Strictly Come Dancing 2016 - Glitterballs ready?

[SheHasAWildHeart]

First 'celebrity' confirmed:
Ed Balls

I heard that Georgia's previous boyfriend was abusive too, Jill.

I hate the Strictly love story, I just want to see the dancing!

I have never seen Tameka before - but she seemed like a scream. And a good mover.

I hope Greg is decent as lord knows Natalie deserves a break from the duffers. Whereas Kevin needs a turn with a duffer. It would have been fun to see him with Lesley - but then that wouldn't have been fair on any of the women, to have put them with Anton, whose dancing just isn't up to scratch.

I think as well that Claudia and Greg have a head start over the others just because their standards of physical fitness are so much higher. A "normal" person like Naga or Will is going to be knackered after a few hours of dancing, the Olympians train hours a day, every day. So they don't have that fitness curve to climb.

CustardCream - I'm pretty sure that Aliona left of her own accord

Oh yes I remember now about the boyfriend. All the more reason not to switch the pairings now. I know an ex contestants mental health isn't really the BBC's concern, but surely they shouldn't have switched the pairings ( if they did) just for tabloid nonsense.

Although i do think Anastacia and Brendan look like a good pairing.

fiderer you're in Germany same as me, right?
have PMd you

F

No shame - marking place

(Anton) also doesn't normally do tons of lifts and gymnastics cos of his own age.

I don't think that's correct in relation to lifts. With the duffers his philosophy seems to be that the less time their feet stay on the ground, the better. I remember being mot impressed at the wqy he kept sweeping Ann Widdecombe off her feet.

Loving the start of Strictly and this thread

Great line up this year - lots of celebs with a great sense of humour - Tameka, Anastascia, Will, Judge Rinder and Greg.
I like Ore and Naga but I think they're both a bit too try hard - Naga reminds me of Gabby Logan. I don't think either will last long.
Can't stand Daisy Lowe - such a shame the lovely Aliajz has her. Laura Whitmore seems sweet as does Clauda.
Love Ed Balls - I hope he defies the odds and stays in for a while.

Interesting how all of those with dance experience mentioned it in the first show. Will even threw in a technical term during the rehearsal for the group dance - something like "step ball change" Jay has arguably been the one with the most experience ever - he hardly mentioned it last year and won.

Lesley and Anton - I thought she seemed like a good mover and, although he seems to be a fun partner, not the best in Latin as many have said so you could argue she deserves a better teacher. People talk about the 20 year age gap - there have been plenty the other way around - Ola Jordan is 19 years younger than Andrew Castle - and no-one batted an eyelid.

Striking how the Cliftons all have good partners. Dh reckons it's simplye because they are popular with the public and the BBC just wants to ensure that they stay in as long as possible.

To be fair Karen had Jeremy Vine last year who really couldn't have been predicted to do all that well. He did extremely well to get as far as he did. Joanne had no partner last year and Scott Mills before that so deserves someone good this time.

It's really Kevin who seems to get a never ending series of partners with stage school backgrounds. Unlike some of the others I think Louise was rather downplaying her Italia Conti background.

Totally agree that Jay's dance background rarely featured last year. If I didn't read online forums I'd have had no idea.

Just adored the launch show. The contestants are all so very likeable this year! I don't know of a lot of them but I don't think that matters. Claudia and aj looked adorable together. She can move but I wonder whether she might be a bit stiff for the Latin numbers (athletes seem to be that way). Really hoping will and Greg stay in it for ages. I think judge rinder is a dark horse. Louise definitely was holding back in the group dance. Roll on 3 weeks!

Jay has arguably been the one with the most dance experience ever

Er - really?!? Pixie Lott had eight years at Italian Conti, Caroline Flack has a qualification in musical theatre, Natalie Gumede is listed as a highly skilled dancer on her CV, having been dancing since the age of 3, and you pick out Jay as the biggest ringer ever?!

She left Italia Conti over 23 years ago though. Whilst there will be general benefits, I'm not convinced it is a whole lot of help for ballroom dancing.

Any dance experience is better than none. It's hard to find people in show business who don't have any training in dancing/acting/singing when they were children. Natalie gumede and Denise Van outen were just too good to begin with. Jay's jive was too good too, really, his feet gave him away in the flicks. I don't really care that much to get angry about it, though, it's just entertainment!

Mind you, look at Anita last year. I believe she had no dance experience whatsoever.

Although it may have mostly been being thrown about by Gleb :)

I thought Anita did amazingly well last year. Gleb did not go easy on her. I'm going to miss his crazy choreography and Disney prince face (mainly because I like to read what Monkseal writes about him).

Gleb and anita were my favourites last year, they were undermarked by the judges as I think they didn't like Gleb's choreography.

I rewatched Gleb and Anita's paso doble last night and it still makes me sigh with happiness. It might not have been as technically accomplished as some of the others, but I just love the passion and drama of it! My favourite dance of the last series by far.

I probably won't post much but will be following this and subsequent threads avidly. DCs have already picked their favourite pairs, though DD (9) still in mourning for Gleb. She said his name every time they paused before announcing the female celebs' partners on Sat, as though hoping she could will him into reappearing.

Jay's obvious experience turned me right off last year. It was clear from early on he would win. The minute you watched him you realised it was not his first rodeo.

And all his "gee shucks, I was so nervous, I just don't want to let anyone down...."

Bleeeuuurgh.

Jay's jive was so jaw droppingly good for so early in the competition there was no way he was a beginner. Even with their experience, others don't seem to have done so well so early.

It’s true, Karen did have Jeremy last year. I think she’s great with the no-hopers and would have been a good match for Ed. I’m pleased Oti has someone good – she was genuinely surprised to get that guy from Hollyoaks.

I liked Jay and wasn’t saying he was the only one to have had dance experience. I don’t mind if they have had dance training – it would be pretty dull if none of them could dance and if they come across well as he did it doesn’t bother me at all. I just thought it interesting that people on the show have tended not to refer to their dance experience – it’s been the elephant in the room, alluded to by other celebs who have had no training – but this year they all mentioned it.

I do hope that Monkseal comes back from holiday soon!

MoonRise Kingdo and AmericanPastoral - I love Monkseal's blog, best bit about Strictly! Yes, looking forward to seeing what he has to say about the launch show.

*MoonriseKingdom even!