Ola: "My Best Friend Is James"

Ola Jordan has answered some questions posed by the Daily Express.

She reveals that her best friend is James, she has a weakness for crisps, she wishes she could cook like her mother and she's a bit of an OCD neat freak.

Worth a read...

Tour Reviews

The reviews of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour have started to appear online.

Here are a selection:

Bromsgrove Standard

Daily Telegraph

The Stage

Sunday Mercury

Birmingham Mail

The Guardian

Brendan: Strictly Doesn't Need "Some Random Judge"

Strictly pro Brendan Cole thinks that a TV personality with some dance experience would be the best bet for the Strictly judging job - although he doesn't offer any suggestions.

He told Yanhoo!'s The Juice: "I'd like a TV personality who has some form of background in dance that understands what it's all about. I think it's quite a funny thing to get someone who's had three months of dancing experience. It cracks me up actually, it takes years and years and years to understand what we're all doing. You need the respect of the dancers otherwise the comments are taken with a pinch of salt. It's like "whatever"."

He doesn't think Kara Tointon would be right for it: "No, I'd like to see somebody that is a TV personality. I don't think they just need some random judge. Somebody who's a television personality that people are going to know and love already."

The Only Way Is Strictly

The Only Way Is Essex's Lydia Bright would like the opportunity to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

Contactmusic quotes an interview in which she said: "I'd love to do Strictly, I think it sounds really fun. I like trying new things. You never know, if it came around and it was the right opportunity for me then I would definitely consider it. At the moment I'm really enjoying filming TOWIE and being involved with that."

Rebecca Adlington: "Strictly I'd Love To Do"

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington is already thinking about her life and career after 2012, and if she retires she'd love to have a go at dancing.

She told The Times: "If I'm happy that I've done what I can [in London], I'd be ready [to retire]... I would like to do more commentating, Strictly I'd love to do - and then I'd love to do the team manager's job for Britain. I think I'd have a lot to offer from the right perspective."

Cleopatra Coming At Ya

Nancy Del'Olio was presented at the Strictly tour photocall in a way only Nancy could be - dressed as Cleopatra being carried in a sedan chair - sorry, lounger - by Artem and Robin.



The Daily Mail reports than Nancy won't be taking the usual bus to the tour venues, which kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham. A source told the paper: "She has insisted that she travels in either a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley or a Mercedes, and that there will be two cases of vintage champagne and five vases of lilies in her dressing room every night. She will also have a masseuse and acupuncturist on hand."

Russell Could Be New Judge

Russell Grant's name has been added to the ever-growing list of potential replacements for Alesha Dixon. The Sun reports that Strictly producers have contacted him to see if he would be interested in the role.

A source told the paper: "Russell made a huge impression on Strictly last year — not only with viewers but with bosses too. There was a big groundswell in favour of Russell taking over Alesha's judging role, and executives contacted him to see whether he would be up for it and he gave them a resounding yes. They have now added his name to the shortlist from which a final decision will be made."

The paper suggests that no decision will be made until a new executive producers is appointed, which will not happen until the spring.

Bruno Backs Kara And Jill For Judgeing Job

Bruno Tonioli thinks that Kara Tointon or Jill Halfpenny would be good choices to replace Alesha Dixon on the Strictly judging panel. Although we shouldn't expect an announcement any time soon.

He told the Sunday Mirror that he was surprised to hear of Alesha's departure: “It’s showbiz, these things happen. I was in the Caribbean sunbathing when I heard. I think Kara would be very good as a replacement as she is a ­champion and feisty. Jill Halfpenny would also be very good for the same reasons. I’m surprised Alesha quit, but that’s the industry and I think she will be great on Britain’s Got Talent. We’ll carry on and we will come back bigger and better than ever. I don’t think a decision will be made until June or July when we have regrouped.”

Erin: "I Want To Beat Anton Every Year"

Erin Boag has been talking to the Northampton Chronicle about her upcoming Let's Do It theatre tour with Anton, her partnership with Rory Bremner and what she likes to do in her spare moments.

On being partnered with Rory: "When I saw the line-up I thought Jason, nice but intense, Harry from McFly was too small and young, Russell was too big, but I thought Rory is a good size and he is nice, I wouldn’t mind having him. We never know who we will get, but I was really pleased with him."

On competing against Anton on Strictly: "I want to beat him every year. I can’t believe that he did it this year with Nancy Dell’Olio. When Rory and I got out and our results were being called I said: ‘it could me or you’ to him. We were in the bottom two. When Rory was called I couldn’t believe it. I will have to equal it out next year."

On the future: "I still feel I have a lot to do. I would like to have a baby. A family, a small family, and to have a baby, not babies."

Arlene And Karen Overwhelmed By Support

Arlene Phillips has been overwhelmed by people suggesting she should be asked to return to Strictly Come Dancing following Alesha's sudden departure.

Arlene told The Sun: "The Strictly thing was just starting to die down. Having been asked about it every day for years, this Christmas and New Year I thought — heaven, it's ending a bit. Maybe there is another life for me. Then this happened, and as soon as it did my phone hasn't stopped ringing. And I am very grateful but I can't even say thank you without it causing an avalanche. I've not been able to breathe. It's sad I have had to be quiet on Twitter because I love engaging with people through Twitter."

Many fans have suggested that Karen Hardy should replace Alesha. She has also been humbled by the support she has had.

She told the Bournemouth Echo: “I’m shocked to hear the news Alesha is going. I’m completely overwhelmed by the amazing support from my fans and through Facebook and Twitter. Obviously, as everything has happened so suddenly, it will be exciting to see what happens.”

Chelsee On Judge Shortlist?

According to the Daily Mirror, Chelsee Healey is on a list of potential new Strictly judges, and has already been informally approached.

A source told the paper: “BBC bosses have a shortlist of about eight names and Chelsee is one of them. She would do really well with younger viewers and help bring in a new demographic. As a successful past contestant – like Alesha was – Chelsee will understand exactly what the celebs are going through and bring with her that empathy. Bosses have already sounded Chelsee out but Nancy [Dell'Olio] has her heart set on the role... She believes people stopped watching when she was booted off and thinks her sense of fun and unique personality are just what Strictly Come Dancing needs. Nancy has invited [outgoing Strictly executive producer] Moira [Ross] for lunch at The Ivy in London – her favourite haunt – in an effort to convince producers she is the one they want.”

Nancy continues to be a deluded soul. I often think she just says things so that she will get written about in the papers.

Chelsee is the wrong choice in my mind. I was never a fan of Alesha on the panel as I didn't think she really added anything (the whole "I've been there" thing doesn't wash for me). At least Alesha had the 'qualification' of being a Strictly champion, which Chelsee does not. Chelsee has been a great participant and is a lovely dancer, but I don't think she's right for the panel. The other judges would eat her alive. You need strength - especially if you are a woman among three men. Alesha never really found that until the most recent series.

If producers want a young female on the panel, Kara Tointon would be a better choice, since she was a Strictly champion like Alesha. But this would cause a conflict of interest if Artem is still a professional dancer on the show in 2012. They have been a couple for over a year.

NTAs Shortlist

Strictly Come Dancing has made it through to the shortlist of the National Television Awards.

You can vote here. What better way to sock it to Simon Cowell for pinching Alesha than to vote for Strictly!

Strictly is nominted in the Talent Show category, alongside Britain's Got Talent, The X Factor and Dancing On Ice.

You can also vote for former Strictly participants Jaye Jacobs in the Drama Performance (Female) category for Waterloo Road and Jesse Wallace in Serial Drama Performance for EastEnders.

Winners are announced on 25th January and the ceremony will be braodcast on ITV1.

Alesha's Off

Alesha Dixon has left Strictly Come Dancing to join Britain's Got Talent.

The Mirror reports that Simon Cowell is paying her £300,000 for the move, joining him on the judging panel alongside Amanda Holden and David Walliams.

Alesha's agent Malcolm Blair told the paper: “Three years is a long time on one show and she wanted to keep the end of this year clear for her new album. Much as she loved doing Strictly, it is time to move on. This is not about the money. Doing Strictly every Saturday night for 15 weeks was a huge commitment and this will free her up for other things.”

Personally, I don't think Alesha will be missed that much. She was a very unpopular choice when she replaced Arlene Phillips, and seemed less committed than the other judges - not joining the tour and rarely appearing on It Takes Two. However, to give her her dues, she had started to make some comments with a bit of substance during the last series.

The Mirror article suggests that the BBC were not aware of Alesha's departure until it hit the media yesterday, so it will probably be some time before any decision is made on a replacement (although, as Alesha is the only female, I would presume she will be replaced).

My preference to replace Alesha would be Karen Hardy. Anyone who has listened to her comments on Chrography Corner on It Takes Two can't fail to see what a good job she would do. And she's already a part of the Strictly family. I'm not sure how I'd feel about someone 'new' joining the panel, unless they had some pretty strong dance credentials. I don't think there are any former participants who would be strong enough to take on a judging role.

I hope Jennifer Grey is not waiting by the phone...