SCD19#2 — Last Partnerships Formed, Training Begins and the First Live Show

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

First thread here.

Pleased about Oti getting what looks like to be a good replacement!

t’s a shame Jamie Laing has to pull out, he’s been pretty funny on a podcast I like

Which podcast is it @ThursdayLastWeek ? Could do with a new one.

Bold fail in that last post from me..

Hi! Can I join? Loved the show last night and am pleased with this mornings news that Kelvin Fletcher will replace Jamie. Knew KFG would get a duffer this year, the reigning champ nearly always does. So happy Johannes has a partner this year. Saw him in Burn the Floor with KFG and Graziano. He's a beautiful dancer.

My MIL will be thrilled with Kelvin Fletcher.

Apparently he has a nice bod too?

Yes I'm happy about both Joannes and Neil. They've put the hours in for Strictly, they deserve this.

Feel a bit sorry for Anneka reading this thread. Shes lovely, attractive and slim, she might be ok! Also think shes very nervous.

Anneka even looks awkward in the posed photos. I think she is really really uncomfortable with it all!

She knows she’s the token ‘oldie’

So I've watched it now. There was definitely some skullduggery with Anneka going on. She did not dance and as soon as the dance finished, they show Saffron stood next to Anton, go to a different shot and then of the whole group and Anneka is suddenly stood in between Saffron and Anton

We need the poster who was there for the filming to come back and explain

I only managed to watch the first 3 pairings last night so have to get it in catch up.
I don't know the majority of the slebs which is a bit disappointing.

Is anyone else surprised that Kelvin Fletcher was only a standby and not part of the original line up? He's probably one of the more recognisble faces this year, I mean I've not watched Emmerdale since Chris Tate and Mandy Dingle were in it but I know who Andy Sugden is! He grew up on the show!

Only thing I can think of is that they didnt want a soap star heavy line up, and obviously already had Emma Barton and Catherine Tyldesley.

Also, I heard that they really wanted Tamara Ecclestone but she declined and they asked Emma Weymouth (the Vicountess) instead.

Anneka Rice looks fit and I’m sure her work ethic will be sound, but I agree that she seems awkward. Maybe a decent first week will set her at ease.

The table tennis guy seems lovely as do Alex and David. Their fitness and training backgrounds will be useful but can they dance? We’ll see.

Sad news about Jamie - hope he recovers soon.

Motsi seems very good.

The Croissant Household don't know Kelvin Fletcher at all. He is not recognisable to us.

I'm still going with Karim and Dev for the win.

IIRC, the comment about the year Anton had Katie Derham that I mentioned last night (this could be the year Anton finds out that Strictly runs all the way to Christmas) was said by Len! He does get the duffers and he knows it. His professional partner Erin is on record as saying she thinks Anton knows he will never win it.

As for the judges dancing, Shirley blew the rest of them away!

Anneka has a lot of bottle : I think she'll surprise us.

I haven't ever watched Emmerdale so Jamie Laing was way more familiar to me. Never watched MiC but he is such an attention seeker that I have happened upon him almost every time I switch the telly on! I do think Jamie would have been fun.

When we went to the Strictly Tour show in Manchester earlier this year the judges danced and Shirley was amazing. Bruno also sang as part of their routine and at first DH and I expected him to sound dreadful but he he wasn't bad at all.

As a PP said, Anneka fell in a friend's garden before the training started so may well not have been able to do the group dance.

Shirley IS amazing. I genuinely don't know why she gets so much stick? Not only is she a former world champion in Latin, several times over with two different partners, she actually coached several of the Strictly pro's past and present (Brendan, Kristina, Anton and possibly Kevin as well?)

I agree @Cheeseoncrumpets - I think Shirley is great. Plus her son is amazing as are Derek and Julianne Hough, who I believe she coached too (& lived with her and family when young, but I could be wrong about that).

Yes, she basically took in Derek and Julianne as her own and brought them here to the UK to live with them. Also yes, I forgot that Mark is her son! I always wanted him to join Strictly as a pro back in the day.

He ex-husband definitely coached Kristina...

I like Shirley. I would like a ballroom champion as a judge as well though.

I really like Shirley I also don't know why she gets rubbished she is The Godmother of the danceworld . I have read all sorts of nasty agiest things about her online !

I also like Shirley, she brings discipline to the proceedings whilst still being fairly pleasant.

Len just shouted at everyone and got their backs up.

But Shirley is a stickler for form yet you do tend to listen.

She was cracking in the judges dance.

Kelvin Fletcher was a cracking little actor as a young boy, acted the adults off the screen always thought it a shame he didn't blossom beyond Emmerdale he was capable of it. Not seen it in years. It was my Granny's favourite.