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Original poster

Mystery man on Strictly Come Dancing - red hair and beard

136 replies

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 07:51

There is a man on Strictly Come Dancing, and he seems to be very powerful and important. But who is he?

Is he in charge of the programme?

He is always in the background when Claudia is presenting, mouthing words at the camera. And once, for Halloween, he dressed up as a ghost and then revealed that it had really in fact been him all along. But who is he?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 11:14

I hope that conspiracy theory doesn’t post a third time!

You see! Just as I am getting close to the truth about this man, bad things are starting to happen to me ….😬

OP posts:
FastingBitchFace · 29/12/2023 11:26

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 09:35

Perhaps he should get his own one-off special @covetingthepreciousthings ?

Where we could see what he can really do?

Christ on a bike, no. He's an awful choreographer, zero stage presence. He's ick on legs.

Gerwurtztraminer · 29/12/2023 12:38

FastingBitchFace · 29/12/2023 11:26

Christ on a bike, no. He's an awful choreographer, zero stage presence. He's ick on legs.

Show quote history

Totally agree, ick & personality free zone. But then I find men with beards make my skin crawl anyway. I also find Johannes really creepy as well, really weird smile. Apparently I'm in a minority though, people seem to like him

OP the reason Neil's always in shot behind Claudia is because he muscles his way into that position. When she's talking, the front row is always the couples who have danced that night. Behind them are the professionals whose celeb partners have been voted off, plus some of the group dancers like Neil.

If you look you can see him pushing in when he gets a chance. For example when the rules are read out by a guest, or when they all do the 'fake fun' jumping up and down being silly stuff. A couple of other dancers do it too but he's the worst for angling to be seen on camera. He's just a show off who hasn't quite made it to being a SCD 'star' dancer (like Anton was/is) so is overcompensating.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TV
LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 29/12/2023 13:25

He is the ginger whinger and sidles onto camera whenever he can. Nothing important about him, in my opinion. I'm not a fan.

EffortlessDelegation · 29/12/2023 13:56

covetingthepreciousthings · 29/12/2023 09:24

I may be wrong but I think Neil is actually one of the more talented dancers with multiple titles, I always get a bit irritated that he never seems to get a dancer when he's one of the best. Would love to see what he could do if given the chance with a talented celebs.

Show quote history

The best dancers aren't necessarily the best pro partners though, the best partners are the ones who go all
out to get the best out of their celeb and don't make it all about them. Pasha and Kevin were great for this reason.

scoutingfor · 29/12/2023 14:27

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 11:11

From what you are all saying, I think he’s ‘got’ something on somebody. There is no other explanation.

Will it be written into his contract that he always has to stand behind Claudia?

I think you have a weird and very warped mind if you think a strictly pro who likes the camera a bit much has something on someone. He is just looking to get his face on the telly.

OnTheBoardwalk · 29/12/2023 14:44

agree it’s about getting the best out of your partner not how good you can dance. The best pros also dance down to their partners to not show them up.

When Neil did have partners he totally out danced them at every opportunity to show us all how good he is

Original poster
Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 15:29

I would like to see him in action @OnTheBoardwalk . Do you have any videos?

Perhaps they will make him a judge? And that is why they keep him on the books.

OP posts:
Original poster
Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 15:55

I think you have a weird and very warped mind if you think a strictly pro who likes the camera a bit much has something on someone. He is just looking to get his face on the telly.

What’s he got on you @scoutingfor ?

OP posts:
JanglingJack · 29/12/2023 16:01

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 08:29

He literally communicates to the audience over Claudia Winkleman’s shoulder, telling us to phone in.

As if he is the bursar of Strictly Come Dancing.

Neil was always a background dancer. I think he had 2 years (maybe 1) dancing with a partner on the show. Katya Jones ex husband following her snogging her dance partner in the street.

I would have thought as a fan that you'd know all this. He's respected nevermind how ginger he is - sorry - red haired 🙄

FastingBitchFace · 29/12/2023 16:04

Nina Wadia would have gone further in the competition with someone else, I think. I find him very difficult to watch.

scoutingfor · 29/12/2023 16:04

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 15:55

I think you have a weird and very warped mind if you think a strictly pro who likes the camera a bit much has something on someone. He is just looking to get his face on the telly.

What’s he got on you @scoutingfor ?

I don't know what you mean, he is juts a dancer?

JanglingJack · 29/12/2023 16:04

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 08:45

Idea for television programme:

The Curse of Strictly

Jilted dancer-spouses teach the jilted spouses of Strictly celebrities to dance.

He could do all the dances and tell you to phone in at the end of the show.

Don’t tell me that no one has thought of this!!!

Huh?

This all happened years ago.

m00rfarm · 29/12/2023 16:06

Isn' t the OP taking the piss? They are making fun of him as though they do not know who he actually is ...

Diah · 29/12/2023 16:07

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 11:11

From what you are all saying, I think he’s ‘got’ something on somebody. There is no other explanation.

Will it be written into his contract that he always has to stand behind Claudia?

No other explanation for what though? There is nothing that needs explaining!

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/12/2023 16:07

I've done a Latin workshop with them both, and preferred him to her. Horses for courses I suppose.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 29/12/2023 16:09

It’s Neil Jones as others have said. I must admit OP I don’t have the same impression you do of him, he seems like a spare prick to me.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/12/2023 16:10

Elthamjohn · 29/12/2023 15:29

I would like to see him in action @OnTheBoardwalk . Do you have any videos?

Perhaps they will make him a judge? And that is why they keep him on the books.

Neil Jones & Ekaterina Sokolova - Honor Dance. 2011

International Championships 2011, Amateur Latin, Winner's Dance, Jive

https://youtu.be/nzPF2DoBDhw?si=01tHy1Aa7V0zIhWi

napody · 29/12/2023 16:11

This thread has tickled me!

My 9 year old likes to spot him like Where's wally and shout "there's Ed Sheeran!"

FastingBitchFace · 29/12/2023 16:11

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/12/2023 16:07

I've done a Latin workshop with them both, and preferred him to her. Horses for courses I suppose.

Ooh! Are you an experienced dancer or was it for beginners?

Sunshineismyfavourite · 29/12/2023 16:14

Yeah I find him really irritating too. There was a totally weird sketch thing he did on It Takes 2 a few years ago when Zoe Ball was presenting it. They called in Neil de Jaunes or something and it was on every week. He dressed up like some weird alter ego in stupid clothes and showed a dance with a very strange looking woman/character who didn't smile. He also spoke through it with a very weird accent. It was just bizarre. Goodness knows how and why BBC agreed to him doing it. I find him a bit toe curling tbh. All the other male celebs are so much more entertaining to watch than him too I think. I'm surprised he's still on the show as he hasn't ever had a regular partner.

NooNakedJacuzziness · 29/12/2023 16:16

I always found Janette waaaay more annoying in the Clauditorium than Neil. Neil reminds me of a chirpy Squirrel Nutkin.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/12/2023 16:24

FastingBitchFace · 29/12/2023 16:11

Ooh! Are you an experienced dancer or was it for beginners?

Show quote history

I do dance yes, but it was at a local studio and open to all.

You really needed to know some basic cha cha and rumba steps but nothing was very complicated — a lot of the stuff was about how to practice well, hip action, arms (more fun that it sounds I promise!).

Romeiswheretheheartis · 29/12/2023 16:29

@Sunshineismyfavourite I was just about to post about that sketch but you've remembered the detail much better than me! It was truly toe-curling, and quite rightly was never repeated in future series.

EffortlessDelegation · 29/12/2023 16:38

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/12/2023 16:24

I do dance yes, but it was at a local studio and open to all.

You really needed to know some basic cha cha and rumba steps but nothing was very complicated — a lot of the stuff was about how to practice well, hip action, arms (more fun that it sounds I promise!).

Show quote history

Was it at their own studio? That's local to me, its a gorgeous venue, was put up for sale recently.