Emma Bunton Interview

Emma Bunton is the celebrity in the hotseat for today's 60 Second Interview in the Metro. There are a few comments about Strictly in there, but not really enything we haven't heard before.

"We’re doing two dances a week now, which has blown my mind."

Now Party Photos

Now magazine held a party a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the magazine's 10th birthday. There are some great pics of Ian, Camilla and Brendan at the party on the Now website. Vincent was also at the party, but didn't make it into the photos. There are also pictures in this week's issue of Now.

Heat Magazine

Make sure you flick through this week's Heat magazine. It contains an interview with the judges, and some great pictures. Len makes an excellent Del Boy. And look out for some old pics including Craig 'The Body' Revel Horwood!

Darren Gough: "I Was More Nervous Dancing Than I've Ever Been Playing Cricket"

Darren Gough has been interviewed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, talking about how he loved dancing, and getting kids dancing as part of the Little Penguins campaign.

Darren gives an insight into how he felt about last year's Strictly final.

"I never wanted to win; I always said I wanted Zoe Ball to win. Once she went out and there was just me and Colin, I thought 'right, I'm going to win this now' and put in my best performance on the A Night To Remember dance. Colin and Erin danced with the puppets and luckily for me it didn't go down very well!"

Everything To Dance For

You may or may not have heard of Everything To Dance For. It's a movie which has been in post-production for a fair old while now.

The movie is about Ellie, played by Sasha Jackson, a schoolgirl who wants to dance but her family can't afford the lessons. Ellie gets a job to pay for lessons, and after trying ballet in a class where she doesn't fit in, she finds that belly dancing suits her better. The film covers a lot of hard-hitting topics, including bullying and poverty.

Strictly fans should note that the film also features an appearance by our own Brendan Cole!

Pearl Howie, the film's director, has set up a MySpace, and blogs that she hopes it will be released in early 2007. Music clearance has taken quite a time.

There is also an official website for the film. And Sasha Jackson also has some pics on her website, including some lovely ones of Mr. Cole.

Here's the trailer.

Emma Bunton: "I'd Be Quite Shocked If I Won"

Another Emma Bunton interview, this time from the Belfast Telegraph. It's a really nice one, and makes a refreshing change from all the rubbish that's been in the red tops of late.

"The training is very hard work. Bless Darren, he's very patient with me. The thing is, I pick something up but tend to forget it very quickly, and he has to keep going over it with me."

I'm familiar with that problem myself...

Arlene Phillips: "I Think Some Of Them Got Some Secret Training In”

A short piece about Arlene appeared in Saturday's Sun. In it, she suggests that some of the participants have had secret training. I'm not quite sure what 'secret' training would be.

Again, she suggests that some of the judges have been tired and irritable lately.

And she comments on the nation's rush back to the ballrooms.

"Because of the Darren Gough effect, men are starting to see how dance can help you get fit and lose weight, but still be manly.”

Posh To Choose Emma's Outfit?

In a very short People piece, it is claimed that Emma would like Victoria Beckham to choose her dress if she makes it to the Strictly final.

"[Victoria] is a style queen and I trust her completely. Only Vic could choose my dress."

This seems a bit odd, as the Strictly outfits are designed by dancewear specialists Chrisanne and DSI. They consult with the dancers from time to time, but I would be very surprised if Mrs. B gets a say. Perhaps Victoria will be choosing Emma's outfit to wear in the bar after the show.

Claire King: "Brendan's Never Taken The Time To Get To Know Me"

Here's an article from The People this week, which has quotes from Claire saying they didn't get on that well. She dispells those rumours that they were more than friends.

"As for there being anything physical between us, please, I could have eaten him for breakfast but I'd rather eat cold toast."

This article sounds a bit over the top, but there are elements that ring true.

"I feel like I'm competing for his time. He's constantly on his phone during training, but we've got a job to do. I don't need or want that sort of lifestyle. Brendan may be sowing his wild oats wherever and whenever he can scatter them but that's not with me!"

A journalist who interviewed Brendan for The Mirror last month complained that Brendan was rather attached to his mobile.

Monday Musings: Week 8

Strictly Come Dancing is getting more and more competitive. Here are my thoughts on Week 8 of the competition.

I was pleasantly surprised by Matt & Lilia's jive. Matt really appears to be enjoying himself now, and it makes him more pleasurable to watch. His flicks were pretty good and he's improved leaps and bounds since the cha cha. He's still not as strong as some of the others, but he's come about the furthest of those that are still in the competition. I loved Lilia's dress!

I agreed with Arlene and Bruno 100% with their comments about Carol. Technically, she's pretty good now, but she needs to let go, relax, feel the music and dance. I loved the romance at the beginning of Carol and Matthew's waltz. But she did look pretty nervous. I loved the lift at the end of the routine.

Louisa and Vincent continue to improve. Their paso doble was excellent. It was compelling and passionate. Louisa looked amazing. I don't know if it was her make-up, but she looked so much more grown-up than at any other point during the series.

Emma and Darren performed their American smooth well. The routine had a couple of complicated lifts. Emma now has lovely pointed toes on her kicks. After the shock of being in the bottom two, Emma worked hard and it payed off.

I loved Claire and Brendan's samba. It wasn't the best technically, but Claire suddenly seems to be having so much fun on the floor, and it really shows. She's a good performer. They danced to a fun song in I Love To Love. The routine had wonderful musicality and Claire coped well with some fast footwork. It didn't even matter that they missed the end of the music. It was one of my favourite performances of the evening.

Karen has a real flair for the Viennese waltz. Mark and Karen were a delight to watch this week. They covered the floor beautifully. The lift at the end was a nice touch. I was interested that in the VT, Karen said of the Viennese waltz "One small mistake and the dance is over." Yet last year, she and Bill managed to cover their mistake and still put in a good performance.

I was totally distracted in the group dance by Brendan's mic incident. So I missed most of it at the time. Having watched it again, I enjoyed it. I really liked the circle at the end, where the ladies did a turn with each guy. There were a few slips and mistakes, but it was fun to watch.

It was a real shame to see Claire and Brendan voted out of the competition, although it was probably their time to leave. Over the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed their work. Perhaps they've felt they had nothing to lose the past few weeks, and so relaxed and enjoyed it. Who knows? But whatever they've been doing, it's been working. I will miss them.

It gets tough from next week, with each couple having to perform two dances each.

Here are the videos...

Matt & Lilia



Carol and Matthew



Louisa and Vincent



Emma and Darren



Claire and Brendan



Mark and Karen



Group dance

Emma Bunton: "I’ve Always Got This Fear That I’m Going To Trip Up"

There was a very nice interview with Emma in Saturday's Sun. In it, she talks about Strictly, Jade and those Spice reunion rumours.

“When I was offered the chance to be on show, Jade reminded me that during the last series I said it would be the only reality show I would ever do — so it really came back to bite me on the bum!"

It seems that the training room is not the only place the participants can get injured.

“We were so happy with our performance a couple of Saturdays ago that we all went out for a few drinks. I wasn’t drunk but I was a bit tipsy, shall we say, and we were dancing in this bar and Darren grabbed me and didn’t catch me — so I fell on the floor and now I have a badly bruised bum.”

Ballroom Babies

Here is a very sweet local paper article from the Norwich Evening News about Luke Miller and Bonnie-Rae Wilson, two of the young dancers who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday.

The pair were crowned Freestyle Pairs Champions (10-13 year olds) at the recent IDTA Nationwide Medallist of the Year Competitions.

Claire & Brendan's Friendship

Last week, The Mirror published a bit of a non-story, suggesting that Claire and Brendan are more than friends.

As far as I can see, this is based on absolutely nothing. The article says they have become 'very friendly'. I'm sure we'd all become friendly with someone we spent that amount of time with. There is absolutely no story here, expect some desperate hack trying to link Brendan to another partner, just becuase it made good copy almost three years ago.

ZZZzzz...

Arlene Phillips: "We're More Crotchety With Each Other Than Usual"

A lovely interview with Arlene from the Daily Mail, talking about her life and judging Strictly Come Dancing.

In it, Arlene admits to wondering if Mark was having everyone on.

"I was very suspicious so I did some digging and talked to as many people as I could, but to no avail. Aside from dancing at parties, it's all new to him."

She also admits that the judges don't always get on like a house on fire.

"All the judges are juggling so many balls. By the time we arrive in the studio on Saturday we're exhausted and tense before anyone is near the dance floor. We generally get on well but at the moment we're more crotchety with each other than usual."

It's well worth reading the whole article. It's a real insight into Arlene.

Dance Today

Dance Today has gone Strictly crazy lately. Following Anton & Erin and Karen, it's Camilla's turn to grace the front cover.

The November issue features an interview with Ian & Camilla about their new DVD. It also has a review of Len Goodman's DVD.

I would appriciate it if anyone can furnish me with a scan of the articles. This is for personal use and will not be posted on SCB. Email me at the address at the top of the page.

Georgina In Panto

Georgina Bouzova is appearing in Snow White at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, Surrey this Christmas, from 8th December to 7th January.

Which is more scary? The Wicked Queen or James Jordan?

Closer Articles

There are a couple of Strictly articles in Closer magazine this week. Thanks to Shadow from Velvet Snug Ballroom for the scans.

There's an interview with Mark.



And one with Jan.

Anton Fanspace

A group of lovely ladies from the Anton & Erin forum have set up a MySpace fan page for Anton du Beke. Let's face it, Anton isn't going to set up one for himself, is he?

Make Anton's friends your friends.

http://www.myspace.com/antondubeke

New Nicole Blog Entry

Ms. Cutler is back with a few juicy tidbits about this week's pro dance, which Nicole is choreographing herself.

"I am convinced the BBC think I don't have another life outside of the show".

Well, at least Nicole's obsession with the show can be classed as 'work'. I wish mine could!

Read Nicole's blog.

DVD Petition

There was some whittering on Digital Spy about starting a petition to get Strictly Come Dancing released on DVD. Rather than listen to the whittering, I decided that someone (ie me!) should take ownership of such a project.

So, if you'd like to see SCD released on DVD for us all to enjoy again and again, please take a look.

SIGN THE PETITION.

Emma Wants Extra Tuition

According to The Sun today, Emma has asked producers for extra lessons to avoid being in the bottom two again.

I was under the impression that the amount of training she gets is between her and Darren. As long as he is available, they can train as much as they like. Emma and Darren were on a tight schedule last week, with Emma promoting Downtown, and Darren compeating with Lilia at the British Nationals on Friday. This week should be a little less hectic for them.

Emma: "I'm a massive Mark Ramprakash fan"

It was well documented that Louisa was voting for Emma in the early part of the competition, but it seems Emma might be sending her votes elsewhere.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Emma likes Mark.

"I'm a massive Mark Ramprakash fan. I'm like 'Mark is going to win it! And he's so gorgeous. He's gorgeous, isn't he?".

What A Difference A Day Makes

According to Saturday's Sun, all wasn't well in the Ramprakash-Hardy camp, with Mark supposedly telling Karen to 'Eff Off'.

Yet, just a day later, Sunday's People reports that Mark and Karen couldn't be getting on any better.

It's all a bit of a non-story really. Most professional relationships have ups and downs, no matter what your line of work. It's just human nature.

In a way, I hope Mark did tell Karen to eff off. It's be great to see that kind of passion from Mark! He's usually so nice.

Monday Musings: Week 7

Here my thoughts on Week 7 of Strictly Come Dancing.

I'm afraid I had to agree with the judges about Emma and Darren's cha cha. It was good, but I'm now expecting to be blown away, and they're just not doing that. Emma still needs more hip action, especially on those sexy latin walks.

Claire and Brendan did another great job. I thought their tango was really clean and well-performed. Claire's head turns could have been way sharper, but it was a great effort. Brendan didn't seem to confident earlier in the week, so I was impressed when they hit the floor.

Mark and Karen didn't set the floor on fire this week. Mark seemed to get over his intimacy issues with the rumba, but there was just something missing. Perhaps they just didn't connect quite enough. I liked the repetition of the outward round kicks towards the end, it looked lovely.

I didn't agree with the judges' "waterfall of praise" for Carol and Matthew this week. I thought they were over-compensating for last week's harsh comments. Like Emma, she needs more hip action, and she needs to relax her shoulders more. But they still work together well as a couple and I liked the routine. It just left me a bit cold.

Peter and Erin were back in their comfort zone of ballroom this week. His left hand was pretty ugly on the beginning bit, and it took a bit long to get into hold for my liking. But once there, it was classic classy Peter.

Louisa and Vincent were excellent on Saturday. They had a fantastic tango song choice in Sweet Dreams. The routine wasn't so packed with steps and they performed it very well indeed. The Evita tango lesson worked wonders on Louisa's giggles. Tango tends to favour the longer-limbed dancers for elegance, but Louisa and Vincent looked great. It was beautifully staccato, and had a few of Vincent's Argentinean-style flourishes. It was Louisa's best performance since the jive.

Matt and Lilia's waltz wasn't quite as special as the American smooth last week, but it was still much better than earlier weeks. And the waltz doesn't quite have the same wow-factor as the smooth anyway. It was classy and well-performed. I loved the lift at the end.

I don't think the result was a big shock to anyone this week, although seeing Emma and Darren in the bottom two was. This series has had so many twists and turns. It again proves that no-one is safe. Not even those the bookies have tipped to be in the final. I think every elimination from hereon in will be hard to take. Everyone deserves a place in the competition now, and it's going to be touch to see anyone else go. But that's the nature of the competition.

I have to mention the amazing pro quickstep. I loved it, especially the beginning with the guys performing solo. It was fabulous.

Here are the videos.

Emma and Darren



Claire and Brendan



Mark and Karen



Carol and Matthew



Peter and Erin



Louisa and Vincent



Matt and Lilia



Pro Dancers

Mark Turns Wembley On!

Rain didn't stop play on Friday night, when Mark Ramprakash switched on the Christmas lights in Wembley town centre.

Despite the terrible weather, a small but loving crowd were there to see Mark push the plunger without getting electrocuted!





There's no video footage of Mark becuase it was too dark. Brent council's budget must have all gone on the Christmas lights, because there were no lights on the presentation stage!

Mark was mobbed after he'd done his thing. And I was there to join in the mobbing!

Mark Ramprakash Lights Up Wembley

Mark Ramprakash will be switching on the lights in Wembley town centre at 5pm this afternoon.

I wonder if Karen will be joining him.

SCB Exclusive: Emma & Darren's Cha Cha

Emma Bunton performed at the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony in Covent Garden last night.



She performed three songs; 2 Become 1, a song from her new album and Downtown.

Here is an exclusive clip of Downtown.



Afterwards, she brought Darren on, and they did a sample of their cha cha routine for this Saturday.

Here is the exclusive video. You saw it here first.

Fergie: "I'd Like Them To Teach Me The Tango."

Sarah, Duchess of York, has expressed an interest in appearing on Dancing With The Stars.

In an interview with US show Inside Edition, she said she's up for a tango.

"I did go to the oldest tango place and I did look at it and think, 'I can try this'".

Emma At Covent Garden

It's a tough life being a Strictly fan. Decisions, decisions.

While Spoony is at a store opening tonight, Emma Bunton will be switching on the Covent Garden Christmas lights, and performing Downtown.

Being in two places at once is a skill I have yet to master!

Meet Spoony Tonight

Remember Spoony? He was the one who made a shock exit early in this year's competition.

Well, you could help him mop away the tears tonight if you are in London. Spoony will be at the opening of the new Albion computing store at 112 The Strand at 6pm.

Angela Griffin: "I’m Too Competitive"

Actress Anglea Griffin is the latest celebrity to be linked to Strictly Come Dancing.

According to The Sun, Strictly is the only 'reality' show that Angela would consider being a part of, but worries she'd be too competitive for the dancefloor.

“I would come across with this ugly personality if things didn’t go my way and I would want to chin Craig Revell-Horwood if he said anything nasty about my dancing!”

It is unclear from the article if Angela was ever approached to be a part of the programme, saying only, “I’ve been approached by all the reality TV shows but haven’t done any yet."

Tommy Blaize Interview

There is an interview with Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize on the BBC website. Last week there was a call for questions, and they asked Tommy mine!

Louise asks: Of all the songs you have performed for the dancers, which was your favourite and why?

The Big Band stuff, the swing. I love doing all that. Anything by Marvin Gaye.

We were lucky enough to get a Marvin Gaye for the first time in four series this year. So that was absolutely lovely to do. I enjoy the challenge every week. More so I enjoy the things that I'm not usually used to doing. Things out of your scope, I quite like that in a quite sick, sadistic way.

I'd recommend reading the whole interview. It's not very long and quite interesting.

Mark & Karen On It Takes Two

Mark and Karen appeared on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two last night to talk about their rumba. The interview was fab, and luckily it's on YouTube to enjoy Time After Time.



I shall be watching their rumba with interest. Mark appears to have issues with Karen invading his personal space. Like Bill Turnbull last year, Mark is having intimacy issues. It's fair enough really. He and his wife have been together for 18 years, and I would imagine after all that time it must be very uncomfortable to be that intimiate with someone who isn't your wife.

We'll find out on Saturday if he can overcome it, and give the ladies the sexy rumba they are gagging to see.

"If you're gonna pull a woman, pull her!"

Classic Karen. You have to love her.

The Tango!

Remember that last week, Lilia nominated Zoe and Ian's tango as her favourite ever Strictly dance?

Well, now some kind soul has put it on YouTube for us to enjoy again and again.

Camilla: “I Was In The Bar!”

Don't you love watching tabloid newspapers contradict themselves. After an earlier report that Camilla had locker herself away for an hour after Saturday's result, The Sun has now run a story which says that "despite her obvious disappointment at being booted, Camilla didn't let it get her down when the cameras stopped rolling."

“I was in the bar! We all went for a drink together – the dancers, the celebrities, everyone - as we do after every show. It’s the one time where all of us get to relax a bit. My boyfriend was there too and he cheered me up with a cuddle.”

So not locked in her dressing room, then?

Who would she like to do well? Claire and Brendan will be getting some support, but Camilla will also be backing her follow countryman.

“Personally, I would put my money on Peter Schmeichel reaching the final. He’s a wonderful guy who’s been on a real journey, I'm hoping he'll do it for the Danish!"

Mrs. Ramprakash Speaks!

There was yet another Sunday Mirror article this week, an interview with Mark's wife Vandana.

In it she says that she doesn't mind the attention Mark gets.

"He's always attracted female attention but it doesn't worry me. If he wants to be with me he will be - that's how I look at it. He's a cricketer who goes away on tours. If I was worried about that sort of thing I wouldn't have married him."

Well said! That's how you stay together for 18 years. Trust.

"[Karen] is an amazing woman. Like Mark she is incredibly meticulous and they have developed a great rapport, which with Mark takes a while because of his shyness."

Behind The Scenes Of Downtown

There are some lovely pics from beind-the-scenes of the Downtown video shoot on The Sun's website.

The one of Carol and Matthew is particularly lovely.

Camilla Locked Herself Away

If you believe the report in yesterday's Sun, Camilla locked herself in her dressing room for an hour after Saturday's programme.

After their Week 1 success, I thought Camilla had really lucked out this year and got herself a partner who could dance. I really thought she could go all the way.

As Camilla herself said on It Takes Two last night, they had their bad week on the wrong day. Many of the others had improved so much.

Mark Ramprakash: "I'd Never Seen Strictly"

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Mark Ramprakash admits that he hadn't seen Strictly Come Dancing when he signed up for the show.

"I have to confess, I'd never seen Strictly, so I had no idea how many people watched it. My wife and nine-year-old daughter loved it, but when it came on I used to find something else to do."

He also reveals the nerves he suffered before the first show.

"It was a horrendous day. Really, really difficult. My dress rehearsal was hopeless. It was my last chance to practise before we went live and I fell over, so that knocked my confidence quite a bit. And of course, Karen and I were the last couple to go on, so we had even longer to wait, and even longer to worry."

It's a good thing that he decided to carry on, as he has proved to be a big hit-ter with the viewers.

Sorry. I've been reading too many of these tabloid newspaper atricles in the past few weeks. Hit-ter indeed!

Peter Schmeichel: "I've Never Felt The Whiplash!"

There was an interview with Peter Schmeichel in this week's Sunday Mirror.

There isn't really anything in the interview that we haven't heard before, but it's worth a skim.

Monday Musings: Week 6

Here are my thoughts on Week 6 of Strictly Come Dancing.

Week 6 already? I can't believe it. The competition is getting hotter, and things are starting to change around, with the weaker couples finding their feet, and the stronger couples slowing down.

I thought that Ray and Camilla had an odd song choice in I Don't Feel Like Dancing. It lacked the party atmosphere that the samba needs. Their routine was good, but lacked a bit of wow-factor.

Claire and Brendan's American smooth was classy and elegant. Claire now needs to use her face more. She had the most gorgeous smile on her face at the end of the routine. If her face had lit up like that throughout the dance, it would have been even better. Brendan did a great job. The lift was well-executed. I think they have turned a corner.

Darren pitched the samba perfectly for Emma. It showed her abilities well, without being too much. The song choice, Ricky Martin's Maria, was perfect for samba. Emma gave a strong performance, but I do feel that she needs to use her hips a little more. But she worked hard on the routine and it showed.

Mark and Karen did a classy American smooth. The lifts were beautiful, his lines were clean and the routine was enjoyable. Like Claire, Mark should smile more on a routine like that and show the audience how much he is enjoying himself.

In my opinion, Vincent tried to push Louisa just a little too far with the samba. Just because she is physically capable of doing the steps, doesn't mean he should pack them in there. A few less steps would have allowed Louisa to really come alive. Her spins were amazing. Louisa did well with what she was given, but I think if she had been given Emma's routine, she could have been even better.

Matt and Lilia were an absolute pleasure to watch. They are really coming together as a team. Matt had a wonderful smile. I loved Matt's round de jambes at the beginning. The lift was fantastic. Despite being a latin specialist, Lilia has such a flair for this type of choreography. It's was their personal best by a long way.

Peter and Erin's samba was very enjoyable. No-one was expecting much from it, but he gave it performance and attack, and it was fun. His few bits of footwork were actually pretty good. Like Darren's, Erin's choreography was pitched perfectly to her partner's ability, and showed off the things Peter was able to do. I feel a lot better about their latin now.

Because of the fantastic song choice (It's Oh, So Quiet), I was expecting big things from Carol and Matthew. But like the judges, it did leave me a little bit cold. I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe there wasn't enough light and shade between the two time signatures in the music. Maybe it was something about Carol. I don't know. I loved the lift at the end, though.

I think, based on Saturday's performances, the right couple were at the bottom. But Ray and Camilla could have got further.

The competition is getting much closer, and we might start getting a few shocks in the coming weeks. It's still anybody's game.

Here are the videos. Don't you just love YouTube?

Ray and Camilla



Claire and Brendan



Emma and Darren



Mark and Karen



Louisa and Vincent



Matt and Lilia



Peter and Erin



Carol and Matthew

Stop Press: BBC Breakfast

Peter Schmeichel will be interviewed on BBC Breakfast after 9am this morning.

You've got 10 minutes to get comfy!

The Best Dances Ever

I couldn't let the day pass without mentioning the fantastic new segment on It Takes Two last night, which features the professional dancers choosing their all-time favourite Strictly routine, that they wish they had done themself.

I think it's one of the best new ITT segments in a long time.

Lilia did the picking last night and opted for Zoe and Ian's tango from Series 3.

I feel like a lot of my time is still spent defending Zoe Ball. I thought she was fantastic throughout last series, but many people insist on slagging her off. I was so proud that Lilia admired the routine.

The tango had passion, and you couldn't help but get caught up with this amazing, firey couple.

This got me wracking my brain to think of which routines I would choose.

Of course, Jill and Darren's jive would be high on the list.
I liked Denise and Ian's quickstep, mainly for its musicality.
Bill and Karen's cha cha was fantastic. Great choreography and no-one's facial expressions have been as good as Bill's.
Zoe and Ian's waltz was magical.
Jill and Darren's rumba was one of the sexiest I can remember.
I'm sure there must be a Lesley and Anton one too, but it's been so long since I saw their routines, I just can't remember.

I'm struggling on pasos. Sarah and Brendan's was the most memorable, but I don't think it was the best.

Erin is choosing her favourite next week.

Hoodie Come Dancing

According to an article in today's Sun, Craig thinks the nation's 'hoodies' should take up dancing.

"It would be great to get all the hoodies [doing] ballroom and it will change their lives forever. They can get a natural high from dancing."

He also mentions one of the sad realities of my generation.

"When I was young, everybody danced with a partner. Then the dancing changed and everyone started head banging on their own and taking drugs. People don’t dance with each other anymore and I think they should.”

Sometimes he actually does talk sense.

Craig: "Jan is a bad loser"

Just a few words from Craig on 24dash.com. I can't remember if this is the same as what was in the tabloids at the beginning of the week.

"She shouldn't have blamed the judges. It was down to a public vote, we couldn't control that. She should have left with dignity."

Darren and Lilia Interviews

TV bloggers TVScoop.tv, have interviews with both Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett.

Interestingly, Darren's comments about Brendan are quite positive.

"I can see that [Brendan] has some valid points to be honest. I think it’s more of a problem with some of the comments than the scores - to dismiss an entire performance when people have put a lot of work into it…"

If you read nothing else, do read Darren's answer to the question, "Apart from yourself and Emma and Lilia and Matt, which other couple are you impressed with?". It's classic married couple stuff!

Brendan In Star Magazine

While Camilla is in New magazine this week, Brendan is in Star this week. There are some wonderful pics of Mr. Cole re-creating Singin' In The Rain.

Thanks to Dvj140 of the Activeboard, here is a scan of one of the pics. To see the rest, either join the forum or buy the magazine!

Children In Need Night

We all know that the Downtown single is in aid of Children In Need.

So it's great to see that Emma and other members of the SCD gang will be performing on the CIN broadcast on Friday night.

According to the BBC Website, they'll be 'performing' between 9.30pm and 10pm. It'll be interesting to see what role the "stars of Strictly Come Dancing" will play in the performance. I'll settle for anything more than they do in the video!

Camilla in New Magazine

There is an interview with Camilla Dallerup in the current issue of New magazine. Typical questions, blah, blah, blah. I think Camilla is an amazing woman to be able to cope with the same old quesions, over and over again.

Thanks to Dancedancedance of the Activeboard, here are the scans. Click on the image to enlarge.

Downtown Video

I'm sure most of you have probably already seen it, but if you haven't, here is the full Downtown video. Look out for all the Strictly cameos. I especially like Craig and his paddles!



What you may not have seen is this unofficial remix, which I think is rather fab!

Jan on BBC Breakfast

I have heard that Jan Ravens will be a guest on BBC Breakfast tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

Brendan: "We're just friends, honestly"

There is quite a lengthy interview with Brendan in the Daily Mail. It covers all the usual old ground ("I did not cheat on Camilla with Natasha"), with the Mail helpfully filling in the gaps between the quotes from Brendan.

But there are a few highlights that might be of interest.

On getting that call from the BBC in 2004: "I was against it. But [Camilla] talked me round and I agreed."

On Claire King: "She has a rawness about her, definitely. We're both quite strong-willed and we could definitely come to blows if we weren't careful, but we know when to push buttons."

On SCD training: "The thing is that when you're training, you're spending several hours a day with this person four or five times a week and sometimes you end up forgetting that you actually don't know them very well. It's extremely intense and it's easy to become too familiar."

On that Abi Titmuss story: "We're just friends, honestly. I've known Abi for a couple of years now. Everyone wants there to be an affair, or a romance, but there's not. A lot of the rumours are just that, rumours."

Am I being naive when I hope that one day we'll live in a world where Brendan can give an interview without Camilla and Kaplinsky being mentioned?

Changes

Just a brief note to say that I have had a change around on the right-hand sidebar of this blog.

The Previous Posts list now appears at the top, with the Links underneath. So if you use this blog to navigate between forums, you'll find the links just a tad further down.

Also, I've joined a couple of new forums over the past week or so. Every forum I am a member of is now in the links list. I am Loulabelle44 on every single one so there's no confusion. Sign up to one of them and join in the fun!

If you are a member of a lively forum that isn't listed, please let me know and I'll drop by. Although I must admit I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up with all of them now!

Lilia's Latinasize DVD

You've heard about Ian and Camilla, Len and Arlene. Now Lilia Kopylova is releasing a DVD.

Lilia's offering is a fitness programme entitled Latinasize. It's a workout DVD designed to help you dance away the lbs. Those of use that dance know that dancing is so much more fun than the gym, and Lilia will prove it to those who don't.

It's out on Boxing Day, so it'll help you shift all those mince pies! Actually, I can't imagine Lilia eating mince pies...

You can find out more on Darren & Lilia's website.



NB: This DVD is available to pre-order on a number of websites under the title Lilia's Latin Body Workout. The title has now changed.

Zoe Returns

I was delighted to see Zoe Ball dancing with Ian Waite once again on Saturday's programme, as part of the group samba.

Those of you know me will know that I was a big advocate of Zoe last year, and I enjoyed seeing her perform again. I hope we get more of this sort of thing. It's a shame they didn't do the same on the jive. I'd love to see Jill and Darren jive again.

Lesley and Anton next, please!

Here is that group samba.

Hanna Returns

According to their website, Hanna Kartunnen and her partner Victor Da Silva will perform on Strictly Come Dancing on 16th December.

This will be Hanna's first appearance on the show since she danced in the final of Series 1 with Christopher Parker.

Anton on BBC Radio Oxford

According to his website, Anton is going to be on BBC Radio Oxford this Friday.

Don't worry if you're not in Oxford. You can listen online.

BBC Oxford are also auctioning off a dance lesson with 'The Dude'.

Jan on Capital Gold

Jan Ravens gave a quick interview to Paul Coyte on Capital Gold this afternoon. I'm sure some of this will be repeated on It Takes Two tonight.

"I spent a lot of yesterday in floods of tears".

"I fell in love with dancing, and got dumped!"

"I've had such a blast".

She said she hopes to continue dancing.

Waltz Woes

According to Saturday's Mirror, Emma walked out of Viennese waltz training last week.

"I feel sick. This dance is stupid."

I doubt this is anything more than the usual training frustration. And they Viennese waltz seemed to go well on Saturday night.

Jan's Husband Attacks Craig

According to The Sun today, Jan Ravens' husband had a go at Craig Revel Horwood in the bar after Saturday's show.

“I went up to say to Jan, ‘Commiserations, darling but you did a great job, doing it all for charity and stuff’, and suddenly she completely turned on me. She ran away, and the guy with her was totally just like pushing me, pushing me, pushing me. I mean a physical attack."

According to the story, Jan sobbed for 15 minutes after the show went off air.

Monday Musings: Week 5

Here are my thoughts on Week 5 of Strictly Come Dancing.

This week was a pretty strong week for everyone. There was some really great choreography and some great performances.

Louisa and Vincent were first on the floor this week with a salsa. It was a lovely routine, although it was more tender than sexy. It was a good performance. The latin dances are definitely more Louisa's strong point.

I disagreed that the Vienese waltz the Jan and Anton's best performance so far. I actually thought their quickstep was stronger. They covered the floor well, although it did look like Jan was struggling to keep up with Anton at various points throughout the dance.

The judges suggested that Matt holds back a bit, and I am inclined to agree. We saw from the training that Matt seemed to find the 'intimacy' and connection with Lilia during the salsa a problem. The moves are there, but he must dance from his heart if he wants to progress in the competition.

I really enjoyed Ray and Camilla's performance this week. Camilla's choreography was lovely. Considering how little steps there are to the Vienese waltz, the routine was a joy to watch. Ray's performance was fantastic.

All eyes were on Claire and Brendan this week. After Brendan's comments to the judges, and their reputation for dirty dancing, everyone expected big things from this pair. The routine seemed to have more struts than steps, and Claire appeared to not know what she was doing throughout the routine. She seemed to be relying on Brendan to push her in the right direction. They need to make sure they dance as a team.

Emma and Darren did a romantic Vienese waltz. They glided around the floor and really connected.

Carol and Matthew danced to Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, which was a fantastic choice. It got the crowd going in the way Can You Feel It? did for Ray and Camilla in Week 1. I agree with Len that Carol could be the dark horse of the competition. They are quietly getting on with things, producing sound routines and they work really well together. Let's hope they can break the 30-point barrier next week. I think the salsa was Carol's best latin routine so far. I also have to mention how much I loved Matt's glittered-up tattoo.

Peter and Erin turned in another graceful ballroom performance. I worry about Peter, as if he stays in, he's going to have an awful lots of latin to do toward the end. I still wonder what kind of jive, rumba or cha cha cha he'll give us.

I was very concerned when Karen waved their salsa dead and asked for a re-start. It was a risky thing to do. It was clear that she and Mark had lost it, but she said there was no way their could continue as they had become entangled by Mark's mic wire. They were granted a do-over, and it was worth it! Their salsa was the best of the night. Exciting, complex, hot, amazing! I did wonder if they should have just continued. It was quite out of character for a pro to just stop dead. The No. 1 rule of performance is 'just keep going!'. None of the judges commented on their stop. I'm sure the debate will run and run.

Despite a solid Vienese waltz performance, Jan and Anton were forced to leave the floor. With Claire and Brendan at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard, the Cole miners voted in force, and saved them from the chop. The decision was not popular with the audience. Nor was it popular with Jan, who was devastated to be out of the competition.

It is a shame to see Jan leave. She has enjoyed it so much. Although like Peter, had she stayed she would have had a lot of latin on the road ahead.

I wonder if Claire and Brendan have much of a future in the competition. They got off on the wrong foot with the judges since the illegal lift in Week 2. They had fun with the jive in Week 3. They played by the rules with the foxtrot in Week 4, and were slated by the judges. Sadly for Brendan, the judges hold grudges (or at least don't forget easily), and it going to be very difficult for him to build bridges. It's a shame Claire's time on Strictly Come Dancing has become about Brendan's battles with the judges, and she has had little chance to show what she really can do.

Sadly, not all of Saturday's performances are on YouTube, but here are the ones that are, in case you missed them...

Louisa and Vincent



Matt and Lilia



Ray and Camilla



Claire and Brendan



Emma and Darren



Carol and Matthew



Peter and Erin



Mark and Karen

Strictly Rehearsing

Ever wondered what dress rehearsals look like? Well, as you'll see in the video below, they look like the show, but without the audience!

This is Matt and Lilia's paso doble rehearsal from last week.

No-one's Perfect

I just love montages like this. On It Takes Two this week, there was a collection of clips showing the pros making mistakes.

Thankfully, these mistakes only happen in training, but it's still fun to watch!

Emma Unhappy With Brendan

According to a short piece in today's Sun, Emma is upset with Brendan, after he supposedly suggested that they were marked on the high side.

“Brendan should concentrate on what he’s doing with Claire King. Her performance was overridden by him."

Darren defended Emma's performance.

“I don’t care what Brendan thought — Emma gave a very good performance. If he wants to make such comments he should go and be a judge.”

Brendan is a judge on New Zealand's version of the show. So I can understand his frustration with the marking, although he did state on It Takes Two on Monday that it was the comments he objected to most.

It will be interesting to see how the marks and comments go tomorrow.

Stop Press: BBC Breakfast

Ray and Camilla will be on BBC Breakfast this morning after 9am.

It's 8.40am now, so you've got 20 mins to set the video, or make a coffee, grab some breakfast and get comfy!

Update From Nicole

Nicole Culter has posted a new blog entry on her MySpace page.

She talks about meeting Ronan Keating for the first time in years, doing that fabulous rumba with Matthew, helping out with the Vienese waltz for the upcoming west end production of The Sound Of Music and working on the pros' group samba for this Saturday.

Dancing With The Stars: The Tour

Across the pond, someone had the inspired idea to take Dancing With The Stars on the road. And it just so happens that Dancing With The Stars: The Tour coincides with my next holiday to the States. I am now the proud owner of two tickets to see Dancing With The Stars: The Tour in Fresno, California.

The tour will feature Joey Lawrence and Edyta Sliwinska, Harry Hamlin and Ashly DelGrosso, Lisa Rinna and Louis van Amstel, Willa Ford and Max Chmerkovskiy, Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke and Joey McIntyre and Kym Johnson.

Louis van Amstel is also choreographer.

So I may be missing the final of Strictly Come Dancing, but at least this will numb the pain a bit until I get home and watch the tape!

For those unfamiliar with the US version of SCD, here is Drew & Cheryl's paso doble.

Claire & Brendan on BBC Breakfast

Claire and Brendan were on BBC Breakfast yesterday. For those who missed the interview, here it is.

Emma Forbes: Turned Down Three Times

In a self-penned article in The Scotsman, presenter Emma Forbes says that she has auditioned for Strictly Come Dancing three times, but has been rejected on all occations.

"I waited for the call, dying for my moment with Anton du Beke in front of millions, and steeled myself to win if I was picked - you can't be the one that gets voted out in the first week. So imagine my disappointment to be turned down not once, but three times."

I've always liked Emma Forbes, since her cookery days on Going Live. Given the right partner, she could have some great chemistry. But she is a bit off the public's radar these days (not that it matters - I had no idea who Ray and Georgina were until the series started).