BBC Wants More Control Over Other Projects

The days of raunchy calendars and tell-all autobiographies may be over, as the BBC are reportedly looking for more control over the professional dancers' projects outside the show.

The Sunday People reports that producers are clamping down on projects which might conflict with the show's family image. A source told the paper: “Strictly is the BBC’s flagship family show but bosses feel activities outside the ­programme are distracting away from the essence of it. It’s all started to get a bit tacky with near-naked photoshoots and books spilling the intimate details of relationships. So a clean-up is under way and from next year bosses will be clamping down on extra projects undertaken by the professionals. They want the show to be about the dancing and they’re working to make it that way.”

Was Gemma Collins Dropped From Strictly?

TOWIE personality Gemma Collins was allegedly dropped from the Strictly line-up, because she was difficult to work with.

The Sunday Express reports that Strictly bosses because tired of her strops. A source said: "Gemma was quite demanding when it came to pre-series filming commitments. Her diva persona is a hit with fans but didn't go down well at Strictly."

However, a spokesman for Gemma claims she had never had any involvement in the show: "She has never met with Strictly bookers and there were no plans for her to appear on the show."

Having seen her antics on I'm A Celebrity..., I am quite happy not to have her on Strictly.

Next... Michelle Heaton

Former Libery X singer Michelle Heaton claims that she turned down Strictly Come Dancing this year, because she was busy with other projects.

TV3 reports that Michelle said: ''It was on the horizon but it didn't happen this year because I had other projects in the pipeline. I would love to do Strictly. It is one thing any woman would love to do.''

Radio Blah Blah

I was talking to some local BBC radio stations about Strictly yesterday morning. Here are the links if you would like to have a listen...

BBC Hereford & Worcester - Listen from 1hr 17 mins
BBC Radio Suffolk - listen from 1hr 24 mins
BBC Somerset - listen from 33 mins
BBC Radio Oxford - listen from 1 hr 41 mins
BBC Radio Kent - listen from 1hr 53 mins
BBC Radio Merseyside listen from 2hrs 10 mins
BBC Three Counties Radio - listen from 2hrs 20mins
BBC Radio Cumbria - listen from 2hrs 25 mins
BBC Sussex listen from 2hrs 42 mins
BBC Radio Leicester - listen from 2hrs 46 mins
BBC Radio Lincolnshire - listen from 2hrs 52 mins
BBC Radio Humberside - listen from 1hr 50 mins

Phew!

Sunday Service: Week 1 Show 2

After the bar was set so high on Friday, could Saturday's batch of celebrities do as well?

Jay & Aliona kicked things off with a fantastic cha cha. I absolutely loved it! Jay was in total control. He had lovely lines and his timing was excellent. His face was really intense thoughout, but I quite liked it. While it's important to smile while you are dancing, Jay's intense look sucked me in. I really enjoyed the performance. He impressed me.

Sadly, Kirsty & Brendan were not as impressive. Kirsty stumbled a lot during the waltz, which Brendan couldn't hide. I agree with Bruno that Kirsty's static poses were very nice, so she does have something to build on, but it was a shame she didn't pull it off. Perhaps it was first night nerves.

Jeremy & Karen's cha cha was surprisingly good. Jeremy just went for it, which was great. He looked as though he was having the time of his life. He worked hard, and seemed to be in control. He showed off Karen well. It was an endearing performance.

Georgia & Giovanni's jive was delicious. It was light and bouncy. Georgia had lots of style. It was pretty neat and tidy. The press are already trying to make them a romantic couple, which is I suspect why Giovanni put a cheeky little kiss in the routine, but they are so much more than a potential 'cuppel'.

Ainsley & Natalie's tango wasn't as nice to watch. I think Ainsley has lots of potential, but he will need to work hard. He needs to work on his top line, as his shoulders were very high. But his timing was good, and he has style. Keep your eye on him... And I have to give a shout out to the band for the lovely tango arrangement of Voulez Vous. Great work.

I was eagerly awaiting Katie & Anton's jive. Anton has finally been blessed with someone who can actually put one foot in front of the other. Their routine wasn't anything special, and she was slightly out of time at one point, but it's probably a good dance for them to get out of the way early.

Iwan & Ola's tango was a good start. Iwan needs to watch his posture - his shoulders were hunched, and his bottom was sticking out. If he is going to do kicks, he needs to stretch his toes more. He was bringing up some proper hooks in the kick section, which didn't look very nice. He has lots of potential, though, and overall I enjoyed his performance.

Jamila & Tristan's waltz was OK. I didn't think it was anything special, but Jamelia should do well in the competition. She needs to make sure she closes her feet together properly. She also needs to straighten her legs completely, which would improve her rise and fall. She had quite a few bent knees.

I don't think it was a surprise to anyone that Peter & Janette would close the weekend. Their cha cha was pretty spot on. Peter is definitely the one to beat, although we all know that the Great British Public love a 'journey'. Where can Peter go?

So Week 1 is already in the books. If there were an elimination today, I would put Carol and Kirsty in the bottom two and would send Carol home. Luckily for both of them, they have a chance to turn it around next week.

Here are the videos...

Jay & Aliona



Kirsty & Brendan



Jeremy & Karen



Georgia & Giovanni



Ainsley & Natalie



Katie & Anton



Iwan & Ola



Jamelia & Tristian



Peter & Janette

Friday Thoughts: Week 1 Show 1

We've dusted off out glitterballs, opened the wine (or beer), secured some Strictly snacks and got comfortable. Strictly Come Dancing is back!

So what happened?

Kellie & Kevin kicked things off with one of the most bizarre tangos we have ever seen. Kellie was great, but I hated everything about the routine. The styling was terrible. Kevin ginned like a buffoon throughout (where was the tango face?). It took forever to get into hold. If you didn't know it was a tango, you might have struggled to suss it out. But Kellie definitely shows potential. She danced the choreography she was given very well.

Anthony & Oti performed the jive. Anthony showed lots of personality, which was great. There were timing issues at the beginning, and there is plenty to work on. He was pigeon-toed and a bit flat-footed, but he has potential. It was a nice routine, but unfortunately his injury meant that some of the tricks didn't really come off.

Helen & Aljaž did a good job with the waltz. I actually thought it was a bit frantic on the choreography, but Helen coped well. It had lovely movement and sway, and amazing acting as you would expect. Helen is going to be a great storyteller, and she will sweep us away. She was lacking in heel leads, but I can totally sympathise with that. There are no heel leads in ballet - doing anything heel first would be a sin.

Carol & Pasha. Oh dear. Pasha did everything to try and distract us, but even his gyrating ascent on a cloud could not save their cha cha cha. Sara Cox does a "Strictly Mum Dancing" slot on the Radio 2 breakfast show when she sits in, and this will be what I will now picture forevermore. I felt that Pasha left Carol on her own too much, which meant he couldn't control and lead her. In a ballroom hold, she'll be easier to steer. She looked like she had fun, at least.

Daniel & Kristina's waltz was actually pretty nice. It was clear that Kristina was doing a lot of the work, especially on the floor spin. Their height difference made the frame look odd. His right arm looked a bit droopy. For week 1, it was a good effort. Kristina is definitely one of Strictly's best choreographers, having worked with all levels of ability and making them all look good.

Anita & Gleb closed the show with a cha cha. Anita will need to learn to control her very long arms and legs. She has long limbs for someone who isn't especially tall. There was a wee mistake in the middle, but she carried on. The routine was packed, and she did a good job. Anita doesn't appear to have any inhibitions, which is great, although she pulled some weird facial expressions in places. I think Anita will be one to watch.

Overall, the standard was high for the first show. I can't wait for tomorrow's show to see how the others get on.

Here are the videos...

Kellie & Kevin

Anthony & Oti

Helen & Aljaž

Carol & Pasha

Daniel & Kristina

Anita & Gleb

Anton Won't Leave Before Brendan

Anton du Beke says he won't leave the show while Brendan Cole is there too. The pair have both been a part of Strictly since the beginning.

TV3 reports that Anton told Hello! magazine: ''I'm not going anywhere. I won't be outdone by Brendan. Before each series, we share a moment backstage and say, 'Well done old sausage. Good luck!'''

Cash For Strictly Votes?

As soon as I heard Daniel O'Donnell was taking part in Strictly, I knew he would be hard to beat. 

I know nothing of his dance abilities, but I know his fans are mental dedicated, and would go to any lengths to keep their man on the show. Rumour has it that fans in the Republic of Ireland have been sending cash to contacts in the UK to pay for votes for Daniel.

The Daily Mirror reports that Daniel told the Irish Daily Star: “I have heard that and it shows true dedication. It really does show the lengths people are going to back me. I would like to thank all my fans and people who know me. Some people would have known me and known what I do but others have never heard of me and it’s great to meet new people."

Only time will tell how long they can keep him in for, but I get the feeling he could easily stay longer than his talent might take him...

If any Daniel O'Donnell fans in the Republic want to send me a few euro, I promise that I will spend it on votes for Daniel. I certainly would not spend it all on Taytos and Guinness in my local Morrisons.

Helen: "I'm Just Loving It!"

Helen George is loving her Strictly experience so far, although she is nervous about taking to the floor.

She told What's On TV: "I'm just loving it! I've been smiling so much for the last few days – the physical exertion of it makes me smile. It's all starting to feel real now."

Helen doesn't know what all the dances are, though: "I don't even know what they all are! I've purposely not watched old episodes of Strictly, so that I don't scare myself. What's the one where they wear a flower behind their ear? Is that the Argentine Tango? Probably that."

Helen is starting her Strictly 'journey' (first use this series!) with the waltz this weekend.

Twitter Paddles!

Many people hand craft their own Strictly paddles to hold up in their living rooms. Others print them from the BBC website. Or use those rubbish ones you get with the live tour programme.

But tomorrow, you can get involved with a set of Twitter hashtag emojis.

Tweet using the hashtag #Strictly plus the score you want to give - eg #Strictly7, (or #Strictly2 if you want to channel your inner CRH). It's all for fun though. The Twitter scores won't count, although I'm sure the BBC will make some sort of PR-able infographic from the results.

While I think it's a nice idea to have an emoji (I still love the heart flags from Eurovision earlier this year), I do wish they have gone with #SCD. I have too much to say! I can't waste precious characters on hashtags!

I will be Tweeting along with tomorrow's programme. Follow me @StrictlyTweeter, and join in the fun. I shall probably stick to #SCD, though.

Big Beery Night

Will you be cracking open a beer while watching Strictly tomorrow night? Are you banishing friends and relatives to the pub so that you can enjoy the show in peace?

Either way, get involved with the Big Beery Night in aid of Macmillian.

During the day, Macmillan will be running their annual World's Biggest Coffee Morning. My friends at the Beer O'Clock Show podcast were inspired to take the event into the evening with the Big Beery Night.

The concept is simple. On Friday 25th September, enjoy a beer somewhere. At home. At the pub. In a restaurant. On the local park bench. OK, maybe not that last one. Then donate the equivalent cost of that beer to Macmillian via this JustGiving page. Repeat until you have donated all of your spare cash to a great cause.

You can get involved on social media via the hashtag #BigBeeryNight.

Almost everyone's lives have been touched by cancer. Former Strictly participant Lynda Bellingham lost her battle with the disease almost a year ago, so I will be having a beer and making a donation in her memory.

Remaining First Steps Videos

Ahead of tomorrow's opening show, here are the remaining First Steps videos to get you in the mood...

Katie & Anton



Georgia & Giovanni



Jay & Aliona



Jeremy & Karen



Carol & Pasha



Iwan & Ola



Helen & Aljaž

Strictly Stars Snubbed From ITV Shows

The celebrities of Strictly Come Dancing and their professional partners are not being booked for ITV chat shows, as bosses are accused of 'banning' stars of the BBC show.

A BBC source told the Daily Mirror: “They aren’t taking anyone from Strictly and are ignoring us or telling us their shows are full when normally they are all over us wanting our stars on their shows. It seems almost like some unofficial ban in terms of Strictly on ITV to help publicise the start of the series. Perhaps they don’t want to promote us when we are already ahead of The X Factor. But it does seem a bit petty."

An ITV source denied that there is a ban: “We will have Strictly acts on ITV but the series hasn’t started yet. We have bids in for some of the celebrities and will feature the show as part of a mix with everything else. Jamelia is a contestant and she will be appearing on Loose Women as normal.”

Lucy Benjamin: "I'd Love To Do Strictly"

Former EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin would like to get the chance to do Strictly.

She told What's On TV: "I’d love to do Strictly! It would be fabulous to learn the craft of ballroom dancing. Though I’d probably go out in the first round, still thinking ‘But I’m a dancer!’"

First Steps: Kirsty, Anthony And Ainsley

Here are the latest first steps videos.

Kirsty & Brendan



Anthony & Oti



Ainsley & Natalie

Oti: Strictly No Booze Or Bonking For Anthony

New pro Oti Mabuse is making her mark already, by imposing an alcohol and sex ban on celebrity partner Anthony Ogogo.

Oti told the Daily Mirror: “He wants to take his shirt off! I’m like 'No, no, no! You don’t need that.' I think he’s such a good dancer his talent comes through. But I think I need to teach them both to swerve in the bedroom. I just put him on a booze and sex ban. He’s got to slow down on the humping. I need his focus and energy. Before the competition you need the focus.”

She says that now. Vicky Gill might have other suggestions. I hope he makes it through to do the paso...

First Steps: Anita And Jamelia

The latest 'first steps' rehearsal videos are available.

Antia & Gleb



Jamelia & Tristan

First Steps: Kellie And Peter

Kellie Bright and Peter Andre have taken their first training steps. Here's how they got on...

Kellie & Kevin



Peter & Janette

Sleepless In Ireland

Daniel O'Donnell has admitted that Strictly is already giving him restless nights.

Goss.ie reports that Daniel told the Irish Sun: “The fact I’m waking up at 4am, in the middle of the night worrying about my steps, it’s stressing me, but in a good way. I just want to get it right."

Will Young Would Consider Strictly

If Will Young was going to do a reality show, Strictly Come Dancing is the only one he would consider.

Will is no stranger to reality TV, having won Pop Idol way back in 2002.

He told Ireland's TV3: ''I love watching Strictly and I love dancing so if I got to a stage where it was a possibility to do it, I think that would be a great one to do. I'd get a lot out of it. I trained, I did ballet for 12 years... still can't do a pirouette! But that would be the natural one for me."

First Steps

Once again, the BBC will be giving us a small peek into the first day of training for each of the celebrities.

First up are Daniel & Kristina...

Did Strictly Decide Against Same-Sex Couple?

The debate over the possibility of a same-sex couple on Strictly was raised again this week, when Eggheads panelist CJ de Moori claimed his talks to join the show came to nothing because he wanted a male partner.

CJ told the Daily Mirror: “I can’t believe they picked Jeremy [Vine] over me. I’m quite upset. It’s because I wanted to dance in a same-sex couple. Someone at the BBC told me at least for the foreseeable future neither Strictly Come Dancing or the US version Dancing With The Stars will have a same-sex couple on. How disappointing.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we’ve chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples. At the moment we’ve no plans to introduce same-sex couples.”

And an unnamed source suggested that CJ was never approached to take part in the show: “We never approached nor had any plans to approach CJ to participate in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing. CJ’s agent gave us the opportunity to consider him but there was only one person we ever wanted from Eggheads and that was Jeremy Vine and we are delighted that we got our man.”

The Couples - First Thoughts

I love autumn. The trees are a pretty colour. It's rugby season, with a World Cup this year to boot. It's American football season. I have a holiday on the horizon. But better than all that? Strictly's back, baby!

So, once again it was time for the launch show. Nervous pros wait like their being picked for games. They shuffle uncomfortably when there is someone they don't want to be paired with. Although there was less of the latter this year, as there is no obvious dud or elderly relative. Even Anton might have a chance...

And so to the couples.

I like the pairing of Ainsley & Natalie. Natalie seems to work well with whoever she is partnered with. Ainsley is fun-loving, but I think he'll work hard. He has some moves too. I can't wait to see how they get on.

Iwan & Ola should be a good pairing. Sportsmen like to work hard and train hard. Ola has has sportsmen before - Kenny Logan, Andrew Castle and Robbie Savage - although it was the sports presenter Chris Hollins who helped her get her hands on the glitterball trophy. The tabloids seem to think this will be Ola's last year on the show, and Iwan might be the guy to take her back to the final.

Startled deer Jay has been partnered with Aliona. I really don't know how this is going to work out. Aliona always seems more comfortable when she is with someone with more ability. Jay looked incredibly uncomfortable thoughout the launch show, so she might have her work cut out. Dance partner and therapist.

I think Jeremy & Karen will be a good match. Like Natalie, Karen seems to have a good time whomever her partner is. No-one would have expected Dave Myers or Mark Wright would do that well, but they were both a pleasure to watch. I think Jeremy will become similarly popular.

Helen is so cute, and she's in good hands with former winner Aljaž. Since I don't watch Call The Midwife, I don't have any preconceptions about her. We'll have to wait and see how they do.

There's a part of me that doesn't like Jamelia. I don't really know why. I don't watch Loose Women. Must be something to do with her whiny appearances on Never Mind The Buzzcocks. But she's partnered with the delicious Tristan, so that might be enough to save her. I think they'll do OK.

I know about as much about Georgia as I do about Helen - nothing. And I know just as much about her partner Giovanni.

I had a feeling that Kirsty would be partnered with Brendan. In my confused head, she lives in the same area of Celebrityville as Kelly Brook and Lisa Snowdon. I like this pairing very much.

Anthony seemed very pleased to be paired with Oti. Again, sportsmen can usually train and work hard. I hope new girl Oti is prepared. Team AO - A O Let's Go!

A lot has been made in the media of Daniel's pairing with Kristina. I certainly think that he might struggle with some of the raunchier latin dances. Daniel I think will be OK, but as I have already said, his fiercely loyal fans will likely keep him in regardless of his abilities. I don't think it matters who he was partnered with, the outcome would be the same. He could be this year's Judy Murray, but with more dance ability.

Pocket rockets Peter & Janette are going to be a whirlwind force. Janette did well with Jake, but Peter is streets ahead in talent. They could go far.

Anita is partnered with stoney-faced new kid Gleb. The moment his name was announced was the most emotion he showed throughout the whole launch show. I hope his dancing has more passion than his face. Still, it didn't seem to do Artem much harm so you never know.

Kellie was delighted to be partnered with mums' favourite Kevin. Kevin has done pretty well for himself, having never had a bad partner. Kellie went to Sylvia Young, so will have had some dance training at school. She should be pretty good.

Katie & Anton should be a good match. Katie is posh and elegant, so you just imagine that she will do well at the ballroom. Female news presenters generally do. And good for Anton. He finally has somone who might actually make it through on talent rather than comedy. He might actually have to put some proper choreography together. Katie is his strongest partner, at least on paper, since Laila Rouass in series seven!

Finally, Carol is partnered with patient Pasha. This is a good match, but I don't think Pasha will enjoy the same levels of success he has enjoyed in previous years. In five years he's been in three finals, winning one. And in the series where he came 10th, he ended up with a girlfriend out of it. Not too shabby.

Trying to take anything away from the chaotic group number is tricky. If anyone watched Britain At The Bookies will have sympathy for the poor bookmakers who have to try and set their prices based on that small snippet. Standouts were Peter, Jamelia and Anita. No-one stood out as being bad. If I had to pick a weakest link it would be Carol, but you can't tell anything from this number really. They didn't get anywhere near as much practice time as they will on their own numbers.

I can't wait for the show to get going now. Keeeeeeeeep dancing!

First Trailer

Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday night. But if you can't wait until then to get your first Strictly fix, fear not! A teaser trailer has been released featuring all the celebrities...