RANDOM JOTTINGS

I notice when watching Strictly that my mute button is used more and more each week. Used to be occasionally but now it is nearly all the time. It goes on when (1) Bruce is telling his awful, scripted unfunny jokes (2) Tess is talking to the dancers after their turn (3) Tess talking to anybody and (4) when these embarrassingly naff and crap VTs are played before each performance.  This week we had Holly Valance looking up at her knight on a horse AKA Brendon riding to her rescue after Artem's injury. Pass the sick bag….

Right my riveting thoughts on last night's show:

Anita and Robin – Argentine Tango.  She really has got stunning legs and I think she is great but not sure how much longer she will last.  Her body needs to tighten up a bit more, even I can see that and I have two left feet, and I think it is her personality that is endearing her to the audience. She and Robin seem to have a good rapport.

Chelsee and Pasha – Foxtrot.  Turned in a lovely performance this week but boy did they harp on about the fact she needed to be elegant and a lady, cue cringe making film with her dressed up a la Audrey from the film My Fair Lady and eating mushy peas.  Yuk.

Alex and James – still a charisma free zone as far as I am concerned and I am beginning to find her annoying. Don't ask me why, there is no reason for it, but she is now getting on my nerves.  I think it is the wide eyed Bambi look that grates. 

Harry and Aliona – great Argentine tango but still don't think Harry is quite as good as everyone says he is. Go on You tube and pull up Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy doing this dance and see what I mean.  Aliona made the mistake at the start of the series by saying she doesn't take any notice of the judges and Len took umbrage at this and has clearly not got over it yet as he constantly marks them down. Mark you, with the Witless Wonder aka Alesha next to him handing out 10s as if they were going out of fashion, it is all balanced out.

Jason and Kristina – taking himself and the whole thing a tad too seriously at the moment and is frightfully earnest about it all.  I did enjoy the Viennese Waltz, he drove through it with great style but he needs to chill a bit.

One person who does not need to chill is Holly. Honestly, I want to get hold of her and shriek Get a Grip. Two gorgeous men to dance with and the main feeling that comes over is Oh God this is SO boring do I really have to do it?  I don't suppose for one moment that is how she feels but it is certainly how it looks and I think the judges are soon going to get fed up with waiting for her to finally sell it to them.  She and Artem seem to have very little connection with each other which does not help and she seemed to dance with Brenden so much better.   Wonder if he will have to take over for the rest of the series?

Audley and Natalie – Cha Cha Cha.   Dire. Time to go.  

Robbie and Ola – American Smooth.    Never thought the day would come when I would say that I am warming to this man but I am.  Thought his crotch grabbing a la Michael Jackson a week or so ago was pretty revolting – it was revolting when MJ did it as well, but his waltz last week was elegant and restrained  (apparently reduced his wife and mum to tears) and how he has come on from Week 1.

Russell and Flavia – Can't remember what their dance was and really it doesn't matter as he camps it up to the nth degree.  Beginning to feel he might have reached the end of his entertainment value or will shortly, but he still makes me laugh and clap and cheer when watching him at home so think he will be in for a bit longer.

The three divas Edwina, Nancy and Lulu have now gone thank goodness.  Talk about self absorbed and full of themselves, women like this really make my hackles rise.  One can almost forgive Nancy as it is clear she is totally deluded and believes what she says, but Edwina is a pain and Lulu seems to think that if she ponces around the dance floor as if she is delivering Shout she will get by.   Her exit was followed by lots of sarky and snippy remarks about the show and her partner and the message boards and Strictly Blog have had some pretty terse comments about her from viewers who do not appreciate her attitude.  Article in today's  paper as she desperately back pedals.    I gather Nancy is threatening to sue over comments made to her so as well as being bad dancers they are both bad losers….

But no matter how tacky it all is I love it and am now looking forwrd to t he results show though as the identity of the person leaving each week is on the internet by about 10pm on Saturday night, the attempts to crank up the tension are rather a waste of time.

Keeeep Dancing!