General Chat

dAgree that the show as a whole seemed to lack a bit of sparkle this week. I too agreed that the right person went out and was in total agreement with the two couples who were in the dance-off. I thought Jade was very brace sitting there no doubt wishing like mad that she was still a contestant. However, she had little choice but to pull out as her athletics career is so much more important. Good luck to her in the future. This does mean however that we are back to a two-contestant final which does detract from the excitement a bit. Never mind, it can;t be helped.
P>S> Where is Brummie Helen ? She used to contribute regularly to this thread. I hope she isn't poorly again.

Well, some quite low scores this week, so sad that Jade is out of the competition but wise for her not to risk permanent injury in her profession, you could see she was really upset. Pleased Laila's ankle was well enough for her to dance, surprised in a way she was in the dance off but the right one went I think.

I hadn't "clocked" Lionel Blair in the audience. It would have been great to have him on the show, as he is a dancer and has a good line of patter!
Maybe next week if bruce isn't well enough.

I even wondered (near the end) if Tess was okay. She was supporting herself on the Judges desk to the dismay of Bruno on the end! (He couldn't see the camera).

Will be watching Take Two with extra interest this week, to catch up with all the news. If Jade is unable to come back I would like to see her dress rehersal of her dance (before she got injured).
I know that it isn't quite the same, but it might be our only chance to see it

When is Darcy Bussell becoming a Judge? At this rate we will have more judges than contestants

Aww what a disappointment last night to see so many injured,it totally changed the format! poor Laila looked in agony, and wearing high heels to dance in was asking for trouble,but style of dance warranted heels.

I would like Ali and Jade in the final but afraid now it's in the lap of the Gods' isn't it? I feel the energy and practice they give is what puts Strictly head and shoulders above Xfactor ( imo of course)

Do hope everything's back to normal next week........when Craig was being interviewed you couldn't miss Lionel Blair peeping behind him lol....now he could have been a very good stand in for Brucie!!
....have to add I did think the right person went

Keeep dancing :O)

I think Ronnie Corbett was asked because it was very last minute and he is a great friend of Bruce's. I thought he did well enough considering I doubt he ever watches it. Maybe others were not available on a Saturday night. And I thought Tess did as well as Bruce and Claudia was fine. I like Bruce but can't say I actually missed him.

I agreed with the judges that in the dance off Ricky was better than Phil, neither of them are good and I was not surprised that theyw ere in the dance off, to be fair to her injury or not Laila didn't deserve to be in it although I am sure she did get part sympathy vote. Having had a sprained ankle and walked on it round Paris some years ago I don't know how she danced in those high heels it must have been excrutiatingly painful and it showed on her face.

I felt sorry for Jade, that is quite a serious injury for an athlete, it is quite possible that she wont be allowed to dance next week. Hopefully Laila's ankle will be better if she rests, but that means she can't rehearse.

Yes indeed - what a peculiar show this week. I felt desperately sorry for Jade as her injury looks potentially more serious than the usual run of the mill strains etc. The minute L|aila did the crying bit I knew she would go through - mainly on sympathy in my opinion ! Although I have supporte him since day one, I was disappointed in Chris' Paso - I didn't feel the choreography suited him - all that stamping was down to Ola. She didn't include anything that would show him in a proper Paso stance and walk but I am at odds with the judges here as they quite liked it. However, I am glad he went through. As for the dance-off - I don't think either couple performed particularly well, but on balance I would have put Phil through ahead of Ricky. I do hope it is a 'full house' next week with everyone returning. Tess and Claudia were ok as replacements but I cringed at Ronnie Corbett - he just wasn't the right person to fill in - why on earth didn't they ask someone like, say, Paul O'Grady who is a Strictly fan and much more capable of carrying on the show with his ad libs ?

What is happening to everyone?

Bruce is ill. Jade too injured to take part ... she even said that she was worried about being well enough to resume her athletic training in January, so seems to be rather serious.

Laila with a sprained ankle and unable to complete her dance.

Phil having some problems with his knee, he had to put ice on it we ease the swelling.
Ricky W said that they had made the dance slower because of his legs ( I don't know if they were giving him trouble or if they just can't go that fast anyway).

I missed seeing Jade dance. Didn't cast a vote this week as I didn't want to be influenced by the injuries. I also felt that if Laila had been in the dance-off, she wouldn't have been able to perform. Which would have meant that the other person would have gone through.

I wonder what will happen next week, if Jade has to give up. And Laila needs another week off


Well done Mau at the coast in getting the correct people for the dance off this week..
Do you think that the right person went

Yes, I agree, it was time that he went and the right two were in the dance off. Loved Ali's dance last night.

I also think Craig thought he was a good dancer, and in all the weeks he was on, he could never take what he was doing wrong, always wanted to say he deserved better. Not like the others who agreed when they went wrong.
I also noticed that he did not seem to fit in with the others, all seemed to have a good banter between them, and laughed and joked with each other not being too serious. Even on the coach going to Blackpool, he seemed like a fish out of water.
I think the Judges were all so fed up with last week when two good dancers were in the dance off, and Zoe had to go, that is why Alesha said what she did, and what the others were thinking.
Even good natured Len had to say he could not dance.

I really enjoyed the show last night and I expected Craig and Ricky to be in the dance off.
Poor Craig really did think he was a good dancer, I agree Alesha was a bit harse in her comments, she looked like she didn't actually like him ...imo

Haven't a big enough favourite at the moment,although I was pleased to see Ali and Brian with 10s!! they look beautiful together.

Think Ricky G. and Tuffers will be battling it out next week.

Yes, thought the right one went last night but I thought Alesha was a bit nasty with her comments.

Justice at last! Poor Craig was just not up to the level of the other dancers, (even Ricky Groves).

Great to see that none of the really good dancers were in the dance-off this week. I hope that common sense prevails next week too.

Looking forward to next weeks show as usual.

Tess

Hurray - at long last Craig has gone. I was amazed that he still can't accept that his dancing isn't very good. Thought Ali and Brian were delightful and was pleased for Chris that he put in a good performance. I wasn't as enamoured with Laila's performance as the judges seemed, but overall I thought it was a good night and I enjoyed the show

I'm waiting to see if Craig's latest whinge will be something like 'I don't want to be voted off in front of my family and home town' !!

I wouldn't hold your breath Tess!!

I haven't seen Footballers Wives and generally don't watch soaps, so didn't previously know (or even know of) Craig, Ali, Zoe or Laila.

Saw Craig R-H on breakfast this morning, he says he is looking forward to giving Zoe a cuddle on tonights Take Two. Am eager to tune in too.

Hoping that Claudia will stop harping on about Craig K. and encouraging people to vote for him. Hopefully people will now only vote for those people who have done well, i.e. either danced superbly or made loads of improvement.

Tess

Re Ali and her soft shoes

She stubbed her toe at rehearsals-very badly-and Bruno commented that you could she the bruising on her foot as she danced !

Do you think the vote for Zoe was effected by her character in Footballers Wives ?

It is significant that the same thing happens on strictly as happens on the X Factor, the underdog, or the one perceived to not have the talent to win on their own prowess is voted through by people who like to buck the system. The TV companies like it because the controversy brings them in more money, I am not sure about the entertainment value though, there are people like us who would like to see it 'played' as a proper competition. The same with the X Factor, I find it galling when people with no obvious singing talent are voted through and talented people are voted off. Still it is my choice to watch and I never spend my cash on voting so really I can't complain.

I think that Ali was wearing some kind of soft dance slippers, in a very pale colour. At first I thought that she had bare feet, but when I looked closely, she seemed to be wearing something on her feet, (other than tights).

Did anyone else notice?

tess

Tess, I actually thought that Ali was dancing in bare feet during the dance off. Maybe I was mistaken.