Page 7 | Strictly 2025 : Build Up To The Final

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 14:03

xsquared · 19/12/2025 12:06

The number of ringers and bad feeling about them.

To be fair, Amber and Lewis were only invited as replacements. Both had far less time to rehearse than the original contestants, who had 6 weeks. They would not have been able to get an absolute beginner to where they needed to be for the start.

Nikita was right when he said without Amber, he wouldn't be there and the show wouldn't be as good as it is, however unpopular that opinion is.

Contestants of their calibre and experience have always been on Strictly, and it's never been a level playing field.

Edited

Nikita was right when he said without Amber, he wouldn't be there and the show wouldn't be as good as it is, however unpopular that opinion is.
Amber being there doesn't make the show 'good' or better for me. What I'm enjoying is Karen, Balvinder, I liked Ross King (hopeless but sweet and a gentleman), La Voix and Aljaz... There's plenty of other things that go towards making the show good.

xsquared · 19/12/2025 14:13

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 13:57

His CC wasn't the Inbetweeners one, it was some other 'hip-hop' guff that was so poor I can't even remember it to describe it.
The Inbetweeners one was a Charleston.
But my point was I think the producers thought he and/or his voting demographic would know the K-Pop Demon Hunters thing.

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Incidentally, the KPop Demon Hunters Couple's Choice has the most Youtube views for this series, at 2.1M the last time I checked.

xsquared · 19/12/2025 14:15

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 14:03

Nikita was right when he said without Amber, he wouldn't be there and the show wouldn't be as good as it is, however unpopular that opinion is.
Amber being there doesn't make the show 'good' or better for me. What I'm enjoying is Karen, Balvinder, I liked Ross King (hopeless but sweet and a gentleman), La Voix and Aljaz... There's plenty of other things that go towards making the show good.

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Which is why I said it was an unpopular opinion.

Still, for many people, they will have enjoyed watching her dance and they would have preferred to see Nikita paired up with someone than no one at all.

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 15:29

xsquared · 19/12/2025 14:15

Which is why I said it was an unpopular opinion.

Still, for many people, they will have enjoyed watching her dance and they would have preferred to see Nikita paired up with someone than no one at all.

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Well, 'Nikita was right' implies that he was right objectively, rather than it being your (obviously allowed) opinion that it wouldn't be as good as it is.
If you meant he was right that without Amber, he wouldn't be there, of course that's true. I tend to prefer him when he's with less ringer-y people though; I think he gets a bit carried away/arrogant with really good ones. I disliked him quite a bit when he had Layton.

WarrenTofficier · 19/12/2025 16:12

xsquared · 19/12/2025 12:06

The number of ringers and bad feeling about them.

To be fair, Amber and Lewis were only invited as replacements. Both had far less time to rehearse than the original contestants, who had 6 weeks. They would not have been able to get an absolute beginner to where they needed to be for the start.

Nikita was right when he said without Amber, he wouldn't be there and the show wouldn't be as good as it is, however unpopular that opinion is.

Contestants of their calibre and experience have always been on Strictly, and it's never been a level playing field.

Edited

I dont think they get 6 weeks before the first dance its only 3 I think and there were other ways they could have got around the last stage drop out, they could have pursuaded someonewho has done the Christmas special to do it or asked an early drop out/knockout from a previous year to come back or just started with one fewer contestants or do the training stage with a 'reserve' who will be called in if necessary and be first on the list for the next year if they are not needed. The answer doesnt have to be bring in a ringer.

xsquared · 19/12/2025 17:04

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 15:29

Well, 'Nikita was right' implies that he was right objectively, rather than it being your (obviously allowed) opinion that it wouldn't be as good as it is.
If you meant he was right that without Amber, he wouldn't be there, of course that's true. I tend to prefer him when he's with less ringer-y people though; I think he gets a bit carried away/arrogant with really good ones. I disliked him quite a bit when he had Layton.

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I did already mention the bit about him saying the show not being as good without Amber was an unpopular opinion, and have nothing further to say about that.

@WarrenTofficier I meant by the time they do their week 1 dance. Everyone knows each other by then, but it was mentioned on ITT that Amber had 6 hours of learning and rehearsing time for their first dance.

It is possible that they already had a list of other celebrities to step in who were not available before they asked Amber.

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/12/2025 17:14

I don’t think asking an early drop out from a previous series would be a good move, bearing in mind they obviously weren’t that popular the first time round; and I can’t imagine any celeb setting themselves up for it either… they’d have to be mad wouldn’t they?

dapsnotplimsolls · 19/12/2025 17:43

My name is dapsnotplimsolls and I like the CC 😁

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/12/2025 17:43

dapsnotplimsolls · 19/12/2025 17:43

My name is dapsnotplimsolls and I like the CC 😁

Same

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 18:06

WarrenTofficier · 19/12/2025 16:12

I dont think they get 6 weeks before the first dance its only 3 I think and there were other ways they could have got around the last stage drop out, they could have pursuaded someonewho has done the Christmas special to do it or asked an early drop out/knockout from a previous year to come back or just started with one fewer contestants or do the training stage with a 'reserve' who will be called in if necessary and be first on the list for the next year if they are not needed. The answer doesnt have to be bring in a ringer.

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It might be that they did do the rounds of people who've done the Christmas special and got no bites.
You couldn't ask an early drop-out/knockout from a previous year; that wouldn't be politic at all. (although if there were someone else who'd dropped out after being announced but before training started, that would be OK).
Fewer contestants is a nightmare because, as this season has demonstrated particularly well/badly, you're then vulnerable if someone else/multiple people drop out once they've started.
I've always sort of liked the idea of a 'reserve', but it's a lot to ask for potentially not much reward (apart from being first on the list for the next year, but then people might not like to commit to that/feel that next year will be their only chance to go on).

WarrenTofficier · 19/12/2025 18:17

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/12/2025 17:14

I don’t think asking an early drop out from a previous series would be a good move, bearing in mind they obviously weren’t that popular the first time round; and I can’t imagine any celeb setting themselves up for it either… they’d have to be mad wouldn’t they?

I'm not suggesting any of these are perfect solitions - but neither is bringing in someone who could dance to a level that means they could stand in with 6 hours training. They would have been better to start someone in week two as no one goes home on the first week and double their score / averaged the other contestants scores to work out the leader board.

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 18:23

WarrenTofficier · 19/12/2025 18:17

I'm not suggesting any of these are perfect solitions - but neither is bringing in someone who could dance to a level that means they could stand in with 6 hours training. They would have been better to start someone in week two as no one goes home on the first week and double their score / averaged the other contestants scores to work out the leader board.

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With Layton, arguably more of a ringer than Amber, or at least equally so, he just started with all the others, didn't he, not as a late sub?
And Ashley thingy is a pro dancer and started normally too.
They just sometimes get in a massive ringer, whatever the reason or circumstances. I don't think it matters, really; you may lose a couple of more middle-ranking people early because they find themselves in a DO with the ringer, but people like Ashley and Amber never win, because the final is all down to the voting public and they don't vote for pros.

Buscobel · 19/12/2025 19:45

How much time did Kelvin Fletcher have, when he was a replacement for Jamie Laing? Jamie was in the launch show I think, so probably not much time for rehearsal.

DancingontheDancefloor · 19/12/2025 22:13

👀 So….Zoe Ball announces she is leaving Radio 2, The Saturday show she hasn't long taken on….

Strictly?

WarrenTofficier · 19/12/2025 22:43

DancingontheDancefloor · 19/12/2025 22:13

👀 So….Zoe Ball announces she is leaving Radio 2, The Saturday show she hasn't long taken on….

Strictly?

But if she is taking on Strictly she won't start for 9 months so she wouldnt need to leave her radio show now so I dont think the two are connected.

TitsInAbsentia · 19/12/2025 23:03

She did say in her podcast with Jo Whiley that she wouldn't want to handle something as big as strictly...but of course she cuold have been deflecting!

deadpan · 20/12/2025 05:06

@LittleBitofBread I couldn't warm to Nikita or Layton, every dance seemed the same.
I don't get the excuse that because they were both replacements therefore they needed to be professional performers. Kevin whatshisname replaced Jamie Lang and ended up winning. I'm guessing he went to stage school but grew up acting in Corrie or Emmerdale and there isn't much dancing going on in either of those programmes:-)

deadpan · 20/12/2025 05:09

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/12/2025 17:14

I don’t think asking an early drop out from a previous series would be a good move, bearing in mind they obviously weren’t that popular the first time round; and I can’t imagine any celeb setting themselves up for it either… they’d have to be mad wouldn’t they?

Some go out when they have a low scoring week, even though they're popular. Especially in the earlier weeks.

deadpan · 20/12/2025 05:19

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 19/12/2025 06:19

Hiring Tom Skinner was a massive error, and what he should have done, if he’d had an ounce of integrity or sense, was put it all behind him and go away quietly - but I can’t agree that the casting director needs to be axed for one bad apple. Generally I think we get a good mix of contestants. As a pp pointed out, we all have a different perception of what constitutes celebrity, depending what platforms we’re familiar with. Some solid household names, national treasures etc wouldn’t be interested in doing Strictly, however prestigious and/or squeaky clean it might be (was it ever?) and wouldn't necessarily make good viewing on a dance show, however famous and well liked they are.

I don’t agree it’s been a terrible series either. I’ve enjoyed it as much as ever.

100%

deadpan · 20/12/2025 05:28

Sweetiedarling7 · 18/12/2025 09:28

It has been so dull this year that after decades of viewing I’m not sure I will bother watching the final.
The constant ringers, the “comedy” vt links, the increasing theme weeks, the squeezing out performative emotion with family and finally the insertion of a bloke in a frock being referred to as “she” has ruined Strictly for me.
I think I’m done.

I think they refer to him as she because as La Voix he was the contestant. I was dreading it because today's drag queens seem to be all about the shading (as Paul O'Grady once said) and bitchiness. I ended up liking him though, a lot more witty than I thought, though I agree with others who said he doesn't have the experience for such a big show. Mind you Ive always found Tess rather cringy.
Janette and Fleur do a great job on itt - as did Zoe ball - but would either want to move over to the main show.

firstofallimadelight · 20/12/2025 05:30

TennisWithDeborah · 19/12/2025 10:23

I think that if there were vote rigging, an independent journalist would have exposed it by now. It would be a significant scoop.

This man is just peevish because no one wanted him to stay. He’s hoping to rile up the gammonry against SCD. It may work, it may not. 🤷‍♀️

The show has its faults but like everyone else on here, I really don’t believe that the vote is rigged.

I do think that some changes are needed and that C and T’s departures may be the right time to refresh SCD.

i agree I’d be surprised if they rigged the vote it’s so easily found out. Plus they don’t need to they want the better dancers to get through which works initially due to the judges scoring and voting system. Then later on they (the directors /producers) can control the narrative via dance style, song choice, vt footage, judges comments /scores. Plus the fact that the audience largely follow a routine of voting for those who are most improved/ zero dance experience / best story or challenge overcome.

firstofallimadelight · 20/12/2025 05:34

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/12/2025 08:55

I think that they need to "rest" the show for a few years. (It's what they did with Question of Sport. They don't say they'll never make a new series, but just don't make any new episodes until the time feels right).
I'm fed up with the couples choice usually being some kind of street dance.
I'd also like to see dances from other eras like the gavotte, polka or lindy hop. Or regional/International dances like Highland dancing or flamenco.
Even so I want George to win as he's a local guy.

its the second most popular show on bbc this year (with celeb traitors coming the first) Often it’s the biggest show of the year. People regularly say on mn it’s tired or not as good but the viewing figures do not reflect that at all.

firstofallimadelight · 20/12/2025 05:37

NewGirlInTown · 19/12/2025 00:13

He is by far my favourite professional dancer on the show. Always a great partner, head and shoulders above the other men in the pro routines, and a charmingly goofy personality full of laughter. He’s a delight and Janette is VERY lucky!

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I agree he’s a lovely man and they come across as a lovely couple

KimberleyClark · 20/12/2025 07:12

LittleBitofBread · 19/12/2025 14:03

Nikita was right when he said without Amber, he wouldn't be there and the show wouldn't be as good as it is, however unpopular that opinion is.
Amber being there doesn't make the show 'good' or better for me. What I'm enjoying is Karen, Balvinder, I liked Ross King (hopeless but sweet and a gentleman), La Voix and Aljaz... There's plenty of other things that go towards making the show good.

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Amber certainly made it better for me. I haven’t been so excited about a final in years even though I know she has no chance of winning.

Sweetiedarling7 · 20/12/2025 08:07

deadpan · 20/12/2025 05:28

I think they refer to him as she because as La Voix he was the contestant. I was dreading it because today's drag queens seem to be all about the shading (as Paul O'Grady once said) and bitchiness. I ended up liking him though, a lot more witty than I thought, though I agree with others who said he doesn't have the experience for such a big show. Mind you Ive always found Tess rather cringy.
Janette and Fleur do a great job on itt - as did Zoe ball - but would either want to move over to the main show.

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I believe he is known to be not vulgar and cruel in the manner which modern day drag favours.

I had no issue with Lily Savage and liked the political comedy. Lily Savage was a positive female character quite unlike the disgusting misogyny the bbc shows on drag race.

I dislike the use of “she” by the bcc in relation to drag because it links to their referring to all men who say they are women as if they are women.

Clarity is needed and this situation on strictly is at best unhelpful.

This bloke is not the worst by a long chalk but the whole concept is now tainted.
I also think it inappropriate for a family show.