Strictly Come Dancing--am I on my own here?

Having been firmly behind Emma since the start, that phone vote has surprised me, and now I'm less sure she's going to win. I'm very much warming to Matt, even though I don't like him much.

Who's with me this year then? Pleasantly surprised by Dominic Littlewood, and lolled massively at Karen Hardy trying not to cry when she realised Richard Hillman isn't really a very good dancer.

The women's competition is going to be terrific, judging by the demonstration dances tonight.

I am SO in. Kelly Brook is my early pick for the win, but my mam and dad have both met Laetitia Dean and say she is lovely and a dote, so I want her to do well too. I liked Deano Wicks as well, he could be really good.

I was honestly disappointed to see Karen Hardy again. She was such a pushy psycho last year that I thought they would quietly drop her this year; no such luck.

You'll be glad to see her out first then, eh? My early shout before I saw them all was going to be Kelly Brook, but Alesha Dixon and Penny Lancaster look like they could do pretty well. Stephanie Beacham first off, I reckon. I'm calling Deano for the men's one as well, mostly because I don't want John Barnes to win because I carry long grudges. Hopefully my fellow Celtic supporter Rod Stewart feels the same way and twats him one on live telly.

Ha ha, fuck off psycho Karen. And she was practically in tears, too.

I like that the judges get to decide which one out of the bottom two has to leave. No more Spoonygate.

Yes, that's much better - I was certain Kenny would go because Richard Hillman is more famous than a bloke what used to play rugby for Scotland and shags Gabby Logan, but as soon as Len picked him as the best out of the group dance, I knew he was safe.

Didn't Gabby Logan used to be a professional gymnast in her younger days? Dark horse material then - also her and Penny are WAY too thin for people who have just had kids (I R jealous old fatface and I don't even have the kids excuse)

OK, that was aces yesterday, Kate Garraway aside, and she *was* pretty badly hurt. Couple of 9s so early in the competition, could be really tough this year. Can't see past Penny, Kelly and Aleesha even at this early stage.

Kenny out next for the blokes, he's a lumberer to match Peter Schmeichel and appears to have two left feet and no sense of rhythm.

OK, the judges stepping in to avoid another Spoony didn't work, since idiot public voted for Kate in their droves despite her being (1) rubbish and (2) probably unable to carry on due to injury, so surely get shot of her and let both Stephanie and Letitia carry on would have been the best thing.

Hopefully my fellow Celtic supporter Rod Stewart feels the same way and twats him one on live telly

I hope that wasn't why Rod was sporting a shiner :-O

I assume they just film the Sunday night show straight after the Saturday night one? Everybody must be bloody exhausted by the time it's all over.

Not only do I think Kate should have gone out instead of Stephanie, I'm seeing the flaw in the boys vs. girls first week. All of the women were better than the two worst men, so really none of the women should have had to leave. But I guess they have to work it out somehow.

They do, yes (re. filming) which is totally obvious when you see Bruce and Tess in new outfits but Billy Zane wearing exactly the same as he was "yesterday". (Also obvious last week because Kenny was doing coverage of the rugby on the Sunday night on ITV straight afterwards). Presume they got Rod straight off a plane from Hampden and into the aftershow (complete with black eye) to record his "I was so proud of Penny" bits. She was giving it all the "he was on the phone crying" bit on the Saturday show then on the Sunday show, there he was. Unless they filmed him somewhere else because it would be strange to think he wouldn't be there since the Scotland game was "the day before". Arrgh, it is so pointless, also spoilers all over teh internets from audience members (which I just discovered last night after the show - avoid Digital Spy more so than usual)

Yeah, the Sunday thing is just stupid. I presume it has to be done this way, though, because of new phone voting regulations. Assuming this show was always on the level, it must be extremely frustrating for everyone involved to have to do all this extra work.

Ailsa and Trish both totally OTM about everything. Especially the Sunday thing, which is just nuts, and full of horrible filler like the professionals dancing and Westlife and other bollocks.

The blokes competition is dire this year. Not only are they all crap, but I don't care about any of them. I really really hope the wretched Dominic Littlewood's cheeky chappy act will disappear early on, but sadly he does show some aptitude. Kenny Logan will go fairly soon, maybe next week. Gethin gets the vote from the womenfolk in my house, and they also kept the phone away from me to stop me voting for the lovely Kelly, favouring instead Gabby. I was disappointed that the shrewish Kate didn't go out - she's obviously no good, ankle injury or not. And she's married to the tool Derek Draper! I was hoping that Letitia would stay in, but I fear that she will go after Kate and before Gabby.

womenfolk in Dr.C's house OTM re Gethin.

He doesn't quite do it for me. I'm a Matt Di Angelo woman, myself.

he's young enough to be your son (possibly), also is the worst actor in EastEnders apart from Phil Daniels.

womenfolk in Dr.C's house OTM re Gethin

And menfolk (well, me) OTM re: Kelly.

I like her, but to be honest I can see everyone's slavering over her getting real old real fast. It's one thing to say that someone looks lovely or is beautiful, it's another thing to excuse her dance partner openly drooling over her arse during rehearsals.

That could just be the sour grapes of a non-attractive and bitter older person, though.

No, I can see it getting really tedious too (if you are old and non-attractive and bitter, then I'm right there with you, and I don't think that either of us are anything other than FULL OF COMMON SENSE). Putting her with Brendan was designed just for the pervy antics and to ramp up the "drama" - this is getting too much like the X Factor :-/

Yeah, you're both OTM (this is turning into the thread that agrees with itself!), but I think the ultra-creepy Brendan is the problem, rather than Kel. He should be more gentlemanly, like Len Goodman.

You're not non-attractive and bitter anyway - neither of you!!

Right, so this judges decide via danceoff to avoid another Spoony incident has kind of backfired since Kate appears to be inexplicably popular with the public and the judges can't get rid of her. I felt sorry for Willie Thorne, but he's had calm ballroom dances thus far and think his attempt at any faster dances would see him off right away.

The judges' lame attempts to be scathing to everyone are getting ridiculous now. They slagged Kenny Logan off for having big hands, ffs, I'm not sure how that's constructive or how he can rectify it for next week. Also madly inconsistent - marking Deano down for missing a step, but telling Kelly that it didn't matter she'd got a step wrong and giving her all nines (except Len).

Calling Alesha for the win now, btw. Fuck a crying Penny Lancaster and an over-competitive Gabby. Alesha is ENJOYING it and is actually really really good.

straight up and down, this is the weirdest shit ever.

So, anyone in this year?

Me. I hate Gary Rhodes and am hoping he's off this week. I also hate Austin Healey but will grudgingly admit it's looking like a two-horse race between him and Tom from the blokes (haven't seen Tom doing ballroom yet, but I can't see him being bad at it). John Sergeant is lovely but will fail horribly when asked to do a jive/cha-cha/salsa. The rest of them are varying shades of meh.

Of the girls, Jessie looks like she's having loads of fun, Rachel and maybe Christine look like potential winners. Had high hopes for Lisa, but I don't think she'll win many popularity contests.

Rhodes is behaving like an unbelievably spoiled petulant brat. It's like he's channelling the young John McEnroe or something.
John Sergeant is a true gentleman, but anything more physical than standing there while his partner dances around him is going to see him come unstuck. It's like watching the father of the bride dancing with his daughter at a wedding reception. Also the same to some extent with Don Warrington. Which is a shame, because both of their partners seem to be among the best out of the professional dancers.
It's probably going to be either Austin or Tom, despite both of them having the "smug Jane Austin suitor" look down pat.
I can't decide out of the female contestants - but the idea of Jodie Kidd winning does appeal. Someone winning who falls into the "really tall therefore ungainly dancer" category.

I think Christine's going to be your best bet for a tall dancer doing well, much as I love Jodie.

I find John Sergeant's partner terrifying yet intriguing at the same time.

PS I love this show.

I want to pop Austin's arms with a pin. He looks like that Ram Man from He-Man without his helmet on.

Please let this be where Gary goes. Please.

Goodbye Gary and your smug grinning face

Thank goodness for that.

yay! yay! yay!

Still feel we could lose a few more of the guys (hi dere Andrew) before any of the girls disappear. The girls' group dance was great this week.

I think my favourite couples so far are Don/Lilia and Heather/Brian - most actual chemistry between the pairings on either side. Saturday was a real reminder that Don is an ac-TORRR and Tom is in Holby City. Unfortunately, Heather's feet in the group dance were crazymad flat, and I think that upping the pace might see Don's composure go a bit - but I'm hoping this week gives the dude some momentum, makes the men's side less of a two-horse race (though I'd not be one bit surprised to see John making the final - if it's half-judges, half-public, I'd think the public can carry him past a fair amount of the competition).

Christine will win, though. Cherie's Latin won't hold up, I don't think, and Rachel Stevens is a gigantic charisma vacuum; Christine is just radiant like all the goddamn time, and her balance and weighting last week just seemed perfect, somehow.

I should add I am blogging all this at Rocktimists, btw.

My favourite so far is Cherie Lunghi. Oh and Jodie Kidd. Neither will last too long though :(

Dislike : Andrew Castle, Tom Eastenders, the truly horrifyingly twattish A. Healey in the men, and and Lisa Snowdon.

John S's partner is surely a trans-sexual.

Rachel should be making more records, not wasting her time in this.

Also Bruce doesn't do his dance at the beginning any more IS THIS THE END?

I think it's more for reasons of time rather than Brucie getting old. As the number of contestants whittles down, he'll do more of that and the "I AM NOT OLD DO YOU SEE?" thing.

Tom is not EastEnders, he is Holby City, and he is lovely. I like all of the girls, and hate Austin Healy, though I will grudgingly admit he's not a bad dancer. I like Lisa for reasons of hating Brendan and therefore having sympathy for her being partnered with such a twat.

Oh yeah Holby, not EE obv.

Note that the only rugby player who they could who has a good word to say about Healey is the ever-reasonable Will Greenwood. Although obv no-one (esp Brucie) had a clue who he was.

Tom Chambers grew up in our village, still comes back a lot, and his dad has been indefatigable in drumming up local support. This BBC News clip was shot in our village pub on Saturday night; I'm briefly visible in the final frame, top right hand corner.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7655058.stm

I kinda want Cherie to go.

I think I want Lisa Snowdon to win.

lol Mark Foster. I love John Sergeant.

The professionals are dancing to "I predict a riot"

That was comedy.

Don was robbed, I am sad that he has gone and terrible Mark Foster is still there.

That was horrible. Wrong two couples in the dance-off, wrong one went. It won't be the same without Don & Lilia - they had chemistry, dammit, more than maybe any couple in the competition.

I am somewhat worried by any audience that can prefer Andrew Castle to them two, really.

People who watch GMTV should have their phones taken off them.

Comedy = paso to the Kaiser Chiefs. Agree that wrong two couples were in the dance-off, cannot see any redeeming features at all in the Mark/Hayley partnership and Andrew's just rubbish.

The house band really excelled themselves this week. I think I lasted through maybe three seconds of their take on "Spice Up Your Life".

Yeah, they were rubbish, also someone appeared to be strangling the singers all the way through. Also mega lols at Camilla's bizarre silk pyjamas thing.

Current standings

Like: Tom, Jodie, Christine
Dislike: Andrew, Mark
Want to adopt as my favourite uncle: John

Haha the Kaiser Chief's Paso (was it a Paso?) was funny!

I was hoping for the hideous Foster to get the chop this week, or the strangely humourless and characterless Heather Small, but I can't argue with the result as Heather's dance-off performance was pretty decent. Also I am reliably informed that Don Warrington is an absolute twat IRL, so no complaints really.

I like Jodie and Cherie, also Christine, although she wasn't great this week. Dislike - same as Ailsa. Oh, and Austin, obviously. The womenfolk in my house are right behind Tom, mainly due to this week's haircut as far as I can tell. He was pretty bloody good though - a really well acted American smooth. I think he may win.

I don't like Austin due to longstanding dislike of him outwith this show, but he is very good. Bored with Rachel and Lisa now, can't be doing with Cherie, even though she's doing a great job of dancing well with all the judges wedged so far up her arse.

Womenfolk OTM re Tom. They were OTM re Gethin last year as well.

I'm deeply saddened about Don Warrington being a twat. He seems lovely.

Well, Andrew Castle's entire television career has involved him being an absolute twat, so I'm still gutted. Castle doesn't even seem to want to be there, really, and his partner just seems massively irritated with him all the time (it was hard to tell, but I think the lift-bodging might partly have been her fault).

I think I'm kinda rooting for Cherie now, tbh. She does seem slightly too calculating, but she's also bloody good, and her pwning Rachel, Austin and Lisa... I would find this quite heartening. Ideally I'd like Christine to win, but I think she needs to stand out a bit more than she's done thus far - she's been good, but so have a lot of other people.

Cherie's couple of years at ballet school may have been useful for the dances she's done to date.. She's yet to do something energetic and latin-y yet, I think.

That's rubbish! It was the one thing she was good at!

Perhaps I have this wrong! I hope so.

No, it looks like you're right. Oh well. At least I can still spend my time wishing she'd get her fringe cut, so that's something.

STRICTLY CONTESTANTS 2013

Abbey Clancy
Ashley Taylor Dawson
Ben Cohen
Dave Myers
Deborah Meaden
Fiona Fullerton
Julien Macdonald
Mark Benton
Natalie Gumede
Patrick Robinson
Rachel Riley
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Susanna Reid
Tony Jacklin
Vanessa Feltz

Ashley Taylor Dawson is the only name I don't recognise there. Heard somewhere that Natalie Lowe's injured this year so Aliona will be taking her place.

I've only heard of four of these people (Fullerton, Riley, Ellis-Bextor, Feltz).

Which is three more than ITV's rival celeb dance-em-up show.

Dave Myers is one of the "Hairy Bikers" cooking blokes.

Abbey Clancy - Peter Crouch's missus
Ashley Taylor Dawson ??
Ben Cohen - Englisn rugby player
Dave Myers - Hairy Biker
Deborah Meaden - Dragon (from Dragon's Den)
Fiona Fullerton - actress
Julien Macdonald - fashion designer
Mark Benton - bloke who's in everything on the telly
Natalie Gumede - husband-basher Kirsty from Coronation Street
Patrick Robinson - used to be in Casualty, probably still is
Rachel Riley - prettier nicer younger Vorderman
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - singer
Susanna Reid - BBC newsreader
Tony Jacklin - ex-golfer
Vanessa Feltz - TV bod and professional reality show contestant

Ashley Taylor Dawson

My Google-fu tells me that he's an actor in Hollyoaks. He also was/is in a shitty boyband who reformed in August oh guess there's no ulterior motive for him being on Strictly then.

reformed as in 'turned over a new leaf' ?

As in 'got back together to be as crap as before with even fewer people giving a toss'.

On at 6:50PM...

residents of Cleethorpes having an epi at being subsumed into Grimsby

Bill Bailey is one of the celebrities this year, which is a bit of a surprise. And his hair has receeded so much - and is pulled back in a ponytail - that I'll reminded of the episode of Black Books where the manager of the rival bookshop wants him to cut his hair.