2009 Annual

The artwork for the 2009 annual has also been revealed. This year's book is a lovely gold colour. Considering the number of couples, I think they've done a good job.

The book is released on 23rd October.

Workout DVD Cover Art Revealed

The artwork for Strictly Come Dancing: The Workout has appeared on various shopping sites.

It's released on 1st December, just in time for Christmas. Get fit, or just sit and watch with a mince pie!

Anton Speaks

Anton has spoken to DigitalSpy about what he thinks about leaving the competition so soon and his fellow competitors.

On why the public saved Jessie: "Oh, I don't know. I can never answer that question. The people at home, who vote on the show, do it because they love it, and they have their own reasons. I don't mind the people at home voting for whoever they vote for because it's part of the show. There are just four judges in the studio, but there are thousands at home, all with their own opinion, which is great."

Well, is was those same voters who saved Kate & Anton week after week, so he can't grumble.

Tess' Little Dancer

Tess Daly has revealed to the Daily Mirror that her daughter Phoebe is as into Strictly as her mum.

Tess explains: "She'll say, 'Look Mummy, look!' and kick her leg up. She still randomly shouts contestants" names at me, 'Kelly and Brendan!', 'Matt and Alesha!' I'll say, 'put a Strictly dress on', and she'll wear one of her little frocks with a swirly skirt. I think she'll enjoy it all the more this year. She doesn't stop singing, dancing and putting on shows all of her own accord."

As Claudia would say - so sweet!

Don't Forget...

... to enter the competition to win a signed copy of The Ballroom Class by Lucy Dillon.

You've got to be in it to win it!

Shameless Plug

Someone asked me to give a class a plug, so here goes.

Looking for ballroom and latin classes in London? Why not join Michael & Martina at Expressions Studios in Kentish Town?

Mondays: Beginners at 8.15pm
Improvers at 9.20pm

Wednesdays: Beginners at 7.30pm
Intermediate at 8.45pm

Keeeeeep dancing!

Vampire Craig

According to the Daily Mirror, Craig is going to be working on a ballet version of The Hunger, a 1980s vampire movie. He plans to sleep in a coffin to get into the right frame of mind.

People think Craig is evil - but does he have to prove it??

Lisa Wanted Ian

According to the Daily Star Sunday, Lisa Snowdon had hoped to be partnered with Ian Waite, and was disappointed when she discovered Jodie would be participating.

She said: “I always thought Ian Waite would be my partner.I didn’t realise Jodie Kidd was doing it because it was top-secret. When I found out she was doing it, I was like, ‘Maybe I won’t be with Ian’. Pairing me with Brendan Cole was never in the equation at all."

I think Lisa & Brendan make a good team, but I think Lisa would have made a great partner for Ian too. Maybe a partner swapping group number is in order...

Saturday Service: Week 2

It was the girls' turn to step up to the plate this week.

Jessie (or Jellie!) & Darren kicked off the proceedings for the evening with a salsa. Jessie was very untidy, and really didn't finish her moves properly. She did seem to enjoy the experience, but she needs to let go and relax some more, whilst ensuring she is in control of her body which I don't think she was at all times this week. A good first effort, but a long way to go.

Christine & Matthew did a lovely job with the foxtrot. Christine was elegant and graceful. She could work on her frame a little, but for week one she was impressive. For some reason, she reminded me of Natasha...

I enjoyed Lisa & Brendan's salsa. Her turns were very good. There was flashes of brilliance, but there were also flashes of awkwardness. She looked a little inhibited in places, like she was uncomfortable in her costume. She needs to keep her work tidy at all times. I loved the samba rolls at the top. Lisa certainly has potential.

Jodie actually surprised me. After the group dances last week, I was not expecting very much. But her foxtrot with Ian glided very gracefully and she controlled herself well. She looked terrified right at the beginning, but once she was in hold she seemed to relax.

I was expecting to be wowed by Heather and I wasn't. I found her to be a bit like Lisa - at times she was brilliant and on it, and in those moments she could wipe the floor with most of her competition. But there were also times where she looked like she'd lost it. I wondered if she was making mistakes. If she didn't make any mistakes, she needs to control her facial expressions which implied she had. I really enjoyed watching Brian. He is a lovely dancer, and looks to be an excellent lead.

I was worried about Gillian. Gillian & Anton's foxtrot started with a long introduction, which usually implies that they are filling the music with something other than dance. It's a clever choreographer's trick. She didn't do too badly. Gillian needs to watch her posture - she looked like she was sticking out her bottom at times. But a solid first go.

The best were saved for last. Rachel was fantastic. She and Vincent appear to have a great relationship. I loved, loved, loved the opening slow sequence. It was really nice. The choreography was complex, but Rachel made it look effortless. Dancing appears to come quite naturally to her. Best salsa of the night.

And finally, Cherie & James' foxtrot was a fabulous close to the second show. It was easily the best foxtrot of the night. Cherie was elegant, graceful and poised in her pistachio dress. I raised an eyebrow (in a Vincent way) when I heard the music choice on It Takes Two last night, but in a weird way it just worked. I loved the choreography, it was pure foxtrot throughout.

The men's group merengue was much better than the girls' number last week. It was tidier and much more pleasant to watch, and they all seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves.

I totally agreed with the order of the judges' leaderboard. Jessie and Gillian would be my bottom two, with Jessie leaving the floor. But I think it's a shame that any of these ladies has to leave when Gary Rhodes gets another chance. That's why the way the show begins is flawed. We have to eliminate one of the ladies, when it might be better to eliminate one of the fellas.

Don't forget to enter my competition to win a signed copy of The Ballroom Class.

Here are the videos...

Jessie & Darren



Christine & Matthew



Lisa & Brendan



Jodie & Ian



Heather & Brian



Gillian & Anton



Rachel & Vincent



Cherie & James



Boys' Group Merengue

Heather: "I Don't Do short"

Heather Small doesn't want to wear any 'small' outfits on Strictly Come Dancing.

She told the Daily Record: "I am not mad keen on revealing a lot so I am going to try to make sure I am elegant. When you dance and are being judged, the judges need to be able to see your body. But it's not all about being as sexy as you can. For me, it's about showing myself in the best light, body-wise and dancing-wise. I don't do short."

Diary Of A Studio Manager

What happens when Strictly Come Dancing phones up and wants to use your studio for rehearsals?

Grahame Mizen, owner of Apton Dance Studio in Bishop's Stortford, has been spilling the beans to the Herts & Essex Observer about the famous couple practicing there.

He told the paper: "The BBC gave us a bell on the Monday [September 1]. They didn't even tell us who it was before they arrived on the Tuesday, saying 'You'll recognise who they are'."

It turned out to be Gillian & Anton.

"Gillian's fantastic and Anton is absolutely wonderful. We had a class on last Monday and they came down the fire escape because it was 5pm so they wouldn't get mobbed and I said to the half-dozen teenage girls, 'You won't believe me, but Anton du Beke is outside'."I asked him to come and meet them and he did. He gave them a kiss on the cheek and they were all mad about him."

Annoyingly, my own dance teacher in south London fielded a similar call, but never got back to the BBC. Oh, what might have been...

Mark Causes A Stir

Photos of Mark Foster in this week's Now magazine have been the talk of the forums this week.

The Sun published the suaciest pic of the lot.

Anything for votes, eh?

Congratulations Natasha

Congratulations to former Strictly champion Natasha Kaplinsky and her husband Justin on the birth of their first child, a baby boy. He was born yesterday morning in a London hospital.

The Daily Mail claims that Natasha has turned down £500,000 from a magazine for baby photos, deciding to release a single photo to the press next week instead.

Brendan's Fantasy Home

Gaby Roslin will be helping Brendan find a fabulous pad in a new series for UKTV Style.

In Celebrity Fantasy Homes, Gaby will help various celebrities to find their perfect home in the perfect place.

The show will air on UKTV Style in 2009.

The HD Diet

Bruno has confessed to The Sun that he had to put himself on a diet, because he was worried that being broadcast in HD on both sides of the Atlantic would give too much away.

He said: “Darling, HD has made me ‘sugar free’ — it’s a nightmare. I am in America for God’s sake, the home of cookies and candy, and I can’t eat a damn thing and it’s all because of bloody Hi Def!"

COMPETITION TIME!! Win a signed copy of The Ballroom Class

You may remember that I reviewed a new book a while back - The Ballroom Class by Lucy Dillon.

When three couples join a new ballroom class, they're all looking for some magic in their lives.

Lauren and Chris are getting married and Lauren's dreaming of a fairytale wedding with a first dance to make Cinderella proud. Not wanting to be shown up on the dance floor, her parents Bridget and Frank have come along too. They normally never put a foot wrong, but Bridget's got a secret that could trip them up unexpectedly. Meanwhile Katie and Ross are looking for a quick-fix solution to their failing marriage even though neither is quite sure who's leading who anymore.

As friendships form over the foxtrot, the rumba rocks relationships, and the tango leads to true love, all the students in the Ballroom Class are about to face the music and dance . . .

To celebrate the publication of the book in paperback on 16th October, the lovely people at publishers Hodder & Stoughton have given me five copies - SIGNED by the author - to give away to Strictly Come Blogging readers.

Just answer the following question:

Who was the first celebrity eliminated from Series 6 of Strictly Come Dancing?

Send your answer to loulabelle44@hotmail.com, marking your email BALLROOM CLASS COMP.

The competition closes at 8pm on Sunday 5th October 2008.

GOOD LUCK!

Competition is open to residents of the United Kingdon only. There are five prizes. Each prize consists of one copy of The Ballroom Class by Lucy Dillon, signed by the author. Prizes have been provided by Hodder & Stoughton publishers. By entering, you give concent to have your name published on Strictly Come Blogging. Only one entry will be accepted per email address. Duplicate entries will be removed. The competition opens at the time indicated on this blog post, and will close at 8pm on Sunday 5th October 2008. No entries will be accepted after this time. Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries by the editor and notified by email no later than Friday 10th October 2008. Winners will have 5 working days to respond and confirm their address. If no response is recieved in the time, the editor reserves the right to re-draw. Contact details will not be used for any purpose other than competition entry. The editor's decision is final.

Andrew: "Kate And Fiona Are Loving This"

Andrew Castle has been getting lots of abuse and support from his GMTV colleagues.

He told Daily Mirror: "Kate and Fiona are loving this. They know it'll be an ordeal. But whatever you say about their performances, they both got quite far. Getting past the first week is a major result for me."

He also revealed that he has been approached several times (which would explain all last year's rumours): "Strictly first approached me about three years ago. And I was very close to taking part two years ago when Jimmy Tarbuck pulled out. I was honoured to be asked but I didn't have the bottle. Every element scares me. Sequins, shirts slashed to the navel and dancing in front of 10 million people. But I was on holiday in Spain for three weeks and I got thinking about it. I know now never to make an important decision on holiday with a glass of wine in your hand."

And even Andrew is feeling the pain that every Strictly fan feels: "Getting hold of Strictly tickets is harder than getting Wimbledon tickets."

Medal Class 9

We have now moved back to the rumba, and I actually quite enjoyed it tonight. And we finished with Rumba 1, which was quite fun as I hadn't done it in quite some time.

As I suspected, the bronze ballroom class is being canned to make way for a new beginners class, so now I have to find a way to get the practice I need. Frankly, I'd rather do a few private lessons nearer the exam, but I don't think she'll let me get away from that.

I really miss the more social dancing. And I miss Anton's classes...

Tom: "It Was Like Doing A Parachute Jump But Without The Parachute"

Tom Chambers has told the Evening Telegraph just how nervous he was on Saturday night.

He said: "Being in front of so many people and at the scrutiny of the judges was just terrifying. I was totally relieved when it was over. The whole dance was a bit of a blur. I just tried to smile the whole way through and Craig, one of the judges, said it was a bit smug but that was my cover-up as I was so nervous. It was like doing a parachute jump but without the parachute."

Ramps As You've Never Seen Him Before

Former SCD chapmion Mark Ramprakash want you to eat more fibre. So he's gone in for some extreme body painting.

The Daily Mail has printed some pics from his campaign on behalf of the Fibre Foundation.

Strictly Strops?

According to the Sunday Mirror, Darren blew up at Camilla last week for arriving late to a rehearsal. But Brendan was there to defend her.

A source told the paper: "Camilla was only a tiny bit late because she'd popped to the loo. Darren started shouting at her. He was being rude, saying she'd made everyone late. Camilla was really taken aback. Brendan was furious and told Darren, 'I won't have you talking to Camilla like that'."

Tom Moved His Wedding

Tom Chambers moved his wedding by a day in order to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

The Sunday Mirror reports that his fiancée's grandparents, who are big fans of Strictly, were the reason his fiancee gave him the OK.

“At first Clare was dead against me doing the show. She said ‘No way. I am not moving our wedding for Strictly Come Dancing’. But both her grandparents are huge fans and when she realised how proud they would be, we managed to shift it from Saturday to the Sunday. I’ve got one day off from training afterwards, but then it’s back to the grindstone.”

Zoe Ball: "Next Year They're Going To Give Him A Giraffe!"

It seems I'm not the only one who has noticed how tall Ian Waite's partners are getting.

Zoe Ball commented in a interview with the Daily Mirror: "I love Ian so much! He's with Jodie Kidd this year - he was with Penny Lancaster last year. I think next year they're going to give him a giraffe! Every year the girls get taller."

I'm not sure why they feel they have to recruit such tall girls. Why can't he have a nice Camilla-sized girl?

Alesha Speaks

ITN caught up with Alesha Dixon before the series started to hear her preliminary thoughts.

Rebecca Adlington Turned Down Strictly

Olympian Rebecca Adlington turned down to chance to appear on Strictly Come Dancing this year to focus on her swimming.

She told the Nottingham Evening Post: "Strictly got in touch with me and suggested me being on the show. They wanted me as a contestant or as a late addition to do an evening or the whole series. I'm not quite sure which because I didn't have time to consider it. I needed to get back into the pool, plus I wanted a holiday and to spend time with my family."

But she will be cheering on fellow swimmer Mark.

Lisa: "We’ve Got Great Chemistry"

Lisa has been singing Brendan's praises to the Daily Star. Not bad considering she didn't want to be pared with him.

She told the paper: "Brendan’s a real man’s man and when you dance with him you feel very feminine. We’ve got great chemistry and I am working harder than I’ve ever worked.”

Bruno: "I Started Dancing Before I Could Talk"

The Daily Mail had a lovely interview with Bruno over the weekend. He speaks candidly about travelling across the Atlantic, his rise to stardom and his past.

He says: "I started dancing before I could talk. Other babies learn to stand and then walk - I just danced. At the age of three, I would leap on the table and dance if I heard music. It was something I had to do - as if my legs were moving for themselves. We didn't have a television until 1962, but my father loved Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and I used to go to the cinema to watch Hollywood musicals. In the evening, I would go to the ballroom and watch my parents dance the cha-cha-cha."

It's worth reading the whole article if you can.

Sunday Service: Week 1

Welcome back to my Sunday Service for 2008. Each week I shall be posting my comments about Saturday night's dances.

I thought Tom & Camilla made a cracking start. He had a timing issue here and there, but that could be nerves. He looked to be enjoying the experience, and Camilla's choreography wasn't too difficult while still being entertaining. He danced with energy. He looked better in Week 1 than Gethin did. One to watch.

Phil & Flavia did quite well with the waltz. Phil needs to relax his upper body more, but he had good drive and did look as though he was leading, perhaps a little too much at times. The standing spin was a bit awkward. But with some more work, he'll improve I'm sure.

Don had a few timing issues. I expected him to be a bit more of a groover, but it was a solid effort. Although he did stare a little intently at Lilia throughout. He could do with having a little more fun.

Austin started beautifully. I loved his standing spins. And his spotting was excellent on the pivots. Erin is the mistress of ballroom, and it really showed in Austin's quality. Another one to watch. I hope his latin is as strong. And I loved the music choice - Rainbow Connection is a wonderful track.

I found Mark & Hayley a little disappointing. I think Mark was a little to conscious of his height. He seemed to have his knees too flexed, and his shoulders were rounded. But another great track - the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.

I'm afraid I had to agree with judges on Gary & Karen. His timing was dodgy and he was flat footed. It was a bit like Embarrassing Dad. "What's this? It's got a good beat!". I fear for Karen's place in the competition. For someone who was analysing every move in training, it's a long road ahead. He did look like he was having fun, though.

The nation held its collective breath when John & Kristina took to the floor, but I think everyone was pleasantly surprised. Their waltz was sweet and pure. No tricks. Just solid technique and a very endearing performance. And he enjoyed it, which was great to see. I'm not sure how he'll fare in latin, but I would expect to see him back in two weeks' time.

I doubt anyone would have noticed how Andrew danced because Ola looked so amazing in her catsuit. Even I barely looked away from her. She is stunning. Andrew was a little flat footed and awkward in places. He needs to watch his second hand in places, which was dangling down looking odd at times. But, as Arlene said, at least he's an improvement on the previous GMTVers.

I think Austin and Tom were the strongest contenders this week, with John nipping their heels. But it could already be the end of the line for Gary & Karen.

The ladies' group dance left a lot to be desired. Many looked uncomfortable, untidy and unbalanced. Rachel looked to be the only one with any ability, with Heather possibly in second place. I was disappointed with Christine and Lisa, but hopefully they'll shine when they come to do their individual dances next week...

Here are the videos...

Tom & Camilla




Phil & Flavia



Don & Lilia



Austin & Erin



Mark & Hayley



Gary & Karen



John & Kristina



Andrew & Ola



Girls' Group Dance

Christine: “I Can’t Tell You How Excited I Am”

Christine Bleakley is ready for Strictly. But like all participants, she started off feeling odd with the intimacy.

She told the Belfast Telegraph: "It was definitely awkward at first, because you have to be intimate with someone to dance well with them. And I am not the type of person who feels comfortable writhing up against a stranger. But dancing is all about confidence. You really have to learn to let yourself go.”

I guess that's where the actors and actresses have an advantage over other participants. It's acting.

But Christine is not being eased into the competition. She's starting with one of the most challenging ballroom dances - the foxtrot.

“I do my first dance next Saturday, which is the foxtrot. I’ll be a nervous wreck, but my family and friends will be in the audience to support me.”

Christine is excited about the challenge: “This is definitely the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken. You’re putting yourself out there and, of course, there’s the chance the judges or the public won’t like you."

It's a lenghy interview, so it's worth reading the whole thing.

Cherie: Dancing Is The Best Antidepressant In The World”

Cherie Longhi was interviewed in the Daily Telegraph this week. She is very excited to be participating in Strictly Come Dancing, and is passionate about dance.

She says: “When I was a little girl I did a lot of ballet. At weddings, I’m always first on the dancefloor – and the last to leave it, if I’m really having a good time. Dancing is the best antidepressant in the world.”

Cherie says she's getting on well with James: “James has a reputation for being quite strict. But I haven’t come across that yet. He’s demanding, as any teacher should be. His competitiveness will probably come out a bit later.”

And Cherie would back Bruce to run the country: “I could see Brucie winning an election, he’s so popular. He’d certainly be more fun than Gordon Brown. It’d be great to have a leader who could tap-dance.”

Amen to that!

Don't The Papers Learn?

You would think that the papers would have learned something from the Kate Garraway case last year. But clearly not.

Lisa was snapped saying goodbye to Brendan this week after training and the Daily Mail is on hand to add some ridiculous photo captions, such as "Cuddling up: Brendan and Lisa share a tender moment"and "Getting close: Brendan Cole and Lisa Snowdon exchange a friendly hug and a kiss in a London street".

It's so lame!

Ian Waite: "That Music Gives Me Shivers Already!"

It's not just the celebrities that get jittery on show nights. Ian Waite admits that the Strictly music gets the adrenaline going.

He told BBC Radio Berkshire: "I'm really looking forward to it but I'm still apprehensive because I don't know how the celebrities are going to react to a live audience."

He says that Jodie has been working hard, but sometimes lacks confidence: "You do get to see some of the other girls because we're doing a group dance but they all are struggling in their own way, they all have their own problems, which is quite nice for Jodie to see because she feels as though she's out of her depth and struggling."

You can listen to the whole interview on the BBC Radio Berkshire website.

Arlene Worried About Her Weight

After having a go at Dance X auditionees wobbling their way around the floor, Alrene admits that she has gained weight since the last series of Strictly, and it's making her self conscious.

She told The Sun: "I’ve put on a stone and a half since the last series. It’s on my tummy, it’s there, that’s the truth. But I don’t like needles or knives, so what’s a woman to do? My partner says I look fine, but I want everything done. I want a gastric band!... So, yes, I dread Saturday nights, I dread that camera and all those people who have high definition TV."

The Cherie Controversy

There has been a bit of controversy about Cherie Longhi and the fact that she may have had some ballet training in her past, albeit quite some time ago.

The Stage has a more balanced perspective than you get from the red tops. It's well researched and worth a read.

Jodie Is Dancing Off The Pounds

Jodie Kidd is the latest celebrity to experience dramatic weightloss during Strictly training.

She told the Daily Mail: "I went to meet my sister Jemma the other day and she was stunned by how much weight I have lost. It’s all down to the dancing. I’m ravenous all the time because rehearsals are so demanding."

And dancing is taking over her life: "I am now dance-obsessed and wake up counting one step, two step, back step out loud."

ITN Report

ITN have posted a little news report about Strictly Come Dancing. It's worth watching to see a short clip of the pros doing a little jive demo.

Christine's Crisis

OK! magazine reports this week that Christine Bleakley is really nervous about stepping into Alesha's shoes, as she is partnered with Matthew Cutler.

A source told the magazine: “Poor Christine probably has the hardest pair of dance shoes to fill – ever. Alesha took last year by storm and Matthew is keen to do the double. She’s really feeling the pressure. She was really nervous before she started rehearsing and watching Alesha in action hasn’t done her any favours. The producers are monitoring her progress as they are worried she might not be able to carry on."

I doubt very much that Christine would quit before even setting foot on the floor, no matter how worried she is. Of course Matthew would like to do the double, but Christine should really not stress herself out about that. She should just focus on the task in hand - learning the first routine or two.

Medal Class 7

Last week it was back to the grindstone after the summer break.

It was still boring as ever. I can't believe I have to endure months more of this.

The bronze ballroom class is due to cease at the end of September. Goodness knows where that leaves me. I can try to get there earlier and join the silver class, but I'm not sure I can make it. We'll see.

We went through all the the silver routines last week, and while my technique needs lots of work, I think I managed to get all the steps. I just hope I can get to classes.

Otherwise, I might quit until the new year, and do a few private lessons to get it sorted.

Tom Is Favouite To Win

Bookmaker William Hill currently has Tom & Camilla as the couple who are favourite to lift the glitterball in December.

RTE reports that Tom & Camilla are 3/1 favourites, followed by Rachel & Vincent at 5/1.

John & Kristina are the outsiders - at 66/1. But they are the favoutites... to leave - at 5/2!

Darren & Lilia On Their Partners

Darren & Lilia have spilled the beans on their partners to The People.

Lilia on Don Warrington: "He's a serious actor who has never done any press or ads before so it's going to be a big surprise to people to find out what he's really like. He's so nervous he's not nervous any more."

Darren on Jessie Wallace: "She's doing really well and I have to say has taken to it fantastically. We're having a great laugh. We're spending long hours in the dance studio putting stuff together."

Bruno's Thoughts

Bruno Tonioli has told the Sunday Mail what he thinks about this year's crop of participants.

His comment on John Sergeant is the most interesting: "He will have to fight his corner but who knows, maybe he moves like a whippet once he gets going."

Brendan's Cheerleader

Lisa & Brendan already have a cheerleader - Brendan's girlfriend Zoe. Lisa told the Sunday Mirror that Zoe has been attanding rehearsals, and will be there to cheer them on.

Lisa said: "Zoe has come to watch us rehearse. And she's going to be sitting in the front row every week during the live shows too. It's worrying when anyone's watching because dancing is so nerve-racking - it's even worse when it's someone else's girlfriend. But I was happy for her to see the routines - I don't want there to be any bad vibes."

Jodie Has The Fear

Jodie Kidd is suffering from severe nerves, according to the Daily Star Sunday.

The paper reports that she fears she will faint, fall over or throw up. She's having panic attacks and nightmares. She is also having trouble remembering her routines.

Bruce: "Let’s Get Rid Of Six Of You Straight Away"

Bruce Forsyth has told the Daily Telegraph how overwhelmed he was to find so many participants are in the series this year.

“When I saw how many people are actually in the show this year, I said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t cope with this. Let’s get rid of six of you straight away.’”

Does Bruce plan to quit?: “I have no secret plan. One morning, I know I’m going to get up and say, ‘Cor, do I have to do this?’. I certainly don’t have to do it – I’m living in a beautiful house, I’ve got a wonderful wife, I play golf whenever I want to. But the show is great and still fun to do.”

Costume Wars

According to The Sun, the girls hve been complaining about their costumes.

Jessie Wallace wants her costumes to be sexier, becuase she has lost weight especially for the show, and is complaining because Lisa is getting all the sexy stuff.

Meanwhile, Rachel Stevens has also been complaining about costumes.

I understand their pain. If you're not comfortable in your costume it really does impede your performance. I hate feeling self-conscious in a costume. It's the worst.

Set The Video

Craig Revel Horwood will be appearing on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1 tomorrow (Friday 12th September) at 3pm.

Gillian's Sleepless Nights

Gillian Taylforth is having nightmares about all the things that could go wrong...

She told The Sun: “I'm having nightmares about tripping on the hem of my dress, needing the toilet, forgetting the steps - everything. At the moment I'm panicking like mad! I don't want to let Anton down.”

TV Times

Make sure you check out this week's TV Times - Anton du Beke is on the cover, alongside Jessie Wallace.

Kelly To Take Part In Christmas Special

There have been a few rumours surrounding Kelly Brook's participation in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special this year. Now Kelly herself has confirmed that it's true.

Kelly told Radio 1 Newsbeat: "I'm so lucky. If Brendan is with Lisa then I'll be dancing with someone else. So it may mean that I dance against Brendan which would be hilarious but I would love to dance with him obviously."

New Tour Venue

The 2009 Strictly Come Dancing tour will visit a new city this time around - Liverpool.

Tour producer Paul Roberts told the Liverpool Echo: “With its Capital of Culture status, the city is renowned for its Arts and the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour will offer all the local fans an opportunity to see celebrities from the different BBC series performing right here in their city.”

Meet Lavish...

The Mail on Sunday has published extracts from Craig's book in the same way they did with Len recently.

Highlights include Lavish - Craig's 1980s drag queen persona, his run-ins with various Strictly participants, and a set of fab old photos.

Corry Won't Dance

Rugby star Martin Corry has told The Guardian that while he will be supporting Austin Healy on Strictly, you won't catch him on the floor.

He told the paper: "It may be big money, but with that comes big embarrassment. I saw Austin the other day and we had a 30-minute conversation about the finer points of ballroom dancing and the technical difference between the tango and the jive. I left wondering how, after training my guts off and sweating, I could end up talking about that. I look forward to playing a game, going home, cracking open a beer and watching Austin on television. That's as far as it will go for me."

New Strictly Promo

A new promo for Strictly Come Dancing has hit the screens. Check it out...

Bruno In The Buff

Bruno Tonioli has got his kit off for Cosmopolitan, The Sun reports. But Camilla is on hand with a paddle to keep things decent.








Bruno said: "I'm sure [the other judges will] take the p*ss when they see this but they're just jealous. Actually, Len flashed me once it put me off my food for the rest of the day. I still havent recovered! I'm not vain, but I like to think that Im flying the flag for older men. At 52, I can't complain."

Strictly Wins Award

Strictly Come Dancing won Best Talant Programme at last night's TV Quick/TV Choice Awards.

The Radio 1 website shows Anton, Camilla and Tess collecting the show's award.

Flutter On The Floor

The Daily Mirror reports that Phil Daniels has had a flutter... on himself!

The paper claims he has bet £50 on himself to win at 20-1. Flavia got Matt to the final. Can she take Phil all the way?

Rachel: "I'm Looking Forward To The Sexy Dances"

Poor Rachel Stevens. She's already on the defensive about her past dance experience.

She told the Daily Telegraph recently: "Just because you've been on stage doesn't mean you can dance. For the first time ever, I'm doing something completely on my own and it's scary. I've always had other band members or dancers around me before. I would be thrilled if I won, but I can't think that far ahead. I'm taking each training session as it comes and I'm looking forward to the sexy dances like the rumba."

Jessie: "I'm So Worried About Falling Over"

The Mirror sent a pap off to hang around outside the Strictly rehearsal venue this week, and he got some iffy pics of some very sweaty participants.

Jessie Wallace told the paper: "I'm so worried about falling over. I know it's going to be masses of fun, but I'm having nightmares about it. We're training so hard. My body's never ached like this - and in places I didn't know existed."

Brendan: "Lisa’s A Super Dancer"

Brendan Cole is already singing the praises of Lisa Snowdon.

He told The Sun: “Lisa’s a super dancer. She’s absolutely fabulous in rehearsals, she’s even better than Kelly last year — and so glam. Lisa’s a strong woman and I can work with that. She’s always ringing me up to get tips.”

I know Brendan & Kelly didn't get on that well, but I thought she was excellent. If Brendan is right, Lisa must be phenomenal.

Len Talks About His Book

Ebury Publishing have posted a video in which Len talks about his autobiography which is out this week.

Louisa & Vincent On BBC Breakfast

Louisa & Vincent were on BBC Breakfast this morning, talking about this weekend's Eurovision Dance Contest, in which they are representing the UK.

Thanks to Katie_p of the DigitalSpy Forum for the clip.

Strictly Come Searching

Have you entered "Strictly Come Dancing" into a search engine to find the latest Strictly gossip recently? If you have, you've helped make it one of the fastest growing search terms in the country.

According to web statisticians Hitwise, "Strictly Come Dancing" tops the list of fastest moving search terms. Cherie and Lisa were the most searched-for participants.

The First Bore Weeks

The first four weeks of Strictly Come Dancing will be a bit of a snoozefest, as we have four weeks of only one sex dancing before the competition begins in ernest.

According to the BBC Press Office, the boys are up first dancing the walz or cha cha. In Week 2, the girls have a go at the foxtrot (harsh so early on!) or salsa. The process is repeated with different dances in Weeks 3 and 4 before the competition finally gets going on 18th October!

A whole month? It's been rubbish to endure in the past couple of years, and it's going to be worse now. They are going to kill it!

Tour DVD Artwork Changed

BBC Worldwide have decided to change the artwork for the tour DVD. Matt & Flavia are now in the front, reflecting the fact that they won the most nights on the tour.

Anton: "I Don’t Dance In Nightclubs"

Celebs On Sunday caught up with Anton at the weekend, and asked him about dancing and cooking.

The interview doesn't really give us any new information, but there is a nice pic of Anton that's worth seeing.

On dancing in clubs: "It can be a bit tricky. People want to dance with you and, before you know it, you are on all night. You can’t even go and have a break for a wee!"

Does he believe in love at first sight?: "Yeah. I believe in lust at first sight hugely, and maybe love grows from there."

Has he been heartbroken?: "No, and I’ve never broken anyone’s heart either."

Strictly Preview Show

Can't wait until 20th September for the new series. Fear not. There will be a Strictly Come Dancing preview show on 13th September (time is still TBC).

This makes it a bit fairer on the new celebs and especially the new pros, as it gives them a chance to get some exposure before the public pics up their phones.