STRICTLY 2025 : Week 8 Post Show Chat

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

KEEP DANCING

Sorry I was late with this!

Apparently, they tried to have a ringer free series this year, but with both Kristian and Dani withdrawing, they needed people to replace them at short notice, who wouldn't be disadvantaged by lack of rehearsals.

Although I think Amber (who is, I think, the biggest ringer) will increasingly struggle with the lack of connection with Nikita, it's really obvious and affects the performance. Lewis, while trained as a child, has not danced professionally for over 10 years so I think is in the Danny Mac category. And I am a big fan of Katya, so I'd like to see them do well.

To be fair, he was in a dance troupe which came second in a tv competition, so Lewis has got competitive dance experience.

Competitive dance experience, yes. Same as Karen who also competed as a teenager in hip hop and Street style although to what calibre, we don't know.

I agree he's more of a Danny Mac ringer rather than Layton level ringer. Lewis would have left Ruff Diamond before he started his acting course in 2015.

What was the group / competition?

I’m intrigued by Alexis - is she a ‘proper’ ballroom dancer? One who has competed in ballroom competitions (& won)? I saw her on This Morning last week & Cat was reminiscing about how she first met Alexis on her US Show, So you think you can dance, where she won (or was runner up, I can’t remember) - I don’t believe that’s a ballroom / Latin competition, so might explain why she’s a bit of a rubbish pro on Strictly.

Alexis did Latin and Ballroom on. So you think you can dance.

She was also in DWTS dance troupe.

Thanks @Coffeeishot

There’s an awful lot of Pros now that don’t have a huge amount of “proper” ballroom and Latin experience, at least not at a high competitive level.

If you look at their bios it’s very common for them to be very good Juniors/Youth and even as amateurs but when they’ve gone Pro they can’t quite break through to the top level.

The dance off was the right decision. Vicki went to bits and was very honest about it.

Hopefully Bal will go next. it must be awful to know you are not getting the votes.

They were super unlucky to aim for a ringer free show and then end up with two of them! I do think it would've been a better and more balanced show if Dani had been able to participate, but it obviously couldn't be helped. Wonder if she'll still be partnered with Nikita next year.

2013 Got To Dance finalists, his group was called Ruff Diamonds, hip hop.

Thanks @Asunciondeflata - not heard of that show!

Nor me!

Anybody else feel like LV is being showcased by the BBC as a presenter...and even the votes are being rigged... 🙄

Definitely should have gone by now.

I felt sorry for Vicky - her position on the leaderboard this week was fair, and Bal danced a much better DO; but I always feel bad when people go because they've had a bad week rather than they've reached the end of the road / peaked. She was top of the leaderboard the week before.

Would have much preferred to have seen LV in the dance off.

I don't think the votes are rigged.

No the votes are not rigged,

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/strictly-scandal-celeb-affair-dancer-b1258394.html

Here's a clip of the show with Ruff Diamond. The quality isn't great, but I can just make out that the one on the far right is Lewis, and then he moves in to the second from right towards the end.

As you can see, it's a hip hop group, and the style is more Diversity rather than Strictly pros. Incidentally, Ashley Banjo was one of the judges.

Lewis would have fitted right in with the group dance on the results show.

I doubt that it's Amber and Nikita...

It just looks like another attempt from the tabloids to generate a curse story.

There are probably many things that happen behind the scenes that never get out to the public. Non story.

Yes, I thought Diversity as well. However, it does contrast with those with no dance performance experience at all.

Got to Dance was a lovely show, always super positive! And Ashey Banjo was a fab judge.

Ashley is brilliant, seems like a top bloke as well.