RANDOM JOTTINGS

OK lots of moaning on social media about Helen going, it is a travesty etc etc. At this stage of the competition every time somebody goes the same faux outrage is going to appear. Craig said the public put you there – well yes, Craig as you said on It Takes Two the other day that is what happens. So no point getting snide and sniffy dahling. And have you thought if you had not been so unremittlingly awful about Anita she might have gone this week? Anita and Gleb have been undermarked all the way through the series. I know people cry fix and I do not think the show is at all, BUT the judges have their own subtle ways of making their preferences felt and it is clear that they think Anita should go. Well the publlic think differently. The public like watching somebody who has never danced learning how to; they like the no hopers who enjoy themselves and have a great time; we do not necessarily want to watch somebody who is perfect from the start (Denise van Outen who claims never to have learned to dance despite being in Chicago on Broadway for a year, Natalia Gimede, sorry forgotten how to spell her name, Pixi Lott with her ballet training and perfect pirouettes) and such. The judges may love them but we like a trier. After twelve years you would have thought Craig my precious that you would have twigged by now.

Of course my preference would have been for the Twinkly One, aka katie D to go, to vanish and never be seen again. In fact, if Radio 3 stopped using her and if the BBC would stop plonking her as the front face of the Proms then I would be a happier woman. The wrinkly twinkly faux girlishness has now reached nauseating proportions. I thought it was just me being a cow, and let's face it I have been in the past about certain Slebs on Strictly, but others seem to agree with me so nice to know I am Not Alone.

Why we are having a theme week at this late stage gawd only knows, I thought we had seen the back of them but it is Film Week and up we come with Georgie and Joe Varney doing a lovely fox trot or was it a waltz, to Beauty and the Beast. I have warmed to Giovanni, ok he still slathers his hair in Waitrose extra virgin olive oil, but he is such a sweetie I forgive him and now rather love him, in a maternal way, naturally. Gorgeous dance.  Rather spoiled by having tea pots and candlesticks at la movie getting in the way and cluttering up the floor.

Kellie and Kevin – Kevin is now seriously getting on my nerves. Yes Kev we love you we know you are a great bloke and full of loveliness and come from Grimsby, but we know that now so give over. A Viennese waltz to Oom pah pah from Oliver? Yep sounds totally mad and cringe worthy but I absolutely loved it. She was having a great time singing along at the top of her voice and I think won the audience over. I know she did me.

Anton and Katie – dance to Cabaret and this week it was her turn to wear the short black wig which has been doing the rounds this series.  I am not going to comment on her because I cannot be impartial. Just go watch the vid.

Helen and Aljaz – Aljaz must be the nicest man on the planet. So gorgeous and so sweet as well. Dancing the paso to a number from Les Mis a musical I would have to have pins stuck in my eyes to go and see. Don't ask why as I could not explain why. Just another of my irrational dislikes. Helen and A swan along to dance on the stage where it is currently being performed, full of wide eyed wonder at it all. two members of the cast tell them it is all about the French Revolution. OH NO IT ISN'T. The fact that the cast think this is a bit worrying.

Anyway the paso is a mess and Helen was trying to emote and look fierce but merely looked like a cross chipmunk. wobbled all over the place and not helped by having dancers cluttering up the floor and getting in the way.

I am saving up the best for last. Anita and GLEB. Argentine tango to He had it Coming cell block tango from Chicago. She did not have the black wig as Katie had already snaffled it but they made do with her own hair, sans extensions for a change, but nobody was taking a blind bit of notice of her once Gleb dressed as a prison warder with see through shirt and waving his truncheon appeared. Oh be still my beating heart.  LOVED it. Craig tore into it saying it was her worst etc etc (Can only assume that he made a move on Gleb who told him to dance off as he seems determined to get rid of them). Gave them a SIX. I mean a six at this stage of the game. Helen wobbled and nearly fell over but he marked her up.   Well thinks I sod you Craig and I got onto the website and gave my three votes to Anita and Gleb.

Of course this could all be a cunning plan to get them through as it was pretty obvious that everyone would vote in droves after that and they did and my prediction that they would bypass the dance off was right and in the results show TONIGHT, don't forget it all happens TONIGHT, they did. When it came to choosing the contestant who was to win the dance off Craig made his aforementioned snark at the public. You can go off people you know Craig…

So the Pixie Lott lookalike has gone and I, for one, will not miss her but I will miss Aljaz and his beautiful smile. But we still have Gleb so I am happy.

Tess and Claud -  The dress Tess wore tonight was red and slashed and looked dire and Claude just looked as she always does, ie black eyed zombie who has been dragged round the streets in the rain and then hurled through the door.  My daughter watched a bit of the show with me last night and pointed out that Tess was obviously extremely professional, did her job properly etc etc but why was she so DULL?   Answer came there none. Claud on the other hand is sightly overdoing her eccentricities now.

Final word. I have had a shitty week, in the middle of arranging a funeral and all that has to be done with executing a will, which I am also doing, and the Guardian Strictly Blog is a place of wit, warmth, humour and down right slanderous and outrageous comments which is a joy. I have had encouraging and sympathetic comments from many of them, hoping I am ok and they are all wonderful.

And tonight I even had a reply from James Jordan himself hoping I was feeling better and that the people on the blog would all cheer me up.

My cup runneth over….and no I am not being sarky

PS am using the same pic of Gleb on this week's post. Well I had it handy and it seemed a shame to waste it.