Occasional Hope

New categories this year! https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-introduce-new-strictly-dance-13192893

Spinach icing sounds disgusting. For all the complaints about the heat, some of those chocolate collars looked really good.

Nice first episode. Manon seems very competent and clearly deserved Star Baker. The boot was also pretty obvious - Ruby saved herself by the technical.

Sorry, didn't realise that.

This year's competitors: https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/21/great-british-bake-off-2018-full-line-up-of-contestants-revealed-7862901/

There's going to be a vegan week this year: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/vegan-week-great-british-bake-off/

Thoughts/predictions Susannah Constantine - obv there for Anton Charles Venn - Casualty star, could do well, appears very fit (and hot,) and has done at least one musical Lauren Steadman - Paralympian, but not one I'd heard of Lee Ryan - boyband alumni usually do well Seann Walsh - comedian, predict will be tiresomely "funny" rather than learning to dance properly Joe Sugg - youtube star known for stupid pranks, ditto Kate Silverton - newsreader, prob mid-pack, but has one of the better recognition factors this year Ashley Roberts from Pussycat Dolls - predict early shock boot - she may well be good, but ringer status will count against her with the public Stacey Dooley - documentary maker, not an obvious choice for this show Dr Ranj Singh - TV doctor, I somehow foresee a medical theme to every single dance he does - might do well though Graeme Swann - cricketer, probably a disaster Vick Hope - radio DJ, my dark horse to win Danny John Jules - will probably be good but won't win Faye Tozer - ex steps, ditto Katie Piper - suspect she will do well in votes

2018 lineup: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq Not a very starry list this year imo. (PS, I was so wrong about Debbie last year.)

One of the British TV stations which shows SYTTD did a special today with reactions from Randy, Lori and Monte from the Atlanta version, David Emanuel who designed Diana’s dress and is on the UK version of SYTTD, plus some people from other bridal/romance type UK shows. Randy and David both loved the dress, Monte totally adored it (and correctly predicted the simple style), Lori liked it but wanted some embroidery or lace.

Interesting that Meghan Markle’s dress is the absolute antithesis of a Pnina and really almost all the dresses we see on SYTTD- no glitz, and more covered up than Kate Middleton’s was. Will it set a new trend?

Isn't Sabina an Italian name?

What a ridiculous episode.

I actually loved the free skates of all three of the medallists in the women's competition.

Some protesting at a German skater skating to the Schindler's List theme music: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5425395/German-Olympian-slammed-skating-Schindlers-List.html

Brendan's out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42871612

Trifles are quite fun to make.

But that could be the result of Dutch immigrants bringing them over.

Loved the episode as whole - funny and moving. I did guess the Lethbridge-Stewart reveal fairly early on. I'm … still not quite sure about JW as the new doctor. The mascara and bleach didm;t seem right for a newly regenerated doctor. We shall see.

Joseph's business did well, but he bought out Lord S so he could expand with additional external funding.

Yes, but not very interesting.

Well, I wasn't expecting that result ;) I do think there are some problems with Sarah's brand/business. Sweeteze sounds more like an artificial sweetener to me. And the actual sweets themselves are nothing special - just bogstandard tuckshop/pick and mix type sweets you can buy cheap in bulk. Her business is obviously all in the packaging and personalisation - but I wouldn't be impressed by being given them.

Yes, the scores have always been notional afair. What a lovely show, I think it's my favourite Strictly final ever. I really enjoyed all the dances. I think I would have given the edge to Alexandra, too, then Joe, then Debbie, but all three were great and I would have been happy with any of them winning. Very happy for Joe and Katya. and the whole finale was just so happy.

Shirley was on Radio 2 this morning, and said that Alexandra started out with a lot of energy, but her technique was poor, but has improved.

Oh dear - almost all Alana's online range was not properly labelled re allergies etc: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/42324784

Thank goodness - the right danceoff for once. I liked Mollie's waltz better than Gemma's dance, but I think it was an easier one and overall Gemma has been the stronger dancer so I'm happy with the final four. And really, I'll be happy with anyone but Gemma to win. Obviously, dependent on the showdance. But in theory all of the top three should produce something special. There is a press rumour that Kevin and Karen have split up. If true, maybe that's why he's looking down? I noticed they weren't partnering one another in the celeb dance tonight (I think).