SCD '24 #3: The Vengabus has arrived in the studio... (SPOILER FREE)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

...and we are coupling up!

Previous thread.

Spoiler thread if you like to indulge.

I'll miss Kai because he's one of the nicest ballroom dancers on there.

I'm very surprised Lauren's been benched in favour of Michelle. Carlos had some dodgy choreography, and isn't very tall so with the lack of female celebs that was probably less surprising.

[Laura] would have been given Brendan otherwise - not sure whether that would have been better, mind.

Brendan had a lot of tall slim model types. The quality of their dancing and how well they got on was a bit variable though!

The casting of Paul baffles me. He's just got bad vibes coming off him and it couldn't be clearer that he's doing it because he desperate for the money.

I would have put Kai with Tasha, Carlos with Toyah and Gorka with Sarah. Sam with Vito and Punam with Nikita. I'd keep Johannes and Montell.

I would have put Karen with Tom, Lauren with Chris, Nadiya with Pete, Jowita with Jamie, Michelle with JB, Amy with Shayne and Dianne with Nick. I'd keep Katya with Wynne and leave Luba and Nancy fighting over the bench or Paul.

I think I have read that Michelle has a boyfriend and he has just been supplanted by Giovanni on the Italian version of Strictly. I can't imagine Jamie and his fart noises and love of a good market stall will tempt her to stray.

Nobody looked great in the group dance. Montell looked like she'd be good at a party but maybe not something more formal, Tasha might have been underplaying her skills, JB looked a bit rusty compared with his Christmas win. I'm not seeing what people saw in Punam. She looked like a self-conscious civilian. I hope she outlasts Paul and Nick at least, though.

Sadly, that’s my fantasy type 😂

Just rewatching, I've already got Jamie and Tom mixed up !

Mine too 🤣
But I also think Pete looks really clean, his hair is always glossy and I bet he smells amazing

Michelle's boyfriend is an Italian called Simone who was on the Italian Strictly but has not been replaced by Giovanni. Michelle's Simone did the Italian version a few years back and very publicly said he would never do it again (quite fairly, as it's an awful show!). He won the Belgian version and did well on the Irish one this year as well, with a drag queen.

There was a different Simone on the Italian one later on, and he is the one who has been replaced with Gio.

I haven’t watched the launch show yet, but from the pairings photos on FB, I could only name Toyah & Nick Knowles. 2 or 3 others I vaguely recognise but couldn’t name them on the spot. Admittedly I don’t watch, soaps, sport or daytime TV and only occasionally have the radio on in the car so I’m not that surprised. 😄

Oh, I think the poster I read on another forum must have got their Simones mixed up. Anyway, I can't see Michelle ditching him for the schoolboy charms of Jamie.

Indeed, either one of the Simones is a hot Italian so Jamie is an unlikely competitor, bless him 😂.

I think my worry about the Toyah and Neil pairing is that she has always been a genuinely unconventional person whereas he's a bit David Brent, novelty tie, 'I'm wacky, me!'

Kai is lovely but Neil is repulsive, dunno why but loads of us feel that way. He's the new Anton, just gets the old dears and also-rans.

Wicks is pure sex. Remove his hair and tats and he's nothing but with them he becomes Pirate Pete.

Pete is really not for me. ( no doubt he’s relieved)
Needs a haircut. Not into tattoos.
Thought Shane looked good, Montelle, or I really like Sam. Hopefully she’s just nervous and improves as we go.

I feel about Pete the way I did about Graziano. Want to dunk him in a bath full of disinfectant.

I don't think Toyah will be very pleased to be called an old dear.
Even though technically she is

IMO Vicky needs to order a job lot of polo necks and cravats for Pete. Good looking chap from the chin up but I cannot be doing with neck tattoos.

I don't know many old dears who get up to what she does on a Sunday lunch. The throwback one today is like something from Personal Services!

Neither do I, and I'm older than Toyah.
We used to live round the corner from her.

I cannot be doing with any tattoos.

You are not alone! I love proper long hair on men but his is neither naught nor something and I hate visible tats - something about Pete gives me the ick. I'd not come across him before so he might grow on me as the series progresses.

You'll be a convert in a couple of weeks.

I doubt it!

Just caught up (was busy yesterday). I liked it. It felt familiar, colourful, cheerful. Amy’s presence was uplifting and the celebs seem to be bonding, with Wynne and Chris probably being the ones to lift the others’ spirits where necessary on Saturdays.

Hopefully there will be no scandals this year.

I’m looking forward to watching Dianne and Chris’ training room footage. It will be interesting.

I was pleased to note the availability of signing on the red button. Long overdue imo (unless it was present in previous years and I missed it!)

Just watched
Hated the opening but it did improve
Feeling sorry for Karen and Lauren this year
Shane and Montell my early favourites