Darren & Lilia official statement

Taken from http://www.darrenandlilia.com/News/scd2010pr.htm

From Jillie Bushell Associates Ltd

Agents to Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova

Statement from Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova ref Strictly Come Dancing 2010

10^th June 2010

We are in contact with the BBC regarding the proposed changes to our role within the show this year. We are unable to comment on our decision at this time until we have further understanding of the actual requirements.

 "We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the fantastic response we have received on email, Twitter, facebook & forums. Dance is our passion & life and whatever we decide that will never change"

Strictly Professionals for 2010 announced

So returning to compete with celebrities this year are:

Anton du Beke, Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Vincent Simone, Ola Jordan, Flavia Cacace, Erin Boag, Kristina Rihanoff, Natalie Lowe, Aliona Vilani, Katya Virshilas

Added to this are three new professional dancers (3 girls were added last year so 3 guys are added this year):

Images courtesy of BBC Strictly mini-site

ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, a Latin Champion who is a graduate of 'So You Think You Can Dance' in the US and has unique experience of very different dancing genres in addition to his ballroom champion-level skill.
JARED MURILLO, who at 21, was a US open Swing Youth champion. Trained in America, Jared was a principal dancer in the movies 'High School Musical' 1 & 2.
ROBIN WINDSOR has completed five world tours of the worldwide ballroom dancing phenomenon 'Burn the Floor', in which he has starred and choreographed routines.


The BBC have reduced the number of celebrities from 16 to 14 this year (I think a good move as last year did feel like there was just too many).  This has meant however that 5 of the existing professionals are now not going to compete this year - Darren & Lilia, Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler and Brian Fortuna.  They have been offered the opportunity to form a 'dance supergroup', along with some other as yet unnamed professionals, that will come on each week and perform a dance spectacle for the audience.

At present Brian has confirmed that he will not take part, and will concentrate on the West End production of Burn The Floor with Ali Bastian, and it is rumoured that Darren & Lilia have also declined - they may also wish to concentrate on their Latin Fever tour.  Ian and Matthew have yet to respond, neither have a show on the side as they are both on the Professionals Tour, so may both agree to take part this year.

So, the BBC tinker with the formula again and only time will tell whether they have more luck than last year.  Amid rumours last week that Alesha was due to quite as judge (yay!) the Daily Star and Sun have stated that she is due to re-sign for another year (boo!).

Have any of your favourites been ditched this year, or are you looking forward to some new blood?

Strictly Posh Dancing?

So a new series of Strictly Come Dancing is fast approaching and talk turns to who could be taking part this year.  Last year's show was a bit of a letdown for some in terms of the celebrities selected and the BBC want to make amends this year.

According to The Sun Strictly are lining up a number of high profile celebrities for this year's competition, top targets include Victoria Beckham, Amy Winehouse, Chelsea Clinton (ex-US president Bill's daughter) and [controversially if Chelsea signs up too] Monica Lewinsky [Bill's former 'secretary with benefits'].

Other targets are said to include Kimberley Walsh (Girls Aloud) and Patsy Kensit (Lethal Weapon 2 and currently Holby City).

It's not all glitz and glamour though as they're also purportedly considering former Cheeky Girl fancier, oh and ex-Lib Dem MP, Lembit Opik!

There are also going to be more planned recordings from Blackpool Tower (though not a complete move - something Ian Waite agrees isn't feasible in an interview with Digital Spy).

Talk is also abound of changes in the professional lineup, with the new producer having flown out to the States to audition potential new pro's...why they couldn't start with more homegrown talent is beyond me (hint BBC if you're listening...give me a call!!!)

Alesha Dixon is currently continuing as a judge (though no offense Alesha but I hope they drop you for someone with even a little bit more knowledge).  Surely a departing female professional could've been a viable option.

Regardless of the changes, or non-, i'll still be avidly watching and giving my own views on the performances.

Who knows, one day I might even be on the show - even if it's in the dark recesses of the public audience!

How would you change this year's Strictly, and who would you like to see on the show?

Strictly Come Dancing Musical Interlude tickets

Join Strictly Come Dancing for a special pre-record on Friday 27th November.

Come and see a performance by Riverdance in its 15th Anniversary Year plus a special guest appearance by Nelly Furtado and James Morrison who will be performing together for the very first time.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a pre-recorded musical segment of Strictly Come Dancing to transmit on Saturday 28 November. You will NOT be attending the live show.

No under 16s will be admitted.

Dress code is glamorous/strictly no jeans.

Tickets are limited so apply now to be part of this intimate and exclusive performance.

Due to the short notice of this recording they are allocating tickets on a first come first served basis.

Just visit the BBC Tickets website to apply for the tickets

We're famous!

Well the BBC have finally uploaded one solitary picture of us from the 'Come Dancing With Strictly' event in Blackpool!

Not the best photo they took of us during the day so i'm sure there'll be more...maybe.

For more photos from Blackpool visit the BBC website.

Joe Calzaghe has claimed that Strictly Come Dancing is fixed!

In an interview with The Daily Mail boxer Joe Calzaghe has claimed that Strictly is fixed.


The former contestant has accused the BBC of fixing his departure from the show, after he made a comment "...worse than a swear word..." about fellow contestant Craig Kelly.

Apparently producers regularly told Joe that he received the highest weekly votes in the show, but then in the week following his comment about Craig he then found himself in the dance-off and out of the show.

Though I do seem to recall that that was the first week when Joe wasn't actually bottom of the leaderboard - and therefore tugging on the underdog heartstrings!

This follows on the back of complaints about Jade Johnson being allowed to sit out this week's show due to injury - but I can't understand the complaints as it's not the first time a contestant has been granted a by. Jimmy Tarbuck was granted a week's break in 2006 after doctors recommended he didn't dance.

Ok so he then pulled out completely (probably the same thing Jade will unfortunately have to do if her injury is as bad as feared) but it's only fair to give them one week to recover if that's what it takes.

I don't believe Strictly is fixed, the only way Joe could have stayed in as long as he did (and Craig too) would be with the public vote supporting them!

Do you agree with Joe, or Strictly's stance on Jade?

Week 9 in 60 seconds

Not got time to watch all the clips from last week, then why not watch the 60 second summary of the weekend's action:

Missed Saturday night's show - catch up on the clips here

Haven't got time to watch the full show on iplayer? Then see the short clips below:


Natalie Cassidy:



Ricky Groves:



Laila Rouass:



Phil Tufnell:



Ricky Whittle:



Ali Bastian:



Chris Hollins:



The Result:

Evening Show

A packed theatre in Blackpool's Winter Garden Opera House was the setting for the evening screening of Strictly Come Dancing.

There was an almost feverish party atmosphere in the theatre, and even though they were re-showing the highlight reel that we'd been subjected to earlier in the day, people were in the mood to cheer (Mark Ramprakash's Argentine Tango, Jill Halfpenny's Jive) or laugh (John Sergeant's Paso Doble, Fiona Bruce's Jive) at the various scenes.

Dominic Littlewood and Karen Hardy returned to host the evening show, we were told that the videos and pictures that had been taken throughout the day would be appearing on the BBC website during the coming week - none of us yet though!

We were shown a highlights reel of the morning dance sessions (we were on the afternoon session) and this was pretty much the same video you'll have seen on the live show.

Rav Wilding and Mark Foster were re-introduced onto the stage and we were shown some highlights of their appearances on the show before they had to duck out to head over to the Tower, but not before Mark put his arm round Karen and commented on how great she looked, how she should still be in the show, and 'You're my favourite'.

Dominic then introduced highlights of Karen's appearances on Strictly, including Gary Rhodes Cha Cha (receiving a lowly 1 from Craig) and Mark Ramprakash's Salsa. Karen talked about how much she loved dancing, which she'd being doing since the age of 5, and had been so honoured when Strictly had convinced her to come out of retirement after her 6 year break (and a baby).

Matthew and Aliona made a surprise visit to perform an elegant Viennese Waltz

Matthew talked about how everyone at the Tower was so excited, and due to the significantly increased audience numbers there was a really great atmosphere.

Aliona talked about how this was her first time visiting in Blackpool, and how much she was enjoying it.

Before the live show was due to start Karen gave her comments and predictions on the show to follow:

Ali Bastian was still suffering from her injured foot, and with a dance such as the Viennese Waltz - heavy on technique - she could find it difficult to perform.

Craig Kelly would most likely be going out as it was definitely his time to go.

Ricky Groves started as a clown but is now taking it seriously and could be a real dark horse in the competition.

It was then time for the live show, Karen told us she'd be sticking around to comment on the show at intervals, and I settled down ready to make my notes on the evening performances...

Blogging from Blackpool?

Well we've managed to get tickets for Blackpool this weekend, ok so it's not the live show but rather a dance class during the day with Karen Hardy and then a live 'screening' in Winter Gardens afterwards, but we'll still be up there!

Unless of course Ian can pull some favours and get us in to the Tower that is...!

Either way i'll do my best to blog the show live but i'm guessing they probably won't let me in with my laptop and dongle, so you may have to wait for my comments this week.

If I can't blog live i'll have to make do with bog-standard pen and paper then write it up afterwards.

Anyone else going to Blackpool? Anyone lucky enough to get the actual live show tickets?

Quiz answers

If, like me, you failed to get a perfect 10 out of 10 (albeit by one mark, and I know which one I got wrong!), then here's the answers to the week 7 Strictly quiz.

See more at the BBC official Strictly site

Feel you know everything about Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing?

Why not take the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing week 7 quiz and see how much you know about Saturday's show.

One of the professional dancers will be revealing the answers later this week.

I managed 9/10, see how you do: BBC Quiz

Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing...in 60 seconds!

Only got a minute to spare, then why not just see the web exclusive 60 second summary of Saturday night's show.



If you want more details on the show then check out BBC Stricly Come Dancing

Finally it starts!

Though I must thank F1 as I didn't get home till 7.30pm so would've been behind (again) with the blog if there hadn't been that delay!

So yesterday I predicted that Joe might actually not end up on the bottom tonight, and Jade could well take top spot. Let's see what happens, first up - Ricky Groves.

Arlene returns to judge Strictly!

Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips is to return to the show's judging panel, but only for the tour.

,,,taken from BBC News online the article continues...



Promoters say Phillips was hired before she was replaced on the main show and it was not a reaction to viewer anger at the decision.

More than 4,000 people complained after the 66-year-old was dropped and the BBC was forced to defend claims of ageism.

Phillips' replacement, Alesha Dixon, will not take part in the tour. She is said to have other work commitments.

'Winning formula'

Stage Entertainment and Phil McIntyre Entertainment co-produce the tour. A spokesman said: "We recognised that we had a winning formula with audiences, so at the end of the 2009 dates we asked Arlene to join next year's tour."

Phillips will rejoin Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood on the judging panel for the 33 shows.

The arena tour, which features past and present celebrities and professionals from the show, will start in Manchester on 15 January.

It ends in Newcastle on 21 February. The tour will also take in Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, London, Glasgow and Belfast.

Anton du Beke in hot water

The BBC has received dozens of complaints about Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke's use of the word "Paki".

...taken from the Telegraph online the article continues...



Anti-racism campaigners have called for Du Beke to be sacked from the BBC One show. Others have questioned why the BBC is standing by Du Beke when Carol Thatcher was sacked earlier this year for describing a black tennis player as a "golliwog".

Du Beke made the remark backstage to Laila Rouass, his dance partner, after she had a spray tan. He told her: "Oh my God, you look like a Paki." The comment was overheard by several members of the Strictly team, including fellow professional dancer Brendan Cole.

After the incident became public at the weekend, Du Beke issued an apology.

The BBC has received 63 complaints and hundreds of fans have debated the issue on the corporation's messageboards. Some said Du Beke was making a harmless joke and claimed that he was the victim of political correctness.

However, others said his behaviour was unacceptable. One viewer wrote: "Refraining from using such language is nothing to do with being politically correct. It's to do with basic human decency and treating people of Asian descent with respect.

"I'm not comfortable with Anton's continued presence in the show, especially when Carol Thatcher was sacked for making a similiarly controversial remark."

A spokesman for Hope Not Hate, the anti-racism campaign, said: "If calling someone a Paki is not racist behaviour then what is? Quite simply the programme has to ask itself: is it going to condone racism on its show, or is it going to deal with it quickly and decisively?

"The BBC took a clear line on the Carol Thatcher golliwog comment. If anything, this comment is even more offensive."

In his apology, Du Beke said: "I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language.

“During the course of rehearsals Laila and I have exchanged a great deal of banter entirely in jest, and two weeks ago there was an occasion when this term was used between the two of us.

“There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react.

“I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused.”

The BBC is standing by Du Beke, a rising star at the corporation and the man tipped to replace Bruce Forsyth as Strictly host. A spokesman said the case differed from the Thatcher case because she did not make a "full and frank" apology.

Strictly Clementine video blog

Clementine, the living fashion doll, is a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing and like millions of people is following every heel-turn of the hit BBC show.

Each week the dolly diva will be sharing her thoughts on Strictly in an exclusive video diary for BBC Norfolk.

In the second week of the series, jockey Richard Dunwoody fell at the first hurdle as the judges failed to save him in the dreaded dance-off.

Dunwoody was beaten by Coronation Street actor Craig Kelly.

Clementine is making her weekly diary update from her country home, a sandcastle on Sheringham beach.

"I love Strictly and fashion is my passion, so I will be commenting on the fantastic fox-trot frocks and the, rare I know, dance dress disasters," she said.

Strictly Come Dancing returned to our screens on Friday, 18 September, 2009, with a new format and new judges.

The show captivated the nation when it first appeared and the re-discovered love of dancing shows no sign of abating.

Clementine, the living fashion doll
Clementine has developed a soft spot for Strictly hunk Rav Wilding

"I can't think of a nicer way to spend the chilly autumn evenings than to snuggle down and get a weekly fix of strictly, it gives your night a glamour glow," said Clementine.

'Strictly is like a nature programme for fashionistas.

"We get to see celebrities in their natural habitat - glittering under studio lights and in front of cameras. It's like Autumnwatch with sequins, just with none of the funny smells!

"I'm most looking forward to seeing the costumes. With so many contestants and so many different dances it's a real challenge for the costume designers to keep dazzling us, but they always do."

Read her blog on the below link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8281000/8281321.stm

Training updates

So the night of the new celebrity competitors is almost upon us, and last night's It Takes Two had training updates, how is their training coming along?

Phil Tufnell & Katya Virshilas
Waltz - Needs to relax the shoulders, just holding his arms a little high (arms should be a slight incline down from the shoulder). Overall doesn't look too bad, if nerves don't get the better this could be a 6-7.

Cha Cha - Could potentially give Ricky Groves a run for his money...? If i'm honest I think Phil will only manage a 6 at best.

Zoe Lucker & James Jordan
Waltz - Looks elegant (when not falling over!). Definitely going to give Ali's Waltz a run for her money.  Could be a 7-8.

Rumba - Looks quite good, so long as Zoe can ignore her nerves surrounding the sensual side of the dance.  Another 7-8.

Jo Wood & Brendan Cole
Tango -  Needs to keep chin up, still closing up and looking at the floor.  Brendan always dances with passion so let's hope Jo can keep up.  Think the nerves might get the better of her though and predicting a 6.

Rumba -  A couple of nice moments but haven't seen enough of the dance to truly judge, think another 6.

Richard Dunwoody & Lilia Kopylova
Waltz - Needs to relax the shoulders, the frame is just there for show and should be kept uniform and relaxed. 5-6.

Cha Cha -  Oh dear, I don't think the Cha Cha is going to be Richards thing, looks uncomfortable and again another 5-6.

Craig Kelly & Flavia Cacace
Tango - Flavia's speciality is the Argentine Tango and Ballroom Tango is a close cousin so hopefully something good can be created here.  Right shoulder should not be raised during lines, needs to watch this. Predicting a 6.

Rumba - Hips look a little forced at times, probably going to be a 6.

Natalie Cassidy & Vincent Simone

Tango - Flavia's partner Vincent is also a specialist in Tango, coupled with Natalie's passion for dancing and her acting abilities, this should be good.  Haven't seen enough of the dancing but i'm predicting a 6-7.

Cha Cha - Natalie definitely doesn't appear to be shy about moving around in the Cha Cha but does need to make her chasse a little softer.  Should be a lively 7.

Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe

Waltz - Looking really good, though still needs to watch those shoulders and try and keep level. Going to say a 7-8.

Rumba - Has natural rhythm and looks quite good, a 7 easily if he pulls it off on the night.

Laila Rouass & Anton du Beke
Tango -  So finally Anton get's a younger celebrity and ,some might say, his actual real chance to win.  Can't see the feet but this could be the best dance of the night, 8.

Cha Cha - Nice hip action and looking good, think that'll be a 7.

Don't forget that our blog will be a little late tonight due to our regular Friday night practice session, but don't worry i'll be watching it, and commenting, as soon as I get home so check back after midnight!

The One Show

Pretty sure that the asian cricketer at the front (that Arlene said she thought he was good) was a Bollywood dance instructor that did a display class at a pamper evening we were also working at...