy good for nothing!

  

Strictly stars head to Norfolk and Suffolk

Strictly Come Dancing stars Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff who will be appearing at Cromer and Lowestoft.

Two of the stars of Strictly Come Dancing are waltzing their way to Norfolk and Suffolk next spring for two seaside shows.

Sultry Siberian Kristina Rihanoff and American Brian Fortuna will be leaving their celebrity partners behind and bring a dancing double act to theatres at Cromer and Lowestoft.

The shows will include dancing demonstrations, workshops with audience participation and a question and answer session.

Promoter John Sachs said the Strictly stars were doing a series of tours in 2010 - from big arenas to more intimate showcases at dance schools.

“People like to get up close and personal to these dancers, who are at home in front of 10,000 or 200 people,” he added.

Kristina, who is 31 and 5ft 3in, has been dancing competitively since she was seven. She famously made her debut last year with political reporter John Sergeant who defied the judges' criticism and won popular backing week after week until he volunteered to step down in show nine.

This year she teamed up on the dance floor, and linked romantically, with boxer Joe Calzaghe, but was voted off in show five.

Brian, who is 26 and 6ft 0in, was born and raised in Philadelphia and is now based in Los Angeles. Both of his parents held nationally ranked titles in ballroom and Latin. He started dancing when he was four at his mother's dance studio in New Jersey, and has danced in and hosted hundreds of various shows since then.

Last year he partnered M People singer Heather Small. This year he is dancing with TV soap actress Ali Bastian from the Bill and Hollyoaks - and still in the contest after being saved by the judges last week.

Brian and Kristina are professional partners and regularly tour together. The smaller theatre events have been added to the 2010 tour schedule, on top of the larger city arena events.

On March 23 they will perform at Cromer Pier Pavilion, and on April 4 they return to the region at Lowestoft's Marina Theatre.

Cromer pier spokesman Bruce Stratton said the dance night was “an exciting coup” for the venue, already well-known for the quality of the dancing in his summer season show. He hoped local people would leap at the chance to see the stars they watched each week in the prime time BBC TV show dancing live on a local stage.

Tickets costing £20 for the 7.30pm Cromer show go on sale on Monday . Contact the box office on 01263 512495.

Tickets for Lowestoft (£22.50) are available through the box office 01502 533200 or at www.marinatheatre.co.uk

Kristina and Brian, that should be fun they are brilliant.


Obviously feelings still raw for Arlene but good luck to her with her projects, she is a busy woman after all.

No sympathy from me regarding Arlene, I'm afraid.  She was never able to disguise her bias towards some of the dancers - Mark Ramperkash being one, not to mention the contemptious way she spoke to some of the other dancers, like Fiona Philips and Kate Garaway.  IMO, she was worse than Craig in some of her remarks.  She was also quite rude to the professional  dancers as well and I will never forget her remark to Ola calling her a pole dancer - either in regards to her nationality or her dancing in skimpy costumes - but it was rude and uncalled for.

That's if Brian can get her away from Joe.

5 minute countdown, take your places for the first dance at Blackpool.
And no eating rock on the dance floor.
And you can see the Blackpool lights after the dancing is over.

It's time, evening everyone.

This better be goodbye for Craig!!!!

Hello all strictliers too

Hello Cigs. I totally agree, although he has tried his best.


WOW the place looks fantastic. More space on the dancefloor which I like, the one at the BBC Television Centre is smaller and it's squashed together.

TEAM COLA, YEAH BABY... and Ola is looking glamorous as usual.

It always used to be at Blackpool, didn't it?  When it was just Come Dancing and was only watched by nearly dead people.

Hello everyone!

SCD hasn't been to Blackpool since series 2 when Jill Halfpenny won. I didn't see that series.


Ricky and Natalie first for a change... Tango time.

Not proper music!

Hi Suzi!


I liked that!!!


What an opening to the show!

Was Ricky placed wrong or did Natalie just screw up?

Hi Suzi.


Good start by them, wish there was more attack in the dance.

Lots of passion. Bit of a cock up but it can't be perfect every time, liked the music. They're very competitive...