Strictly week 1
Oct. 1st, 2025 08:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessWatched live: This year’s titles seemed to suggest that Stefan may be Australian, Ross may be camp and La Voix thinks they are this series’s star.
The big opening number had more to a nod to the 1970s and Come Dancing. Lots of wigs (Neil’s was the most eye catching) as Craig presented, Anton ballroomed, and then they switched to the 80s, Shirley starred as she danced some Latin, and then it moved on to the 90s for Motsi and the too-tall-for-her JoJo to show us how a rumba ought to be done. Craig danced too when they all, pros, judges and wigs, came together in the closing section.
Tess was wearing a short cocktail dress with a huge flounce at the top, while Claud rocked a shirt, tie and trousers combo. The judges had paired off colourwise, with Craig and Motsi referencing wine, Shirley and Anton restrained metallics. Tess announced that Dani had got injured, (which I knew) and would be replaced (which I didn’t) – the second contestant this year. Her name is Amber Davies, leading me to wonder who she was and who her father was.
Lots of dances where the theme was the celeb’s job. First up, Chris and Nadiya doing a week 1 samba. Most notable thing: Nadiya’s long fringed silver boots. Shirley made the valid point that he presented it with more confidence than you’d expect from a former sportsman. The scores, though! Shirley joined Craig in giving him a 3 and Motsi and Anton found their 4 paddles. Ouch.
Neil (no longer in the 70s wig) was given the job of revealing that voting is online only this year. I think this will ruin it (but may spare the phone bills) for some viewers. Online only is not inclusive!
Alex (gorgeous red dress) and Johannes did a dramatic Viennese Waltz, and it was a dramatic one. Obviously, she sold it, but it got worse by the end.
Watched on catch up: Harry and Karen’s cha cha was notable for Karen standing on his back as he did push-ups. Then he got emotional after finishing because he’d been injured this time last year. Then Anton called Shirley’s bluff on her saying they were going to recreate that move later/decided to run with the moment instead of giving emotional Harry critique.
Congratulations to Dianne, but she probably got the oldest contestant in Stefan because of her pregnancy. Lots of messing abaht in his foxtrot, but the judges saw ballroom potential.
Ellie and Vito had a cha cha, the VT showed a little of what adaptations he was making in training and was a reminder of the height difference. It was exactly the right type of cha cha for her energy, the judges were relieved to say that the timing was good. The marks weren’t.
From the first move of Lewis and Katya’s jive on (christening the new judges’ table indeed), it was full, full on, like he did more than Katya, and got himself up in an energetic way at the end when he had every right to stay on the floor. Sevens all round – will the audience warm to the fronting up about previous dance experience?
Ross and Jowita’s cha cha started off with him coming down a slide, and ended with Jowita putting a big and heavy coat on top of him as he did the freestyle bit. That was (a) telling, because it’s usually the other way around with coats, but then she also made him do it facing the opposite end of the studio to the judges; (b) mean. The judges’ comments and marks were brutal.
George and Alexis were doing an American smooth foxtrot – i.e. lifts. He was a little careful, but given what was thrown at him, he did a decent job. Tess was right to say ‘great comments’.
Vicky and Kai performed a cha cha – bit much to have her starting off solo, but there was promise there, although she needed more dynamism. Encouraging comments (and I love her way with words. She’s literally just been a name to me before.)
Jimmy and Lauren were given the quickstep, and his energy and lightness of foot were great. Admittedly, he’s clearly not a performer, but he got positive comments and 7s.
Bavinder and Julian (on nickname terms already) had a disco samba. I thought she was acting her way through it and was a bit careful, which the judges put down to poor footwork.
La Voix and Aljiaz would be performing an American smooth. Chris was doing the training, which led to a bit of drag-as-dance theorising, and a bit of a worry about split personalities. He was a bit careful, and for me the comedy bit at the end came from nowhere, although it turned out the reason Claudia had had to fill instead of handing over to Tess had been a technical hitch with the pink carousel pony. The big note from the judges was to let Aljiaz lead more.
The pros had decided to pet Ellie in the Clauditorium, as she seemed to be finding the whole thing wearing.
Tom and Amy had a paso doble. He was very blocky, and Amy and the music had a lot to do. Sometimes, his ‘paso face’ made me laugh. Shirley was the most appreciative judge.
Next came the story of Amber and Nikita with 24 hours to learn a waltz (it emerged that he’d been training the quickstep with Dani.) I was aware that the front pages were spitting fur, and they fronted up that she was a West End star (and not in a Stefan Dennis way), but still, no time to learn a routine in a style you aren’t familiar with. (Remember when Kevin had to step in for Neil on an afternoon’s notice?) It was beautiful (although I became fixated on how her top didn’t fit her), they created a lovely mood, even though there was a tangible undercurrent of nerves. Her hands were exquisite. The judges were most complimentary, while acknowledging that the footwork was off. I don’t quite feel the hostility, because what other option did they have at that late stage other than too short a show for the running time?
Closing with a jive were Karen and Carlos, and their football themed outfits, specifically the shorts, drew attention to her legs, and they absolutely stood up to the scrutiny. Her energy! It was so fast, and then the judges went on about the quality. She doesn’t seem to know how good she is, though I would like to see how she handles a completely different style. Three of the judges pulled out their 8 paddles.
Then it was announced that the casting vote will be given to a different judge every week, which should add interest.
Quick look at the leaderboard, Ross is well off the pace, Vicky did the best cha cha (of which there were many), and footballers, in the form of Jimmy and Karen, were the ones who matched and bettered the ringer replacements. What with the technical glitch too, I think the producers will be glad to have survived all that.
The big opening number had more to a nod to the 1970s and Come Dancing. Lots of wigs (Neil’s was the most eye catching) as Craig presented, Anton ballroomed, and then they switched to the 80s, Shirley starred as she danced some Latin, and then it moved on to the 90s for Motsi and the too-tall-for-her JoJo to show us how a rumba ought to be done. Craig danced too when they all, pros, judges and wigs, came together in the closing section.
Tess was wearing a short cocktail dress with a huge flounce at the top, while Claud rocked a shirt, tie and trousers combo. The judges had paired off colourwise, with Craig and Motsi referencing wine, Shirley and Anton restrained metallics. Tess announced that Dani had got injured, (which I knew) and would be replaced (which I didn’t) – the second contestant this year. Her name is Amber Davies, leading me to wonder who she was and who her father was.
Lots of dances where the theme was the celeb’s job. First up, Chris and Nadiya doing a week 1 samba. Most notable thing: Nadiya’s long fringed silver boots. Shirley made the valid point that he presented it with more confidence than you’d expect from a former sportsman. The scores, though! Shirley joined Craig in giving him a 3 and Motsi and Anton found their 4 paddles. Ouch.
Neil (no longer in the 70s wig) was given the job of revealing that voting is online only this year. I think this will ruin it (but may spare the phone bills) for some viewers. Online only is not inclusive!
Alex (gorgeous red dress) and Johannes did a dramatic Viennese Waltz, and it was a dramatic one. Obviously, she sold it, but it got worse by the end.
Watched on catch up: Harry and Karen’s cha cha was notable for Karen standing on his back as he did push-ups. Then he got emotional after finishing because he’d been injured this time last year. Then Anton called Shirley’s bluff on her saying they were going to recreate that move later/decided to run with the moment instead of giving emotional Harry critique.
Congratulations to Dianne, but she probably got the oldest contestant in Stefan because of her pregnancy. Lots of messing abaht in his foxtrot, but the judges saw ballroom potential.
Ellie and Vito had a cha cha, the VT showed a little of what adaptations he was making in training and was a reminder of the height difference. It was exactly the right type of cha cha for her energy, the judges were relieved to say that the timing was good. The marks weren’t.
From the first move of Lewis and Katya’s jive on (christening the new judges’ table indeed), it was full, full on, like he did more than Katya, and got himself up in an energetic way at the end when he had every right to stay on the floor. Sevens all round – will the audience warm to the fronting up about previous dance experience?
Ross and Jowita’s cha cha started off with him coming down a slide, and ended with Jowita putting a big and heavy coat on top of him as he did the freestyle bit. That was (a) telling, because it’s usually the other way around with coats, but then she also made him do it facing the opposite end of the studio to the judges; (b) mean. The judges’ comments and marks were brutal.
George and Alexis were doing an American smooth foxtrot – i.e. lifts. He was a little careful, but given what was thrown at him, he did a decent job. Tess was right to say ‘great comments’.
Vicky and Kai performed a cha cha – bit much to have her starting off solo, but there was promise there, although she needed more dynamism. Encouraging comments (and I love her way with words. She’s literally just been a name to me before.)
Jimmy and Lauren were given the quickstep, and his energy and lightness of foot were great. Admittedly, he’s clearly not a performer, but he got positive comments and 7s.
Bavinder and Julian (on nickname terms already) had a disco samba. I thought she was acting her way through it and was a bit careful, which the judges put down to poor footwork.
La Voix and Aljiaz would be performing an American smooth. Chris was doing the training, which led to a bit of drag-as-dance theorising, and a bit of a worry about split personalities. He was a bit careful, and for me the comedy bit at the end came from nowhere, although it turned out the reason Claudia had had to fill instead of handing over to Tess had been a technical hitch with the pink carousel pony. The big note from the judges was to let Aljiaz lead more.
The pros had decided to pet Ellie in the Clauditorium, as she seemed to be finding the whole thing wearing.
Tom and Amy had a paso doble. He was very blocky, and Amy and the music had a lot to do. Sometimes, his ‘paso face’ made me laugh. Shirley was the most appreciative judge.
Next came the story of Amber and Nikita with 24 hours to learn a waltz (it emerged that he’d been training the quickstep with Dani.) I was aware that the front pages were spitting fur, and they fronted up that she was a West End star (and not in a Stefan Dennis way), but still, no time to learn a routine in a style you aren’t familiar with. (Remember when Kevin had to step in for Neil on an afternoon’s notice?) It was beautiful (although I became fixated on how her top didn’t fit her), they created a lovely mood, even though there was a tangible undercurrent of nerves. Her hands were exquisite. The judges were most complimentary, while acknowledging that the footwork was off. I don’t quite feel the hostility, because what other option did they have at that late stage other than too short a show for the running time?
Closing with a jive were Karen and Carlos, and their football themed outfits, specifically the shorts, drew attention to her legs, and they absolutely stood up to the scrutiny. Her energy! It was so fast, and then the judges went on about the quality. She doesn’t seem to know how good she is, though I would like to see how she handles a completely different style. Three of the judges pulled out their 8 paddles.
Then it was announced that the casting vote will be given to a different judge every week, which should add interest.
Quick look at the leaderboard, Ross is well off the pace, Vicky did the best cha cha (of which there were many), and footballers, in the form of Jimmy and Karen, were the ones who matched and bettered the ringer replacements. What with the technical glitch too, I think the producers will be glad to have survived all that.
