Strictly 2023 Thread 3 Don't You Want Les? NO SPOILERS

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

Carry on

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I've been trying to find Anton and Patsy Palmer's tango to re watch because I seem to remember it being very dramatic at the time, but I'm struggling.

2005 Series 3, apparently

I didn't know that. Fair play to him then. He just comes across as very needy and attention seeking, and went on a tabloid sidebar of shamecdpree with various girlfriends for a time!

wasn't it Kevin who did Ghostbusters with Alex bec Neil was injured?

There was far more to it.
The whole thing was ramped up by the press and again when Adam Peaty danced with her he denied vehemently that he "almost" kissed her.
Tbh I think Strictly were also involved in trying to "sex" things up but it backfired hugely as Strictly is and always has been a family show.
Glad to see Katya is back, she made a mistake and it's behind her.
Seann Walsh said his life was ruined by the whole thing.
Neil just isn't Pro material, I'm glad he's found his niche in the group dances etc
I think most feel sorry for him but he just doesn't have the ability to be a Pro.
So it's a running joke that Neil pops up in the background.
Alex Scott was mediocre with Neil, then he injured himself and KFG took over and she blossomed.

Oh yes I'd forgotten about the Adam Peaty thing. Poor Katya!

Kevin danced it but he only came in at the last minute so it wasn't his choreography . Kevin was having to take his cues from Alex because he was so unrehearsed, which I think is one of the reasons she did it so well, she obviously shines under pressure, and she wasn't being out danced by her pro.

What I don't know is whether Neil choreographed it solo: it was a couple's choice where you'd normally get outside help.

What I don't like about Neil: his horrible street dances with Dianne. I hope there are none this year.

I think pros need more than one season to settle in. Gio wasn't great his first two years.

Oh, I just remembered Neil had two seasons with a partner. Poor Nina Wadia. Who could probably have gone further if she had been with Gio or Gorka.

Poor Katya got caught in the crossfire of relationships with big underlying issues both times. The first time, yes she shouldn't have snogged her dance partner behind the bins, but the second time she did nothing wrong - manufacturing sexual chemistry for a performance is part of the job description, just look at the opening pro number with Nikita.

ah yes!! I remember that now. Kevin was thrown in without much time to prepare (I was thinking of the following week when Kevin was there for the whole week's training!)

and I do think they get outside help on the couples' choice - but I'm sure each pro has some input.

I have to admit, though, that Alex & Neil's jive and Charleston were really good - I still watch them fairly regularly.

I think a lot of the charm of the Ghostbusters dance is Kevin's game attempts to keep up with Alex and remember the very full-on choreography. He's plucky and actually quite sweet in the way he keeps grinning through it.

I suspect that the random five seconds in the middle where he picks her up and whirls her round on his shoulder were a last minute sub for a stunt move which it wouldn't have been safe to do without proper rehearsal.

Completely agree!

I thought it was a great first show & truly enjoyed watching everyone & hate that someone has to go next week!

I'd love them to stay until week 3 or 4 & then 2 or 3 go at once. Feels more fair and gives everyone a chance.

I'd also love it to be compulsory for whoever makes it to the final to re-do their week 1 dances again.

I honestly loved them all but absolute faves were Ellie (such natural talent & not a ringer!), Amanda, Angela R, Nigel & Krishnan. I also love Bobby but not a Dianne fan and the height difference looked really odd.

Fantastic first show though - best one in a very long time!

Gio wasn't great his first two years.

I actually loved his first year, with Georgia. I think he's just a bit hit and miss as to whether he gels with his partner.

Laura, Michelle Visage and Richie were misses (even though Michelle could dance). Georgia, Debbie, Faye and Rose were wonderful pairings. He did OK with Ranvir as well.

The thing that makes Anton a good judge with constructive criticism is that he is a good teacher. Pre-Strictly he would guest teach at kid’s classes (my old teacher said she used him at a summer school she was running), and he’s great with using visualisations. Things like “rocket boosters on your elbows” to help them get the forward motion as they travel across the floor and “head filled with helium” to keep the neck long without being stiff.

Dear old Len was very similar, she said he once brought water pistols along to a class!

With time (in some cases A LOT of it) you could make a semi-decent dancer out of most of the celebs, but time is the one thing they do not have!

wasn't it Kevin who did Ghostbusters with Alex bec Neil was injured?
It was but it was Neil who performed it on tour.
IIRC Tommy Franzen choreoed.

Oh and the lift in the middle was part of the choreo - you can see the tour routine with Neil on YouTube and it's pretty much what you saw on the show (kudos to Kev). I don't think Neil did worse than Kevin on his return (jive, paso, AT, samba) He got her to the quarter finals where she came fifth (3 person final that year) and it was her choice to do the Sister Act number.

I'd have preferred to see Neil and Cameron (don't blame him for leaving tbh) over Gorks and Carlos this year. Slebkita is too tall for Gorka and Carlos is annoying.
Cameron never got a shot at all and Neil deserves another chance. The only good thing is that if Nikita exits early then Neil doesn't get the blame. Gorka has had early boot before with Catherine Tyldesley and Nikita seems worse than her (I am really surprised as I thought she had had a bit of dance experience and was going to be the dark horse this year).

@SequinsandStiIettos didn't Catherine Tyldesley dance with Johannes? (Sorry I might not be remembering that right)

Shit, no you're right. Wrong Coronation Street lass. Dalmatian routine. Cruella. Got flak recently for wanting free cake.

Watching last night's show now and got quite teary watching the opening group dance! Superb.

Strictly is back.
Life is complete again 😊

Blimey O'Riley, Angela Rippon 😳

I tend to be surprised when people who are pre-retirement age, slender, attractive and fit aren’t any good. Every year someone surprises me with their ordinariness - Rachel Riley, Thom Evans, Charlotte Hawkins, Dev Griffin, Victoria Pendleton spring to mind but there are lots of others. You’d think I’d learn!

Had to google her. How quickly we forget.
Katie McGlynn.
I loved Cruella the movie so enjoyed the routine but others picked her more votes.

picked up more votes
I need coffee

I don’t know anything about dancing. I make Les look like Johannes.

And I don’t tend to cry week one. But Bobby got me. For that reason I’m him for the win. Call it premature adulation. Quite lovely.

He is what Kingdingaling should have been. And they left me cold. Pretty on the eye, icy heart.

Amanda Abbington was quite lovely to watch. Brother and sister relationship sort of showed. It is sometimes not always plain sailing. But, you know, everything would be pointless without my siblings so I was crying again. They won’t ever really know how much I love them. But it doesn’t matter in the dance. A love is a love is a love. I don’t care about nippy stories in the paper. They did a lovely job of that.

I think a ballroom with Annabel will have me wailing. She seems like such a gracious, kind human being and I think I will very much enjoy her dancing with Johannes.

Loved Krishnan.

Nigel? You just so would…

Agree re Tess and Claudia’s outfits - awful 😞