Tragic to admit I know, but I have seen every single show since this series started and the standard improves year after year. I remember Natasha Kaplinksi winning the first series and thought she was pretty good, but recently watching her routines on You Tube I have come to the conclusion that she would not get beyond Week 2 now.
I do love Strictly though my mute button on my remote is used a lot, usually when Sir Bruce is wittering on with his awful scripted jokes (he is so much better ad-libbing) and when Tess is making her vacuous remarks. She really is getting worse and worse, show picked up considerably last week when Claudia Winkleman turned up on Sunday.
Great show tonight with a Broadway Theme and rather glad that Edwina Currie has gone as I really feared she would appear as the Green faced witch in Wicked.
Celebs falling into categories quite naturally: Those who cannot dance - Nancy Dellollllllio - utterly utterly dire and I hope the public put us out of our misery soon (and poor Anton as well); Audley Harrison - lovely bloke but with those feet, well what can one say: Dan Lobb - galumphing and zilch personality.
Those who really cannot dance very well but have managed to cover it up so far: Lulu - quite a change to see this usual full of herself woman realising that she is not quite so brilliant at something. Lots of tears during training and cries of 'But I'm not elegant'. Quite agree. Judges praised her quite highly this week, cannot understand why as Brendan seemed to be pushing her into position all the time and muttering under his breath. As per we had illegal lifts and there are times when Brendan is a real pain (well, most of the time actually...). Anita Dobson - enormous charm and giving it her all but not quite sure how long she will last. Holly Valance who seems to be always promising to deliver but has not quite managed it yet. Somehow we expect her to be good - why? - and she just fails each week. Also the lack of chemistry between her and Artem is obvious which does not help.
Next category is the dark horse category - and first up is Robbie Savage. Nasty and vicious on the football field and a real pain in the neck, he is coming over on Strictly as a real pussycat who did a terrific quick step last week and was practically in tears at the judge's praise. Afterwards said it was one 'of the best nights of my life'. Bless. Tonight did a tango to Gimme a Man after Midnight and was terrific. Second dark horse I think is Rory Bremner. Bit bashful the first week or so but now blossoming and his quickstep tonight to Top Hat was enormous fun and danced with great style.
Clear best of the bunch category - Jason Donovan. Wonderful and turning in great performances. I think a 10 is not far away. Kristina Rianhoff is in heaven - after dancing with John Sargeant et al she must feel she has finally hit the jackpot. Then Harry from McFly did a terrific jive to Greased Lightening which brought the house down.
I have not written about Chelsea and Pasha as I am totally indifferent to their combo. He is yet another new dancer they have introduced this year, very sweet, very nice as is Chelsea but that is it really. Like watching two teenagers bopping around.
Also fairly indifferent at the moment to James and Alex - did a lovely Viennese waltz this evening and that's it. Jury is out on this pair.
And the final category - well, not sure what to call this. Everyone's Fave I suspect and I am talking about Russell Grant. What can one say? He is outrageously over the top, clearly having the time of his life and Flavia and he are having a ball. Before Strictly he had been suffering from depression, overweight and housebound and in a bit of a state. He has lost ten stone, yes ten, and will be shedding more as the contest continues and his sheer joy in taking part is endearing him to everyone. He and Flavia did a foxtrot tonight to Don't Rain on my Parade, another standing ovations and shrieks from everyone. I found myself grinning and clapping all by myself at home, LOVE him. I predict he will stay in for quite some time yet.
Link below to the utterly hoot worthy live Guardian Blog below for another take on the show.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/oct/15/strictly-come-dancing-live
