Dominic & Lilia Training

Here is a short training clip of Dominic & Lilia from The One Show, and an interview.

New Lesson 3

FOXTROT. Aaaaagggghhhh!

The best part of our Tuesday lesson was spent on the foxtrot. Oh my goodness, how difficult? It didn't help that my partner kept racing ahead of the teacher, and seemed a little standoffish and didn't seem comfortable dancing with someone he'd just met. Grrrr.

Darned heel turns again. So tricky.

We didn't even dance to music, and she barely taught the rhythm. What is it about ballroom? They teach patterns and then counts after? I find it easier to learn both at the same time. Is that odd?

But I like being stretched, and by the end of the class I was a lot closer to getting it.

The last 10 mins were spent 'freestyling' rumba. This was awkward because I've never done a rumba class at the school and didn't have any set sequence to do. Although it did help me to follow for once in my life. I totally flummoxed my partner by wanting to dance on count 2. In the end I said "Well, let's just do it on count 1, then". Honestly. I am a versatile dancer, darling! Years of playing with timesteps means I can happily dance on different counts.

Pre-Recorded Results?

HeatWorld.com reports that the new Sunday results show will actually be pre-recorded, and not live. So perhaps not as disruptive as I first thought.

However, I like that idea even less. Firstly, there will be a audience of lucky so-and-sos who will know the result before the nation. Second, it means they can edit it, film pick-ups and generally play with the footage. After all the hoo-ha over 'fixing' at the moment, I don't think it is wise.

If you saw Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe on BBC Four last night, you'll know how The X Factor used pick-ups and 'noddy' shots in its audition shows. We don't want that on our Strictly.

Wrong, wrong, wrong...

Tell Me On A Sunday... Please

The results are in... on Sunday!

The BBC have announced that the Strictly Come Dancing results show will be moving to a Sunday, rather than later on a Saturday night.

This leads to a MAJOR format change.

Viewers can vote for up to an hour after Saturday's programme. The votes, and judges scores will be amalgamated as before.

Here's the change.

The bottom two will now face a dance-off on the Sunday night and the JUDGES will decide who stays and who goes - not the voting public.

If the judges votes are tied, Head Judge Len Goodman will have the casting vote.

Viewers will still have the casting vote on the grand final.

I can almost feel the shockwaves on the forums as we speak.

My thoughts? Well, I think it alienates viewers who like to feel in control of the destiny of their favourite stars. Although it will encourage more votes, as viewers fight to keep their favourites out of the dance off.

As someone who wants dancers to go through on merit rather than personality, I think it gives the power back to those who are there to judge the dancing. Our judges are experts, and will put through the strongest dancers rather than the fan favourites.

I am concerned about the poor participants and their partners. It is agonising enough to have to wait the length of Casualty to find out if you are safe, but to wait 24 hours is excruciating.

I am concerned that is might disrupt training schedules. While some couples have Sunday off, many others are straight back in the training room. No doubt Sundays will now be wiped out due to studio rehearsals.

And I'm concerned about Len & Bruno, who will be doing DWTS and SCD concurrently again this year. The extra show will put extra pressure on them, especially Len who may have some very tough decisions ahead of him.

On a totally selfish note, they must need a studio audience for the Sunday shows, so perhaps those of us without tickets might be in with a chance...

Matt Injured

Matt DiAngelo has been banned from training for three days after injuring ligaments in his knee.

Matt told The Sun: “One minute I was dancing and all of a sudden I was in pain. I pulled some ligaments in my leg and I’ve had to have physio. I’m out of action for a few days which is annoying as I’ve been practising hard. We’ve been doing four hours a day and it’s really, really difficult."

I literally feel your pain, Matt. I have an injured knee at the moment, which suddenly went 'twang' during a dance lesson a couple of weeks ago. I should really be resting, but I can't stay away from the floor. Although I'm not the one about to go on national television to win votes...

Lesson 25

After a week without any classes, I was dying to get back.

We started with quickstep. It was an amalgamation the class had done the week before, but thankfully, it was something we'd done in the past, so it wasn't a problem. We then did a waltz amalgamation. It wasn't too taxing either, but so nice to dance if you have a strong partner.

We finished up with a bit of rumba. Again, it was a combination we'd done before. This beginners class is not really getting me anywhere anymore.

I had enjoyed the class, so on the spur of the moment I decided to stay for the second class! Yes, at last I've taken the plunge. Time to challenge myself.

It was 'sink or swim' time. I think I just doggy paddled and splashed about a bit.

We started off with quickstep. Poor Anton had to break it all down, probably for my benefit. The whole thing left me in a bit of a daze to be honest. I hope the rest of the class didn't mind too much. I feel sorry for the poor fellas who tried to drag me about. Quickstep is not my strongest suit. It needs more practice. A lot more. Hopefully my Tuesdays will help with that.

We ended with samba. I'd never done samba before and I liked it. It was a welcome relief after the fiddly quickstep. Having done theatrecraft for as many years as I have, it was just a load of step ball-changes to me. You can call them botafogos if you want, but a step ball-change is a step ball-change. No messin'. Shame we only did it for about 10 mins.

I got a couple of "Well done"s, but I think they were just humouring me...

Still, I've taken the first step. It can only get easier. Right?

Strictly Ticket Allocations

OK, I couldn't let the time go by without a word on the ticket allocations.

Alas, I was among the unlucky ones whose applications were unsuccessful.

I have to have faith and believe that the BBC were fair in the way they were drawn. I guess only those in the Ticket Unit will ever know for certain.

I am surprised that more people I know did not get them. Shocked, in fact. But that is the luck of the draw, quite literally.

I hope those of you that are going have an amazing time. I feel empty and sad, and I wish it was me. But I know that those of you who have been blessed with tickets will have the night of your lives. Congratulations.

Gabby Logan: "We’re Trying Not To Talk About It"

It looks like it going to be a quiet autumn in the Logan household. Gabby Logan has told The Times that she and Kenny are trying not to discuss the show.

“We’re trying not to talk about it at all because the first time we did there was a small heated debate. Kenny was trying to teach me a waltz after two lessons, which I thought was a bit premature on his part.”

I can't wait to see who comes out on top between these two married couples. It's going to be lots of fun.

Gethin Jones: "I Actually Burned My Jogging Bottoms"

Gethin Jones has revealed the perils of knee slides - he's burned his joggers!

In an interview with icWales, he reveals how all his rugby mates have been ribbing him about appearing on the show, but he's really looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s a very physical challenge, you have to be very flexible and you need mental strength to put it all together. I’ve realised over the last couple of weeks it really is like learning a new skill, and when you get it right it’s a real buzz."

But, Gethin believes that pant-burning is the mark of a pro.

“I did a knee slide for the first time yesterday and I actually burned my jogging bottoms. I thought ‘yes, this is brilliant, I feel like a professional dancer!’”

Don't worry, Gethin. I too have had burns on the knees of my trousers in the past. Someone get the boy some knee pads! Or maybe it's Camilla that needs padding...

“I thought my favourite dances would be the fun stuff like the jive and the Latin but we’ve been doing the ballroom, the waltz, recently and I just love it. I didn’t think I would but there’s something fluid about it, you and your partner are one, and when you get it right it’s great. Although when I don’t get it right poor Camilla gets a kick in the shins.”

Penny Lancaster-Stewart: "My Knees Will Be Knocking"

Penny Lancaster-Stewart has given an interview to the Sunday Mirror, talking all about her participation on Strictly Come Dancing.

She says she's excited and nervous about appearing: "I'm so excited when I think about it. Then a wave of panic sweeps over me. I know my knees will be knocking together and my hands will be sweating profusely."

The article reveals that she has twice before been approached to take part, but was unable to until now.

When asked about how Rod feels about her being so intimate with someone else, she says: "If I've got my leg wrapped around Ian's shoulder, it'll be because that's part of the requirements of that particular dance. If I were in a darkened nightclub or in a bedroom and I had my leg wrapped around another man, then obviously that would be a different story!"

DWTS On UKTV Gold

UKTV Gold kicks off the new season of Dancing With The Stars on Friday, showing this week's ABC shows back-to-back-to-back.

Tune in to UKTV Gold from 8pm on Friday. Or from 9pm on UKTV Gold+1.

Strictly Spice

Now all the celebrities have been chosen, the BBC bookers have to turn their attention to the musical guests. There is always an interlude when "the votes are counted and verified" and a group or singer has to fill that nervous 4 minutes.

According to Entertainmentwise.com, the bookers are on the trail of the Spice Girls, whose reunion tour will be the hot ticket while Strictly is on air.

But The X Factor is also trying to line up the Girls.

The BBC will be hoping Strictly's relationship with Emma will count for something, as well as Mel B's participation on Dancing With The Stars.

Strictly Celebs Get £25K

MyParkMag.co.uk reports that the Strictly celebrity participants are set to be paid £25,000 each for appaering on the series - and they will all be paid the same.

If ever I get famous, I would do it for a lot less...

Preview Show

The BBC has announced that it will be screening a 50-minute SCD preview documentary at 6pm on 29th September, a week before the new series commences.

It will show the celebs and pros meeting up, as well as interviews with past participants. So the new series is not as far away as you think!

A Message From Alesha

Alesha Dixon has posted a message on her MySpace page, and says how much she's looking forward to the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

"As some of you may know, this year I'll be competing in Strictly Come Dancing! I hope you enjoy the show as much as I'm enjoying learning all these amazing dances. Despite what people may think I have had no dance training and never went to stage school. Dancing is a passion of mine and I've always wondered how well I would do if taught by a pro! So watch this space!"

If you visit her page, I recommend listening to Hypnotik. It's a really good track. Way better than Lipstick in my opinion.

Book And DVD Update

Flexible friends at the ready for some fabulous Strictly-related stuff.

Firstly, the cover artwork for Anton's Dance Class appears to have changed since it was first listed on Amazon.



Second, Anton & Erin's Simply Ballroom DVD now has a release date of 12th November acording to Play.com. I attended the performance that was recorded for the DVD earlier in the year.

Third, Play.com is listing the release of the Strictly Come Dancersize DVD as 3rd December.

And finally, Lilia has announced that she will be doing a second fitness DVD, Latinatone, which will be released on Boxing Day. And if you don't yet have Latinasize, you can now buy a special boxed set at Argos, which includes a calorie counter/pedometer and a towel.

Strictly Promos

There are two promos running on the BBC for Strictly Come Dancing. And rather nice they are too! I love the clever use of the theme tune.

Arlene: I Can't Wait

There was quite a lengthy interview with Arlene Phillips in yesterday's Celebs On Sunday magazine. In it, Arlene talks about how her daughters keep her young, and how Strictly saved her to-ing and fro-ing to the US for work.

She also says she's always excited about a new series of SCD.

"I absolutely love it, I can’t wait. It’s the highlight of my year."

However, I get the feeling the interview is not that recent, becuase there is no detailed reference to the new series.

Dominic & Lilia on The One Show

A first look at Dominic & Lilia together, from The One Show.

I knew this couple was going to be fun. And it looks like Dom might have a decent cha cha hip action!

He's so diddy. They are a lovely, pocket-sized bundle of fun!

Kate & Anton on GMTV

Kate & Anton appeared on GMTV this morning.

In the clip, Kate says "When I was approached last Friday to take part..."

Last Friday? I took this to mean Friday 31st August, as she was spotted at the photoshoot last week. Which implies that she might have been a late replacement for someone else.

Anton said he wasn't meeting her until Wednesday of this week, and in the interview they say they met on Wednesday. But she was supposedly spotted at the photoshoot last week. Was she having photos taken alone? Or was she snapped with someone else, and then swapped to Anton at the last minute? Are the press shots of them a cut and paste job?

Mark & Karen On BBC Breakfast

Mark & Karen appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk about the 2007 participants.

The clip also shows some footage from the press conference.



Thanks to KatieP for the clip.

Claire King: "Tell Him To Keep His Hands To Himself!"

What's On TV caught up with Claire King to ask her about her Strictly experience, and ask if she has any advice for Kelly Brook.

Here's what she said...

More Classic Come Dancing

Here is a clip taken from a 1995 episode of Come Dancing.

John Byrnes & Jane Littleton dance the cha cha, followed by Karen Hardy & Mark Lunn and DWTS' Louis Van Amstel partnered with Katga Klep dancing the paso doble.

More From The Press Conference...

The Stage's TV Today blog has a good write-up about yesterday's press conference. It includes some great comments and thoughts. And there is a little couple-by-couple run-down, so if you don't agree with what I said yesterday, it's a good alternative perspective.

TV Today will be blogging about every episode this season.

Funny, I never had all this competition for cyberspace last year...

The Official Pictures

Heatworld.com has all the official press shots of the new contestants, except Kenny & Ola.

They are all really lovely shots this year. The only one I'm not so fussed with is Stephanie & Vincent's, becuase you can't see Vincent's face.

Strictly Come Dancing Line-Up 2007: My Initial Thoughts

I'm still getting my head around the pairings, and still working out who a couple of them actually are... But here are my first impressions:

John Barnes and Nicole Cutler

I imagine that John will tower over Nicole, but I'm probably wrong. I'm told that Nicole is very excited about John. Being a sportsman, he won't be afraid of training. I heard on the radio yesterday that he would like to lose about 2 stone during training. And they are so cute together in their publicity photo.

Brian Capron and Karen Hardy

Brian is a bit of mystery to me. I know he was in Corrie, but I don't watch that. But like all participants, I'm sure I'll build an opinion about him as time goes on. Karen has done a great job on SCD in past series, so I'm sure he'll be safe with her.

Matt Di'Angelo and Flavia Cacace

Matt is another one that I know little about. I don't watch EastEnders either! Matt will be a great match for Flavia, and we'll finally get to see what she is capable of after her early exit last year. They could be ones to watch.

Gethin Jones and Camilla Dallerup

Guess what? I don't watch Blue Peter!! I hear that Camilla is quite excited about this pairing. There were a lot of untimely exits last year, and Ray & Camilla were victims of that. Camilla is still bathing in the glow of Eurovision. She's a good teacher and Gathrin should have a great time.

Kenny Logan and Ola Jordan

The first half of our couple-off. I love that they have put two married couples against each other. Claudia is going to have fun! Like Camilla, Spoony & Ola made an untimely exit from last year's series. Kenny, being a sportsman, should have the drive to succeed. And being from Wasps, Kenny is used to success.

Dominic Littlewood and Lilia Kopylova

This is going to be such a fun pairing. Dominic has bags of personality. He's a proper cheeky chappie, and I think he'll have fun with it. Lilia is fantastically adaptable and has got the best out of every partner she has had. She's a clever choreographer and will produce routines that compliment Dom's strengths. Lilia has a fantastic Strictly track record, always being in toward the end of the competition. Can she repeat that success with Dom? Perhaps...

Willie Thorne and Erin Boag

Erin is a patient teacher, and like Lilia, easily adapts her training style to suit her partner. I believe that Willie will be a dedicated guy who will work very hard. He may have similar posture issues to Dennis Taylor in 2005, having spent his career bending over snooker tables.

Stephanie Beacham and Vincent Simone

Stephanie is going to be a very different participant than Louisa Lytton, but I'm sure Vincent can bring the best out of her. Stephanie is hearing impaired, although I'm certain that she'll want the audience to forget about that. A quick Google search turned up an Independent interview, in which she said: "I only have 40 per cent hearing and have never been able to bear that hearing-impaired people appear clumsy".

Kelly Brook and Brendan Cole

This partnership was the worst-kept secret in SCD history. I would imagine Brendan is a pretty happy bunny. Kelly is young, attractive and eager, and I doubt they will clash.

Letitia Dean and Darren Bennett

Letitia is a Sylvia Young brat, which means she would have had some dance training at school. Though not quite dancing, you can see that Letitia has a sense of rhythm in this clip. I think she and Darren should gel quite well.

Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler

Alesha should be a good match for Matthew. Alesha is this year's only participant with a musical background. The pair look great together, and should create beautiful lines. I think Matt could take her further through the competition than Carol last year.

Kate Garraway and Anton Du Beke

Kate is fun and I think she'll be up for it. She has a very young daughter, and with her GMTV schedule, I hope she can put enough training hours in. I think she is the right match for Anton. They should get on like a house on fire. I think she could surprise a few people. I don't like the phrase 'dark horse' anymore, but Kate could be it.

Penny Lancaster-Stewart and Ian Waite

I'm sure Ian will be pleased with this pairing. Penny is so keen, she recently paid to dance with Brendan at a charity auction. Like Alesha & Matthew, they are an elegant couple. I'm sure there will be inevitable comparisons between Penny and Dancing With The Stars participant Rachel Hunter. Penny is a model, so it will be interesting to see if she can unleash her inner performer.

Gabby Logan and James Jordan

The other half of the SCD couple-off. I imagine that Gabby could well be far more competitive than her rugby-player husband, and James is one of Strictly's most driven professionals. It was reported that Gabby's ITV bosses vetoed her appearance last series, so she's had over a year to build up her desire to win. Can she translate that into dance moves?

So there we have it. Another 14 celebrities ready to be put through their paces, and 7 million viewers just itching for 6th October to come around.

I shall be posting my thoughts throughout the competition once again, and keeping you updated on all the Strictly news and gossip.

There are other blogs that cover the show, but this is the original. Thanks for reading!

Here It Is

The news everyone has been waiting for. The BBC have issued their press release detailing the Strictly Come Dancing partnerships for 2007.

I'll post thoughts later today, but here's the list:

John Barnes and Nicole Cutler
Brian Capron and Karen Hardy
Matt Di'Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Gethin Jones and Camilla Dallerup
Kenny Logan and Ola Jordan
Dominic Littlewood and Lilia Kopylova
Willie Thorne and Erin Boag
Stephanie Beacham and Vincent Simone
Kelly Brook and Brendan Cole
Letitia Dean and Darren Bennett
Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler
Kate Garraway and Anton Du Beke
Penny Lancaster-Stewart and Ian Waite
Gabby Logan and James Jordan

New Lesson 2

I'm getting such a thrill out of my new lessons.

We started with waltz again this week, and we were taught how to do heel turns. I'd not done them before, and they are pretty tricky, especially in latin sandals. But I'm sure they'll come with practice.

We did an amalgamation around the floor. The advantage with being partnerless is that I don't have to dance with a drippy man who doesn't really want to be there (or does, but had two left feet). I get to dance with one of the helpers, all of whom are strong leaders. I'm even beginning to let them lead, although I did apologise several times for not doing so. The woman I danced with sensed that I'd danced before and knew that I wasn't a total beginner. So all those years of dancing, plus the last 6 months with Anton have made a difference!

We then moved on to cha cha, and did the same combination as last week. And still started on count 1. I think I'm going to lose my temper with that before long!

We finished with another sequence, the Viennese Swing. The class was given a vote on whether sequence should be taught in the class, and I thought that it was going to get vetoed. But more people wanted to learn than didn't. The school do sequences at their socials, so it makes sense to learn them, even if it's only for 10 minutes at the end of the class.

I'm still finding the teacher a bit odd. She can be patronising, and is quite cold at times. But she remembered my name, so I'll give her her dues. She talks about her helpers like they are the best in the world. You would think you Warren & Kristi were in the room. But, as I've said, at least they can lead!

I wish I could go every day...

Lesson 24

I was back at Anton's class for the first time in ages on Monday. It was really full, after being quieter over the summer. And no doubt, all the Strictly buzz has put ballroom and latin dance back at the top of everyone's mind.

We started with waltz. My confidence with waltz is beginning to build a bit now. The more I think about it, the more I convince myself I need to stay for the second class.

For latin we did rumba. I do quite enjoy a bit of rumba these days, although I got a bit frustrated when a spiral turn flummoxed most of the class and kind of ground things to a halt.

I asked Anton if he was pleased with his Strictly partner (whoever she might be). He told me he hadn't met her yet. Work has been preventing them getting together. They finally meet today (Wednesday), which Anton seemed mildly concerned about, as the press launch is tomorrow! I told him I'd have my fingers crossed.

Camilla's Partner Revealed!

I can exclusively reveal who Camilla will be partnered with. See below for exclusive training footage.



It's Basil Brush!!

Just kidding! This is actually Camilla's first ever acting part, playing a dancer named Donna, on The Basil Brush Show. It's really enjoyable. Especially the DVD plugs.

DWTS Heads For Satellite Land

The next series of Dancing With The Stars, featuring Jane Seymour and Mel B, has been acquired by satellite station UKTV Gold.

MediaGuardian reports that the channel plans to screen the show this year.

More Names Suggested

I reckon this has to be the last couple of names before the official announcement.


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According to The People, EastEnders actor Matt DiAngelo was spotted having a cigarette break during the photoshoot last week. And snooker player Willie Thorn was also seen at the Park Royal Studios.

Only 3 days until the real truth is revealed by the BBC.

Announcement Due On 13th September

There is a holding page on the SCD area of the BBC website. It says to check back on 13th September for the list of participants.

That's less than a week away!

I don't know any of the participants yet, but my spies tell me that some of the dancers are very pleased with who they've been partnered with.

I can't wait to see the list and see how many of those rumours are true...

Titchmarsh Too Busy For Strictly

Alan Titchmarsh has revealed that he has been approached to take part in Strictly and would love to, but he's too busy.

The TV presenter and gardener told The Sun: “I’ve been asked to do Strictly Come Dancing three times and I’ve had to turn it down every time as I’ve been so busy and can’t spare the 12 weeks needed for training. However, I do like dancing and it’s something I’d consider. So maybe in a few years time. Anyway I’m too young to be the old one on the show just yet!”

Look Away Now - More Rumours

There has been a posting on showbiz gossip site Popbitch. The rumoured celebs have more credibility than others, as the celebs have allegedly been spotted at the Park Royal Studios, which is where the opening credits are always filmed and publicity shots taken.

Look away now if you no not want to hear the rumours.



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Here is what was posted...

"Strictly Celebs - Filming began today in Park Royal (never has a place had so ill-matched a name). Brendan dancing with Kelly Brook. Others are Penny Lancaster, John Barnes, Steph Beacham, Dominic Littlewood (the bald Shrek bloke from BBC Daytime), Gab Logan & Her husband Kenny, Letitia Dean, Gethin the cute (poss Gay) one from BP, Kate Garraway, Alicia Dixon plus a couple of sportsmen."

I guess we'll know for certain next week...

New Lesson 1

I joined a new class on Tuesday which runs in my local area.

Although billed as a beginners class, it seems to be quite a well-established class. It seemed to be pitched about right for my level, although I might fall down when we do quickstep!

We started with waltz. I danced with one of the class helpers. We worked around the floor, and I was actually able to follow his lead. It was so cool. I'd never really experienced that before in waltz. We just kept going, and I didn't have to think at all. It was great. It made me realise that perhaps I have learned more in Anton's classes than I realised.

We then moved on to cha cha. It was quite a long amalgamation, but I think it went well. I found it slightly odd that the whole class seemed to start on count 1. On a cha cha?? But I just went with the flow. Probably not good to ask too many questions on my first night. I need to learn how to let someone else lead me in a cha cha without knowing what comes next...

Finally, we learned a sequence dance called Balmoral Blues. Part of the reason I was attracted to the school was the fact that they teach sequence, which I am becoming increasingly interested in.

The school is primarily a social dance school, although they are starting to offer IDTA medal tests, which suits me. I like to take exams! I hope that I can get to know a few people, and perhaps attend their socials.

All in all, I feel pretty positive about it.

TV Quick/TV Choice Awards

I knew that getting back from my class on Monday might be difficult because of the Tube strike, so I decided to do something within walking distance - I went celeb spotting at the TV Quick/TV Choice Awards.

There were a host of celebs attending, including John Barrowman, Phillip & Fern, Coleen Nolan, Jayne Torvill, Gok Wan, Kym Ryder and stacks more.

On the Strictly front, Siobhan Hayes was there (although I didn't get a pic), as was Jill Halfpenny and Louisa Lytton (who looked lush in a 60s-inspired number).






Unfortunatly, the 'Big Pink Book' is still at Mumsy's, so I missed out on getting a couple more names in there.

And this has nothing to do with Strictly, but I got an awesome photo of TPT that I just had to share!

Brendan Would Like To Dance With Nadine

Brendan has revealed that he would like Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle as a dance partner.

He told The Sun: "She's beautiful. I met her once and she was lovely. I'd love to be partnered with her in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing."

He also reveals his feelings about the upcoming series.

"It's daunting, I don't know who I'm going to be partnered with. We all want someone we're going to get on with, if only we could pick and choose. It would be a case of, 'Can I have one of her?'".

Brendan probably knows by now who he has...

Happy Families?

Another Strictly rumour, from The People this time.



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The People reported over the weekend that Kenny Logan could be joining wife Gabby on Strictly Come Dancing.

Kenny, a former Wasps player, has reportedly been taking salsa classes with Gabby.

If the rumours about both are true, it would be the first time a husband and wife celeb couple have gone up against each other.

Eurovision Dance Contest

It's very hard for me to make any judgement about the Eurovision Dance Contest.

I watched it without sound on a handheld TV outside a bar by the river Rhein in Boppard, Germany.


Look! It's Claudia Winkleman on German TV station ARD1! I'm sure she was saying something really interesting, but I'll never know...

I watched Brendan & Camilla's rumba this afternoon, and I think it's beautiful. Viewers outside the UK probably did not understand the significance of this dance, and the music - The Way We Were. It was a beautiful dance, with breathtaking complexity. I always say about Strictly that it's very hard to sell the rumba to an audience. Although this rumba was about as packed and as visually stimulating as I've ever seen. The pros can effortlessly sell rumba.

Some of the second round routines were very complex and it was great to watch. Of course, I have no idea what anyone danced to. Though technically fantastic, Brendan & Camilla's dance did not have the 'spectacle' that some of the other couples had, and they had a wee wardrobe malfunction in the middle. However, their performance was very good. I loved the lift in the middle, and Camilla's turns are to die for.

I don't think they deserved to come second from bottom, especially after that rumba.

I could barely read the scores on my TV, so I have no idea if the voting followed the typical politics of the Song Contest.

If, like me, you didn't see the EDC with sound, or you missed it completely, here are Brendan & Camilla's performances.