Craig & Bruno And Darcey On Strictly

The Radio Times caught up with Craig and Bruno at the National Television Awards this week. Here is the short interview.



Darcey says that she would love to be back for the next series, and she can't imagine a TV schedule without Strictly in it. It's a British institution.

Friday Flashback

As the Strictly tour is in full swing, I thought I'd pick a flashback from a past tour.

This year Natalie & Artem are performing a dance the public didn't get the chance to see. Pamela & James also did this in 2011, performing the Argentine Tango which they had prepared, but didn't get to perform because they were knocked out of the competition.

Here is their performance:



And here is a rehearsal in the week leading up to the Strictly final:

Dermot O’Leary: "I’d Just Say No"

Dermot O'Leary has revealled that he wouldn't have to think long about doing Strictly if he was offered it. He would't.

He told Metro: "I’d just say no. When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet. I don’t think I’d ever do one of those kind of shows. I know I’m famous but I don’t see myself as a celebrity. Don’t get me wrong, I never say never to competing in something: a cooking show maybe."

Strictly Wins At The NTAs

Congratulations to everyone involved in Strictly Come Dancing on last night's win in the Best Talent category at the National Television Awards.

Here Lucie Cave meets the team backstage after the win..



And here Abby, Aljaž, Kevin, Robin, Bruno and Craig perfom on stage...

Sport Relief Does Strictly

Paralympics GB stars will be taking part in a Sport Relief Does Strictly special for this year's Sport Relief appeal. Four as-yet unnamed Paralympic athletes will be paired with four Strictly pros for a special edition of the show.

The Metro reports that a source told The Sun: "Bosses are keen to try new things for Sport Relief and with Strictly still at the top of its game, it seemed obvious to give disabled stars the chance to compete on the dancefloor."

In 2012, Strictly finalists Chelsee Healey and Harry Judd performed underwater for Sport Relief.

Congratulations, Vincent!

Congratulations to Vincent Simone, who has revealled that he popped the question to his partner Susan on Christmas Day.

He told Hello!: "I went with my heart on the spur of the moment on Christmas morning and gave her a Christmas card in which I wrote: "Will you marry me?" I am a bit of a showman and had hoped to do something spectacular but both Susan and myself have travelled and lived exciting lives so I thought perhaps the most surprising gesture of all would be to do something understated in our cosy home on Christmas Day. Whilst she was reading the card, I did a pirouette and presented her with the ring on bended knee. I was quite emotional."

Vincent admitted that his time in the jungle on I'm A Celebrity... was the catalist: "[It] made me realise how important our life together is to me. Going back to basics made me appreciate how full my life is and how lucky I am. We only have one chance in this life, and I want to make it the best I can."

Vincent and Susan have two sons together - Luca and Mateo.

Congratulations, Aliona!

Congratulations to Aliona Vilani, who got engaged on New Year's Day.

She Tweeted the news on 3rd January, saying: "Got engaged minutes into the New 2014 Year under falling snow and booming fireworks!!! #family #engaged #romantic"

She also shared this image:

NTAs: Vote For Strictly

It's time for the final round of voting for the National Television Awards.

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

VOTE FOR STRICTLY!

Vote here.

DVD Review: Fitsteps

It's January, a time when many people are thinking about getting fit and active. If you're a Strictly fan, there's a new DVD out which might be the perfect thing to kick-start your routine.

FitSteps is a fitness programme loosely based on ballroom and Latin dance steps, which was devised by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite, along with former Strictly participant and Olympic swimmer Mark Foster.

Ian & Natalie have been recruiting and training instructors over the past 12 months, and with classes now established all over the country, they have now decided to release a DVD, which anyone can have a go at at home. This is great if you want something to supplement the classes, or to try the programme before going along to a class.

The DVD focuses around four key routines - cha cha, waltz, jive and quickstep - and two levels of intensity.

I chose to go through the whole DVD, but you can just pick and choose the parts you want to do in order to tailor the workout to your own ability and the amount of time you have.

The DVD commences with a simple warm up, presented in both low and high intensity, and then it's on to the routines. The routines are lead by Natalie or Ian, and they are joined by two other dancers. Strictly fans might remember Crystal Main from the pro dance troupe in Series 8. Jasmine Takács was in the company of last year's Strictly Confidential tour.

The good thing about the routines is that it feels like an aerobic workout rather than a dance class. The focus is on simple moves which are designed to get your blood pumping, rather than complicated dance moves. That said, you will recognise basic steps such as Cuban breaks, New Yorkers and Charleston.

My only complaint about the DVD is the use of a secondary camera. The shots taken from this camera don't always match the main action, and can be confusing. I found it best just to carry on and wait for the action to return to the main camera.

As you would expect, at the end of the DVD there is a cool-down.

In addition to the workout, there is a message from Mark Foster, and a series of outtakes from the making of the DVD. You also get an audio CD of the workout music, so once you have got used to the routines, you don't need to be in front of a TV screen to go through it. There is also a leaflet with some fitness tips, and a coupon for a free FitSteps class, so you can go along and try one. Visit the class finder to find one near you.

I really enjoyed this DVD, and would happily use it again and again, and I'm sure it would be a fabulous addition to anyone's fitness regime.

The FitSteps DVD is available exclusively through the FitSteps website (big thanks to the nice folks at FitSteps).

Friday Flashback

Since there are rumours that Kelly Brook could be joining Dancing With The Stars this Spring, I thought I would take a look at one of Kelly's Strictly performances this week.

Kelly was an all rounder, strong at both ballroom and latin. It was difficult to choose which of her dances to focus on, so I opted for one of my favourites of hers - the Viennese waltz.

Kelly & Brendan's Viennese waltz, Series 5, Week 6



At the time I wrote:

I loved Brendan's interpretation of the Viennese waltz. Fantastic musicality. It was fabulous. It was great to see Kelly & Brendan back on form. Loved it.

Red Button Inverviews

If, like me, you missed the Red Button interviews after the final of Strictly Come Dancing, here they are...

Sophie & Brendan



Natalie & Artem and Susanna & Kevin



Abbey & Aljaž

Kelly Brook For DWTS?

Could Kelly Brook be heading for Dancing With The Stars in the United States?

The Daily Mirror reports that she is being considered for the upcoming Spring series. A source told the paper: “They love British stars on the show, and Kelly is exactly what it needs – she’s down-to-earth, she’s going to look amazing in all those ballroom outfits and she’s not afraid of putting in the work.”

Kelly withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 after her father passed away, and there has always been speculation about whether she could have made the final.

She's not a huge star in the US, although she did appear in 2010 horror movie Piranha 3D.

Congratulations, Flavia & Jimi!

Congratulations to Flavia Cacace & Jimi Mistry, who tied the knot at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel on 29th December.

Flavia tweeted this picture, by Snooty Fox Images, saying: "Had the most amazing day with family & friends".