SCD '24 #4: The first live show, all 2.5 hours of it! (SPOILER FREE)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Bums numb yet folks? I'm enjoying it though.

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Spoiler thread if you like to indulge.

I would say the majority of the winners/contestants just go back to their day jobs. It's not like any of them really want to be dancers. It's not like The Voice where those contestants really want to make it as singers.

Hello all, sorry for absence! I missed the show last night as I’m away looking after my dad. Will try to catch up over the next few days to throw in my two penn’orth!

Yep it was acting/performance side of things that clicked for Louis rather than musicality. Quite a few celebs over the years have had the performance part click into place at some point and it transforms them as dancers but I can't think of anyone who didn't 'feel' the music suddenly getting it light bulb moment style. There have been some gradual changes where the celeb has slowly learnt to work with the rhythm or those who were so nervous or focused on other elements such as remembering steps that they didn't keep rhythm in early shows then relaxed into it but I can't think of anyone who started without rhythm and X weeks later suddenly got it.

Hamza is such a gentle soul, I have seen him a couple of times since Strictly hosting wildlife documentaries.

I liked Louis, I would expect a gymnast to be 'teachable' on the dance floor. I don't think there have been any other gymnasts? I am not expecting a lot of Tom as swimmers tend to be fairly poor (Mark Foster, Adam Peaty). Tom's height will probably hamper him as well, he is used to stooping which will be difficult to correct.

Claudia Fragipane (sp) was a gymnast and also good. She danced with AJ I think.

Do we class Matt Baker as a gymnast? Or is he firmly in the TV presenter category?

Matt is a weird middle case I think, however that being said he learnt how to control his body, he knows how his muscles work and what to put where to get a result. So that's a definite advantage vs someone who's never really considered how their body works in that fashion.

Actually, was Gabby Logan a gymnast too? Rhythmic gymnastics I think.

I got a feeling that Pete, with all his 'I've got the flexibility of a chopstick' comments, expected to be told he was far better than he was, and it was a bit of a shock to hear that he does indeed have the flexibility of a chopstick.

As usual, there was definite scoring creep as the night went on. DD just watched a few dances in random order and can't believe how much higher some of the later dancers were scored compared to better earlier ones (eg Shayne v Wyn).

Couple more months of hair growth and Shayne could form a Sexual Chocolate tribute band.

Thanks for the reminder of the other gymnasts. I had completely forgotten Claudia.

I can't work Pete out. Is he genuinely fairly hopeless and nervous... do I quite like him or loathe him... I don't know.

I thought Montell’s dance was phenomenal. As well as the actual dancing I loved her facial expressions, it was as if she was so confident in the dance that she had space to do the correct expression to meet each move, no gob hanging open, no concentration, just the ‘ta-da’ face, it was so good. I’m surprised she didn’t get higher marks.

And this is one of the reasons I don’t really care who is in the line up each year as I very quickly become a fan of someone I’ve never heard of before, and never watched the programme she’s been in.

I really like Sam. She's not remotely used to any sort of performance but did brilliantly.

Watched on catchup. Montell was my favourite.
Poor Karen and Katya is all I can say.
Expected Toyah to be better. The rest were a blur somehow.
Some of the costumes really clashed particularly Vito and Sarah.

I expect Paul will go out first followed by Punam.

I expect Paul will go out first followed by Punam.

I think Punam will stay a while. She's got a lovely personality that people warm to, IMO, and she has good rhythm. I think she'll become competent. She reminds me of Dr Ranj with regards to enthusiasm and personality.

I like Punam; I just think no one knows who she was but I hope she stays longer.

I enjoyed last night's & watching Chris dance made me emotional - amazing achievement. Toyah was my least favourite & I'm not a fan of Neil at all, don't think he's good at getting the best out of his partners, so will be happy if they're first out.

I think Toyah will go first due to being (a) older woman and (b) not very good. She will at least be in the B2.

She wasn't actually the worst: Paul and Wynne were definitely worse, but the former will get the stupid football vote and the latter the annoying comedy contestant vote. Nick was bad too. If he is also in the B2 they might save Toyah over him.

I’ll be gutted if Toyah goes. She, Sarah Hadland and Chris McCausland were my favourites, and after seeing last night I’ve added Montell to them, which is a problem as that’s four people but only three votes……..

I really really hope Toyah was nervous, because she can get over that. But if she’s just not a good dancer I’ll cry.

DON’T LET ME DOWN TOYAH 👀

I suspect that Toyah is just not a good dancer. I was looking forward to watching her but she was really very not good at all. I'm not sure how easy she'll be to teach because it's unclear to me whether she realises how not very good at all she is.

As with every opening episodes of SCD there was just too much of it and by the end I was just grateful it was the last dance of the night. Dancers who stayed with me where Sarah and Vito, Tasha and Aljaz, MoJo, Chris and Dianne, and Paul and Karen although that was for all the wrong reasons. That's not to say there weren't other good dances just that they disappeared in my head due to there being so many dances. So, so many! Pete Wicks gives me the absolute ick.

Pete Wicks is giving me creepy Russell Brand vibes.

Yes I think Nick is Toyah's only chance for survival, but if he does a Surprisingly Sweet Bloke Waltz he might possibly get away with it.

Oh I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one thinking that!

I'm watching them on YouTube now. I would have voted for JB, Jamie and Sarah I think

Yes!