Strictly Come Dancing 2009

[Mark Fox]

Andy Williams will be appearing on Saturday 3rd October.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

A great start to Strictly and we are hooked already, the judges..as they were before. Craig,-- back to form with his trade mark cutting comments even though it was the first week and Len had to remind him of this, and Alesha doing her best ... although not quite enough after all the stick she's taken.
The dancers all done well, but we agreed that Ali Bastion and Brian were the best. Lynda Bellingham was acting superbly in her dance and that could help her later on if she survives.
Ricky Groves was good too and could go far .
Ray Wilding, Joe Calziago and Chris Hollins marched their way around the floor, but obviously trying to remember the steps.
Martina was good and so was Jade.
It can only get better. Brilliant !!!

[michduncg]

Aww - Strictlys back!! Autumn has definitely arrived!

With my 'Google' on standby to see who some of the participants actually are, I caught up with this at about 9pm last night. Bruce is great (although I may have rose tinted glasses on as he has just so familiar and comfortable!), the new panel is shaping up nicely (with Alesha being nice, but honest where needed!). Craig didn't flinch from giving Joe Calziago some stinging (but accurate!) feedback.

Was very impressed with Ricky Groves, and Ali Bastion. Martini was very graceful but lacked warmth and Linda Bellingham was just classic - those faces she was pulling added a lot of humour to a rather dull routine. Joe Calziago surprised me - I expected a much stronger performance, but he looked like he has used Boris Karloff as his inspiration with all his lurching around!

[Marian]

I agree, an excellent start to the series last night. The celebrities seem quite a talented bunch on the whole this year, apart from a few robotic performances. Alesha didn't really add much to the panel of judges and didn't really have much to say, everything technical had to be contributed by "the boys"!
Did anyone think the lady choreographer for the group dance looked, and even sounded like, a younger Arlene Phillips? We did. Maybe they all come out of the same mould!
Anyway, looking forward to tonight, I think I'll be giving the X Factor a miss.
We will miss the next two weeks being away and I'm wondering who will have gone by the time we come back.
Marian

[Mark Fox]

Isn't Arlene working in America and couldn't do both shows?Aha!

[mariana44]

Arlene is going to be judge on a new dance show--on the lines of "So you think you can dance" the US show--it is like an x factor for dancers.

[maureen & harry]

I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed SCD and have to confess that I thought Alesha was really good with her comments. I know she's not a professional but she did make some interesting points.

I think for the first week the standard reached was really good. I think poor Joe has got his work cut out but you never know sometimes these big guys really improve over the weeks - remember Darren Gough at first.

I think this series will be every bit as good as the last one - at least I hope so.

Maureen

[Marian]

I didn't agree with tonight's verdict at all. I thought Joe should have gone, but obviously he will have lots of followers.
Martina improved tonight by leaps and bounds, and of the final two I thought Rav should have gone.
Good enjoyable show overall though.
Marian

[Sandra]

I agree with all that Marian,and yes it was a super show.
Alesha is good if not a bit 'safe' with her remarks.
Bruce is as excellent as ever.
One thing ,although it is great that the music and singers are 'live' I do wish that the songs chosen were a bit more appropriate for the dance.
The Americans don't seem 'scared' to use a 'classic' song in their version as we do.
Just my opinion

[Marian]

I agree Sandra. Some of the performances were spoiled for me by the choice of song.

[Mark Fox]

Sorry-I watched'MONTEZUMA'on BBC 2 TV!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Couldn't agree more Sandra and Marian, about the chosen music for those dances. There are such lovely songs and music for Waltzes and Tango's, and how they keep in step is a miracle.
It was a surprise when Joe was saved, but in the dance off, we didn't think that Martina put any special effort into her performance, and wasn't really surprised at the result.
Not sure how long Joe will last though, and er-- Lynda we'll say no more.
Ricky Groves is really going for it.
Brucie must have got a wake up call, and has been in good form on these Two opening shows and his comments to Joe after Craigs comments were quite funny.
Fantastic dancing by the professionals.

[mariana44]

On the "Dancing on Ice" programme, they always use original recordings, which I much prefer.

[michduncg]

Big news in todays 'Sunday Mirror' is that Alesha's performance has generated 2000 comments on the shows website - most of them adverse and calling for her sacking and the reinstatement of Arlene Philips. I'm not sure why Arlene left, some say it was an anti-age thing but then Len & Bruce are still there! Apparently Alesha is having to ask members of her family in the audience for their advice before making a comment.

Of course, no-one complains like us Brits, and when the tabloids and mob get the knifes out for a celeb, they had better watch their backs! I feel sorry for her really - the BBC chose her knowing full well of her limited expertise, and are paying her £100,000 to come out with comments that she isn't qualified to make - thats not her fault!

[mariana44]

I agree-if they were intent on replacing Arlene-why not choose someone who knerw about dancing--Camilla or Karen would both have been perfect-at least they know what they are talking about--I guess they thought Alesha's personality would be enough to see her through, but I do not think that is going to be the case.

Arlene seems to have been very dignified over all this-I have not heard or seen any adverse comments from her.