Strictly 2022 Thread 2 - Who's your favourite...

[xsquared]

Hello folks,
Last one filled up and I was surprised another hadn't been started for a while.

First thoughts:
I like this year's cohort and I recognise a few faces.

• Jayde reminds me of Dawn French. Wasn't expecting her to be paired with Karen.

• Carlos and Vito will be interesting to watch in their debut. Molly went to Sylvia Young Theatre, so she could be a ringer.

• I've seen Jowita in The Greatest Dancer and she was phenomenal. Hamza looks like he'll be good fun.

• Luba looked amazing during John Legend's performance and it's a shame that neither her celebs went very far. Maybe she's better suited to dancing in the background.

• When Helen Skelton mentioned needing someone who could understand a northern accent, I immediately guessed it was Gorka.

• Ellie and Johannes look good together. She's absolutely delighted with him, and I hope we get to watch them for a good while.

• Matt Goss seems rather subdued, but I think he'll have a good work ethic and deliver a good performance.

I wouldn’t blame him if he ran now.

Are celebrities allowed to request pros? Sounds like Jayde did from what pp said.

It’s in the DM that they haven’t gelled. You can tell by the body language. I’m so disappointed for Gio.

Richie Anderson is one of the most annoying and over-hyped people on the TV and radio - not surprised Gio hasn’t gelled with him

Why couldn't he have been paired with a woman, it's all very silly

I've been watching some of the DWTS dances from Jarra and Sasha - they have managed with Sasha mostly upright, not stooped as much as Nikita was last night. But I think the height difference between them may have been less -
4'2" vs 5'6"
Whereas I think with Ellie and Nikita she's 4' and he's 5ft 8 or 9?
So about 4 more inches difference maybe.
This is Jarra and Sasha's rumba:

I thought Gio looked genuinely annoyed last night and I don't blame him one bit. Having had plenty of ballroom dancing lessons as a little girl I do know that the man always, always leads. So, to then have a man dancing the female role and being led just looks discordant.

It must be very difficult to gel with someone so different from Rose. Especially when you've just spent time rehearsing for the "come back" dance on the opening show. Richie is a very, very different person and not just because he's a man!

If Ritchie is contining with the day job in addition to Strictly that will surely annoy Gio as he won't be able to put the hours in

I don't think Richie is keeping up the radio job. I'm sure I heard Ken Bruce talking about his 'last show for a while' but I could have dreamt it. I mean, last night I was dreaming about breeding porpoises so anything is possible.

Gio has never really had a duffer before, though, has he?
He has only ever had a bit of tension prior, with Laura (did not want the Strictly drama, red carpets etc) and Michelle (clash of dominance).
I liked the routine on Saturday. I also found Gio being dry/shady amusing.
It would have been unfair, had Gio had another decent partner, ergo it had to be Richie as Kaye too tall for him.
I had Richie with Graz, Tony with Nadiya, Ellie S with Jowita, Jayde with Kai and Will with Karen. Stand by these, but it is what it is.
Is Jayde in a marriage of convenience or an open marriage? Is Clayton not gay and Jayde was with a comedian, Will, for a couple of years?
I wonder who Oti and Aljaz would have had, had they stayed.

I remember when I first read about Gio being in the male pairing this year, and it was an online article, reporting that SCD were favouring Gio as putting him in the same sex couple would increase his chances of winning again because he would again be part of another ‘diverse couple’ (as in how he had Rose last year).

The article was saying how the other SCD Dancers were angry about the same sex pairing because they too felt the producers were being biased towards Gio and setting him up for another win.

If the article was genuine, which it did seem to be, I imagine the other professionals aren’t feeling quite so threatened anymore.

Why are people acting like Will has won it week one?

Yes, that is basically what happened with Kelvin and Oti, but there are quite a few options this year?

Fleur or Molly won't win. Too much confidence and sass, not enough journey.Of course, early days.

There will surely be someone ON A JOURNEY

Just catching up on last nights show. Will join you from next week for the annual strictly fest

Can we take bets on who'll trot nana / gran / grandad out first? As in 'doing it for me'.

Kym already did didn’t she?

Will‘s couple’s choice will either be a tribute to his dad, or to two pints of lager - he seems to mention/mourn them both equally.

Kym had Graziano round for tea so she wins 😃
@iklboo love your blog thanks for sharing.

Will is desperate for a reboot he does a podcast with Ralph Little and they mention it frequently. They did a skit for comic relief (I think) without Sheridan Smith and Natalie Casey which was a bit meh

Thank you @Mrsjayy. ☺️

True about Kym - she got in early doors with the faaaaaaaamleeee didn't she?

She did, and she is also a young Nan so the grandkids will feature.

Bloody hell she is a young nan isn't she? I've just looked and she's younger than me. Plenty of energy for the grandkiddies then.

Yeah she had her kids when she was in Hearsay

We've seen quite a few parents, haven't we. Possibly a grandparent although I was getting muddled. Kym showing her grandchildren would be a first.
I really like it with the studio audience back and people in the Clauditorium. It feels like we're back to normal.
🙏