Strictly '22 Thread 7 — <cut glass accent> A Centenary Celebration for Auntie

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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As always, a reminder that this is a SPOILER-FREE THREAD, so please don't comment on the result before the result show.

I thought Kelly B was overrated. Very weak core I thought.

@SequinsandStilettos I would add Lee Ryan from your list as take back. I think he could have been an improver if given a few more weeks.

Agree Dev went too soon.

Austin! Yes! Gosh this is bringing back so many forgotten memories.

I also really liked Sara and Aljaz partnership, she seemed to genuinely absolutely love the show and him (who wouldn't love Aljaz to be fair 😍)

Sorry I mean Sara Davies just to be clear

Any professional dancers you particularly miss?

I liked Matthew Cutler

I miss Aliona, she used to do some cracking choreography. She was an annoying grump if she felt that she had a poor celeb though.

I miss Flavia, Artem, Aljaz, Aliona,and Lilia.

I do like the current crop of dancers though I have to say. I do not miss the Jordans, or Brendan or Anton - he is a good judge though.

Aston Merrigold

That was a shocker. I thought it was a really good dance and the judges hadn't really got it at all.

I'm still not over Aston Merrigold's shock departure either. Although I didn't like that particular dance and it probably wasn't Viennese Waltz enough as Craig said.

I miss Oti, Aljaz, Flavia, Matthew C, Natalie.... Anton better as a judge.

Agree 100% with this.

I’m properly loving Anton as a judge. I think he would be a marvellous host too.

I have to admit that I was very much against Anton being a judge, but really he's fab. He's always kind to the contestants but also clear about where improvements can be made. Unlike Motsi who can be opaque about what she wants and Shirley is as mean a fuck to the pretty female contestants.

Aston Merrigold going out was a shocker and completely undeserved. At the time there was talk of Shirley favouring AJ as an ex-pupil of hers iirc. Whatever the reason, Aston was a much better dancer than Molly and shouldn’t have gone.

I felt exactly the same @BlackAmericanoNoSugar and totally agree.

I miss Artem, Aljaz, Oti and (going back) Ian Waite and Karen Hardy.

Colin Jackson was the most robbed loser/runner-up ever IMO, but got revenge by winning the Xmas special with a fabulous quickstep.

Dame,

Erin robbed Colin herself with The Puppets, whilst Lilia did a proper showdance!

Erin must take the blame, that's for sure (although I wonder how much input the producers had too).
But he was clearly the better dancer; one of the best ever on Strictly, IMO. He even did a good rumba!

Series 2 was a vintage year

Me too

I agree.

Yes! Anton gives great info and practical tips for them going forward. He does know his ballroom technique for sure. He's been a fab judge.

All Motsi ever seems to say is "more of that please" and lots of hyperbolic praise. She doesn't really contribute much useful.

Craig actually says useful things for improvement too but they get lost in the stupid Panto booing which really needs to be stopped, it's idiotic now.

He tries to turn it into the Anton show a bit much, IMO, going for laughs all the time and making his comments into a little story, but I do agree his comments are kind, encouraging and constructive.
I like Motsi – I love her style, her har, nails etc – and think she does say useful things, but I wish she wouldn't SHOUT all the time.
What I really miss is Arlene always putting her finger unerringly on the vibe between a couple. I remember her describing Brendan and Claire someone (actor I think, older than him) as 'raunchy', and Carol Smillie and Matthew Cutler having an 'innocence' about them, for two examples. She was so good at it.