ceebee

There were too many camera changes to really follow what was going on. I'd love them to put it on the website with static views from the various cameras. From what I could tell on rewatch, Helen deserved to win it, and though I thought he deserved better than 5th, Jay was probably a bit too bouncy :-). (He was enjoying it though, which made me enjoy it, especially after his error laden QS a few weeks ago). Don't think Anita looked great.

Dances of the night for me were Jay's tango and Helen's VW. I didn't enjoy Kellie's salsa very much and Peter's AS was average. Georgia's paso was dramatic but a little wild. Katie wasn't quite right in the AT, although she has lovely lines (it was a bit casual, imo). I enjoyed the theatre in Anita's rumba, but it wasn't sinuous and sensual. Too spiky, too many Gleb moments, plus a lift. Thought Jay deserved to be higher in the Quickathon, but he stayed second over all, so no matter. Anita very popular with the studio audience, so think she will survive being second bottom. It has to be Peter's time to go. Think Kellie will join him in DO.

Week 10 dances and songs Anita and Gleb are dancing the Rumba to ‘Read All About It’ by Emeli Sande. Georgia and Giovanni will perform the Paso Doble to Europe’s epic soft rock anthem ‘The Final Countdown’. Helen and Aljaž perform the Viennese Waltz to the beautiful ‘At Last’ by Etta James. Jay and Aliona are performing the Tango to the Prince classic ‘When Doves Cry’. Katie and Anton will dance the Argentine Tango to Ástor Piazzolla’s ‘Libertango’. Kellie and Kevin will Salsa to the poptastic ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackon 5. Peter and Janette are going to dance the American Smooth to the soulful ‘Sweetest Feeling’ by the great Jackie Wilson. All the contestants will take part in a Quickstepathon in which they will dance 'competition style' for 90 seconds. They must stay in hold the whole time. The judges will rank them 1 to 7 and their points will be added to their scores. Carnage! Top tips from the contestants. https://amp.twimg.com/v/0784febe-bd67-40a3-952d-b9bf80a58f37 Training from early in the week: https://amp.twimg.com/v/811701b2-8f8e-46d6-9cc0-8ba259245cd1

You may be right legaleagle, but I suspect she's going to milk the reality show circuit first. Wouldn't be surprised if we see her on CBB.

The fallout from the dance off has clearly struck a nerve at Strictly towers. I'm not sure I quite believe what Len said about Peter having improved, but I do appreciate that they aired the viewers concerns and sought to answer them. At least they're taking it seriously. (Wednesday's ITT)

Ola has also given an rather sour interview to the papers about Strictly being fixed. I wish she could have had a little more grace after 10 years.

I suspect that it had a lot to do with it. Darcey had her head in her hands when she gave her verdict and you could tell she wasn't comfortable with what she was doing. I really don't know if they were toeing the producer line or not. To give the judges the benefit of the doubt, they may have been thinking: 'Jamelia is the worst dancer over all, Peter is a great performer (I don't agree so much, but there we go) and he's one of two men left standing, so he needs to stay,' rather than a producer lead conspiracy. Either way - fix or no fix - they could have just said the DO was too close to call so they were going on who had the potential to go further. Last year there was a bit of a stink when Pixie was eliminated against Simon. She was the best dancer in the comp, but they went with who they thought performed best in the DO. Maybe they regretted that and this year was a bit of a 'correction', but it makes the DO a farce if they just put through whoever they fancy. There are rumors that Peter got paid a lot more than the others and the BBC see him a big 'get' for some reason. For me he represents the end of the celebrity world which Strictly ought to be avoiding - the kind of celebs whose personal lives are their 'product'. I didn't want Mark Wright on the show last year for the same reason. I'm glad Jamelia put the boot in a little. I'm not naïve to the fact that all TV is a managed illusion, but the show is in danger of losing its soul if the micro-management runs out of control. Tristan's face when she was speaking was a picture!

Once again, an excellent ITT segment from Tristan and Jamelia this evening (Monday). Neither of them sticking to the script. It was a riot!

I was surprised at Peter's poor effort in the jive. I just had a feeling it would suit him as he seems to have been able to bring quite a lot of energy to his other dances. In fact I might criticise him for not being able to find the appropriate 'stillness' when required at times. The training footage we saw from early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) did show him struggling, but I remarked at the time that it didn't seem to have much actual jive content in it, so my guess is that Janette started the week with that jive-not-a-jive choreo. I disagree that she's a poor choreographer though. This was awful, but she has a good feel for what will be entertaining. She's more than capable of holding her own as a pro dancer in the jive, for example, but I don't think technique in the '10 Dances' is ingrained enough for her to teach the technical basics properly and I think she busks through on performance. It happened with Jake last year too. He appeared to be doing great, but his lack of good basic technique left him exposed in the later stages. We can never know if Peter would have been a better technician with another pro. I don't doubt he works hard, but I suspect his notion of 'pop' dancing is deeply embedded, and it has been said (by Craig, I think), that he takes twice as long to learn a routine as the next person, so maybe Janette is on a hiding to nothing with him anyway. Janette and Aljaž have said they choreograph everything together, so she has a fellow pro at home to help her. Mind you, lovely as he is, I don't regard Aljaž as a top drawer choreographer either. Karen is Janette's best friend, too, and she would have been free last week if Janette was struggling. (Not that she is a great technician!). Jason G is Director of Choreography, so I think he has a hand in deciding themes and so on, but I'd be surprised if he had time to offer more than a few suggestions on individual routines. The jive ought to be well within each pro's competence. One thing I'd put in Janette's defence is that the big floor and additional dancers at Blackpool may have imposed extra difficulties. They may have insisted that she cover the floor more, which is difficult in a compact dance like the jive. Regarding outside choreographers, they are available to the pros in the non-standard dances if they want them. (Argentine tango, Charleston and salsa). The experts who helped Jay and Aliona with their AT said on Facebook that they only had four hours with them, and were only responsible for the choreo of the middle section of the dance, so it doesn't amount to a huge input. I'm assuming this is a budget constraint, so probably applies across the board. Salsa is Janette's thing, so I'm expecting a lot from them when they get it.

I don't have an AGA (or a Rayburn which is the other brand you find here) and I've never lived with one, so AGA-adoration might be something you just imbibe with your mother's milk, but I'm always perplexed that they're thought so desirable! They're huge, expensive, difficult to cook on and massively - enormously!- fuel inefficient. Give me a modern gas hob and an electric oven, any day. The people I know who have AGAs nearly all have the conventional set up as well (sometimes hidden away in the 'utility' room. Hee!). Folk do love them though... I kind of 'get it' if you live on a farm and are churning out breakfasts and lashings of tea to hungry, freezing-cold farm laborers in a big farmhouse kitchen full of muddy wellies, soggy overalls, a wet Labrador and a couple of orphaned lambs, but when I hear aspirational urban types lusting after one it just makes me laugh. Side note: A novel which concerns itself with genteel middle class people suffering first world problems (while bonking each other) is known as an Aga Saga ;-)

There was more training and rehearsal footage on ITT and Peter looked shockingly poor. Jay looked pretty good, Anita decent, Kellie really good, Helen looked better than Aljaž, Georgia fine, but not fantastic and Jamelia just so so (good for her, but behind the rest (except Peter). Think I missed Katie but expect it to be great. Quite excited for tomorrow's show. There will be a big group lindy hop routine. I would love to see a Peter - Kellie bottom two with Peter given the boot. However, I think it's likely to be Jamelia going regardless.

Blackpool week in Training (clips from Monday or Tuesday, I think) https://amp.twimg.com/v/bbfa7ee7-3d88-45eb-bafd-927fbd87165d Jamelia looking surprisingly good, but she often goes to pot on the night Peter allegedly doing a jive. No evidence in this clip. Georgia - not sure yet. Will be interesting to see her back in ballroom Others looking pretty good overall

Strictly heads up to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool for it's annual trip to the seaside and the home of ballroom dancing. This week: Anita and Gleb will perform the Paso Doble to the dramatic ‘Malaguena’ by Connie Francis. Georgia and Giovanni dance the American Smooth to the Whitney Houston power-ballad ‘I Have Nothing’. Helen and Aljaž are going to Charleston to ‘Anything Goes’ from the musical of the same name. Jamelia and Tristan Quickstep to 1960’s classic ‘I’m A Believer’ by The Monkees. Jay and Aliona will Salsa to the disco-flavoured ‘Cuba’ by The Gibson Brothers. Katie and Anton perform the American Smooth to Dean Martin’s ‘Ain’t That A Kick In The Head. Kellie and Kevin will be Quickstepping to Dolly Parton’s ‘Nine To Five’. Peter and Janette are Jiving to Tina Turner’s ‘River Deep, Mountain High’. There will also be a group dance with all the pros and celebs and Take That will perform.

Tristan fans really should try and catch him and Jamelia on last night's ITT (Tuesday, 15th Nov). He was on form!

I agree about Helen. She's probably the most highly trained of them all, but is still being hampered by her ballet habits and is so stiff in her hips. Her tango was too upright and her 'faces' were strange considering she's an actress. Jay is getting it in the neck for his lack of facial expression, but he expresses the character of the dance through his body and his movements far better than Helen. I think Craig loves theatrical overkill, so poor Jay is never going to win that one. The other three judges loved what he did, though, so, *shrug*. He should have party Latin for next week, but having suffered a family bereavement (on Sunday, I think) it may be a difficult week for him.It's mean spirited of me, but Georgia out-scoring Peter's Charleston made me happy. Jeremy made a lovely good-bye video which I'll post if I can find it. A lovely man. ETA: http://jeremyvine.tv/strictly-journey-ends/

Wonder what Kym Johnson was doing in the audience. Nice to see her! Anita and Gleb - QS. Relatively gimmick free, nicely done. A little slow for a QS, but enjoyable Jay and Aliona - FT. I found this rather poignant and beautiful. Yes, there was the stumble, so not 10 worthy, but Craig was being a twit. Jamelia and Tristan - samba. This was only adequate. Helen and Aljaž - tango. I didn't enjoy as much as the judges. Something amiss with her frame and spiky legs. Kellie and Kevin - samba. Hated most of this. What has Kellie done to make wardrobe hate her so? Katie and Anton - rumba. She looked sensational, and this was nice, but no more than that. Rumba is supposed to be continuous, sinuous motion and Katie was rather stop start. Peter and Janette - VW. They looked the part but I find his ballroom rather limp. Who know about the footwork? So much dry ice. Georgia and Giovanni - Charleston. Dance of the night. She's really come into her own. A couple of errors, so they were lucky with the tens. Jeremy and Karen - quickstep. Didn't enjoy this. Sorry, my lovely Jezza. Expect Jamelia in the DO. Think popularity will keep Jay safe. Could be Kellie? Really, it needs to be Jeremy...

I think offering Bruce the 'specials' allowed him to retire while still believing he was relevant to the show. If that's what it took to help him step down from the main show, then I'm grateful for small mercies. I fast forwarded past his bits last night... Laura would be a good candidate for the main show next year and perhaps Jenny. There was a lot of Strictly related content on CiN, but Peter Andre and his awful singing kept popping up and I had to skip it. Be gone, Orange Cheesy One.

Oti's lovely in every way. She appeared on this evening's Children in Need Strictly/Call the Midwife Special. Hopefully she'll also do the Christmas show.

Week 8 Dances and songs: Anita and Gleb will be performing the Quickstep to ‘Don't Get Me Wrong’ by The Pretenders. Georgia and Giovanni will be dancing the Charleston to ‘Hot Honey Rag' from Chicago. Helen and Aljaž will be performing the Tango to 'Hold Back The River' by James Bay. Jamelia and Tristan will be performing the Samba to ‘A Little Respect’ by Erasure. Jay and Aliona will be dancing the Foxtrot ‘Lay Me Down’ by Sam Smith. Jeremy and Karen will be performing the Quickstep to ‘Going Underground’ by The Jam. Katie and Anton will be dancing the Rumba to ‘Never Never Never' by Shirley Bassey. Kellie and Kevin will be performing the Samba to ‘Boom Shake The Room’ by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince Peter and Janette will be dancing the Viennese Waltz to ‘You're My World’ by Cilla Black. Week 8: Training video https://amp.twimg.com/v/1c2de78a-da4f-43e3-b10f-f7b2697ec86e

Thank you.

Yes, Kellie was a shocker and Kevin pops his dance off cherry!So relieved to wave good-bye to Carol. She's universally liked, it seems, but I didn't want to watch her dance. I too would love Jezzer to outlast Pete... I don't know if you're posting from the UK or US, but there's a bit of poppy fascism when it comes to appearing on the telly (especially on the BBC) and Giovanni will have been heavily leaned on. I fully support the poppy wearing, but you should be able to choose not to if you wish. Tristan copped a fair bit of flak about it, unfortunately.

Peter danced really well. Loved the look and the concept. If I'm honest, though, I didn't detect a great deal of genuine Charleston content. He was complimented on the swivel, but to me that was only here and there. I liked the lifts and they were well integrated into the routine. Dunno if it deserved best score of the series, but it was probably best of the night, so, fair enough. Jamelia started well but it became a little bumpy (and Tristan crashed them into the guitar!). Her best ballroom so far. Carol. Urgh. I did watch, but nothing remains....floppy? Weak? Meh. Helen could have done better (or I expected more, anyway). She's very stiff in her hips and some of the moves were half baked. The music overwhelmed, I think. Or the rumba didn't live up to the song.. Jay's was another where my expectation may have exceeded reality. It had enough quiet intensity for me, but would have like Jay to have more to do. Not sure I want him over-emoting, but a little more expression would be welcome. I do believe he 'feels' the dances (and has difficulty coming back down to Planet Tess and Claud afterwards;-)), but he'll be nagged about this by the judges if he doesn't show what he's feeling more. Love him still. Katie's QS disappointed a little. Or Anton over-egged it and she had too much to do. Not sure which. She hasn't had a stellar performance for a while. Anita (jive) good as always. She has monstrous amounts of energy! A tad too much showboating from Gleb, but a fun routine and I'm happy she got some 9s at last, even if I preferred last week's waltz. Kellie (waltz). She always dances competently. Kevin always tells a story. It's always schmaltzy. I rarely love it. Jeremy!!!! Tango!!! On a plastic horse!!!! Love him. Squirmed through a lot of this. He may need to go soon, or I will fall out of love. Georgia's samba was great. A couple of glitches, but energetic and exuberant. Giovanni's bum went like the clappers. Fab. Camp. My favorite of the night.

We know there will be a cowboy hat. Poor Jezza. On another note, I'm rather looking forward to Gleb rocking a boiler suit! A leeetle nervous for Jay and his Argentine Tango. There hasn't been much to love about their training footage, but Aliona says it's going well....Fingers crossed. Conversely, Georgia looking great in training. Peter's charleston also looking good. I just do not like him. The snippet of Jamelia's VW on ITT last night looked much better than I expected. It's a constant refrain from me, but please let floppy, insipid Carol go....

Some training snippets https://amp.twimg.com/v/13b0fc7c-4b37-49e3-9441-8d891b46bd5d

Week 7 dances and songs: Anita and Gleb are Jiving to ‘The Boy Does Nothing’ by former Strictly winner Alesha Dixon. Carol and Pasha dance the American Smooth to ‘Man! I feel Like a Woman’ by Shania Twain. Georgia and Giovanni dance the Samba to ‘Volare’ by The Gipsy Kings. Helen and Aljaz will Rumba to ‘Hello” by Adele. Jamelia and Tristan perform the Viennese Waltz to ‘Trouble’ by Ray LaMontagne. Jay and Aliona perform the Argentine Tango to ‘Diferente’ by The Gotan Project. Jeremy and Karen are dancing the Tango to ’Go West’ by The Pet Shop Boys. Katie and Anton will Quickstep to ‘42nd Street’ from the musical 42nd Street. Kellie and Kevin are going to Waltz to ‘Love Ain’t Here Anymore’ by Take That. Peter and Janette will Charleston to ‘Do your Thing’ by Basement Jaxx. On the Strictly playlist: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playlists/zzzzhg Mostly 'appropriate' music this week. Poor Jeremy, though! First Argentine Tango of the season to look forward to. Please, British public, put Carol out of her (and my) misery this week...