Strictly Come Dancing - my predictions for pairings

So tonight is the night! Currently at Television Centre, a new batch of celebrities are filming the moment they find out who their professional partner will be for Strictly Come Dancing. Who will have the gorgeous Artem on their arm, or lock up their daughters when they’re faced with Vincent leading them round the dance floor?!

Time will tell, and the official unveiling this Saturday will solve any unanswered questions about the new series. We’ll also be treated to a dance by new judge Darcey Bussell (who’s doing a Rumba with Ian Waite), and the new celebrities will be doing their first dance as a group. Queue the start of a great series.

So here’s my tips for pairings:

James Jordan and Victoria Pendleton
(He has a fiery personality, she has the determination to win - a winning combo surely. Producers will want to keep him on the show as long as possible after his tantrums with the judges last year, and she’s certainly got potential)

Anton du Beke and Fern Britton


Pasha Kovalev and Kimberley Walsh
(Pasha is likely to get a good celeb again this year after last year’s success, and Kimberley is just as cheeky as him)

Vincent Simone and Dani Harmer
(both are quite small, plus he deserves a good star after going out in the first show last year)

Robin Windsor and Lisa Riley
(I love Robin, but he always gets the actresses. But his bubbly personality would be a good match with Lisa)

Brendan Cole and Denise van Outen
(reckon there could be some fireworks between these two, both strong personalities)

Artem Chigvintsev and Jerry Hall
(he’s previously had two fantastic dancers, so deserves someone who won’t win. But Jerry could be a dark horse. At least she has the glamour!)

Karen Hauer (new dancer) and Nicky Byrne
(the new girl always gets a good one to start with, and Nicky has a good chance)

Erin Boag and Michael Vaughan
(she usually gets a sports star. He might have potential)

Ola Jordan and Sid Owen
(both have cheeky personalities, they’d make a good pairing)

Flavia Cacace and Colin Salmon
(she usually has the ones with interesting personalities, could be a surprise hit here)

Natalie Lowe and Louis Smith
(not sure who could get Louis, but Natalie deserves a good call after the disappointment of Dan Lobb last year)

Kristina Rihanoff and Richard Arnold
(Kristina showed she could do humour with Jason last year, I’m sure she could keep us all laughing again with Richard)

Aliona Vilani and Johnny Ball
(she deserves an oldie after appearing in the final twice!)

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia
　

Katya Virshilas axed from Strictly Come Dancing

We all now what a big fan of Strictly Come Dancing I am, so you can understand why I was eager to await the news of which professional dancers would be facing the cull this summer ahead of Series 10 of the award-winning, successful BBC dance show.

But alas, I feel slightly disappointed that the Beeb have only decided to axe one dancer, the strikingly beautiful but frequently irritating Katya Virshilas. Only one female dancer, what's all that about?

Ok, so Katya wasn't the strongest professional. She's only been onscreen for three seasons, and in the latest series, she was helpless at training bookie favourite Dan Lobb. In fact, he only lasted a few weeks before they were sent home by viewers.

Katya is pretty, yes, and she certainly has the skills but I don't think she had the personality to match. She seemed to be very cold towards the celebrities, the other professionals and the judges. Maybe she thought it was all about her, but I and a lot of other disgruntled viewers seem to think the same - she had too big an ego for the show to care about her celebrity partner.

But why stop the cull there? Why not get rid of a few others? The BBC have said that by axing Katya, they can bring in new, fresh dancers. But Katya was hardly old, and was one of a new bunch of dancers who shimmied across the dance floor a few years ago. And even with her faults, she wasn't the first name that came to mind.

So who else should have gone? Well, I personally feel that Erin, Anton and Brendan have had their time now. All three have been on the show since the start, and with the boys cases, their ego's seem to get ahead of themselves. Anton really has become the joke of the show, and yes the Beeb bosses use this to entertain the audiences, but even Anton must realise he's becoming the pantomime dame of the show (although I'm sure he doesn't mind too much.) Brendan's Mr Mean persona has now been stolen by James, and he's too old now. Erin, bless her, always gets the older celeb and, if I were her, I'd leave in protest.

I think Vincent and Flavia are contenders for the axe too. Vincent, the Italian lothario who comes across like an overdone chirizo sausage, has lost his cheeky chappy persona to the likes of Artem and Pasha. Flavia had a good year last year, where I think we finally saw her smile for the first time since Series 5, but would people really miss her if she was axed?

New dancers always bring new skills and talent to the dancefloor and it shows. The last few winners of Strictly have all been celebrities that have been trained by new professional dancers, with the oldies flagging from the start.

I realise that viewers have grown accustom to some of their favourite professionals, but like that old teddy bear you've had since birth, you've got to let go someday, and I for one am disappointed that the Beeb didn't get rid of more.

Maybe the move was to calm the already disgruntled audience, who are disappointed from the recent signing of Darcey Bussell as replacement judge for Alesha Dixon, who left for rival reality show Britain's Got Talent.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Darcey Bussell joins Strictly Come Dancing

The BBC announced today that Darcey Bussell would be joining the judging panel for their hit dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

Replacing the gap left by singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon, who was poached by ITV and Simon Cowell to appear on Britain's Got Talent, rumours were rife with who was going to replace the former Strictly champ.

Hot favourite Karen Hardy, a favourite with viewers, was supposedly leading the race to fill the shoes left by Alesha. Karren, who has previously been a professional on the show and had recently been covering the show's red button coverage, certainly has the skills and dance knowledge that Ms Dixon lacked.

Other contenders included 2010 winner Kara Tointon, choreographer Karen Bruce and former professional Camilla Dallerup.

Even Arlene Phillips was suggested as a possible contender, despite the fiasco surrounding her exit from the show in 2007. The star, who was a judge on the recently axed So you think you can dance? was again, a firm favourite with fans, but was unlikely to be reconsidered by the Beeb, who were heavily criticised for sacking her in the first place.

But eventually, the role went to Darcey Bussell. The ballet star, a former principal dancer at the Royal Ballet, was hotly tipped for the role after impressing producers back in 2007, when she was a guest judge.

The 42 year-old star, world-renown for her ballet and performances, has the experience, the knowledge and the expertise on dance. A favourite with the judges, Craig Revel Horwood recently revealed that if he could pick anyone to join him on the judging panel, he would pick Darcey.

Yet, I was surprised with the reaction from some fans. It seems that despite her expertise, the fans feel she won't fit on the panel.

This seems slightly hypocritical. When Alesha Dixon replaced Arlene Phillips, fans were in uproar about the judging changes. Not only did they criticise the new judges expertise - lets be frank, she didn't have any - but they called for her to be replaced even before Alesha was given screen time.

During Alesha's three year stint, the show has seen a ratings boost, thanks to an improved set, new professional dancers and a much high calibre of celebrities. Some viewers even started to like Alesha, who it has to be said did improve each series, if only by a fraction.

So why the anger over the new signing? The fans wanted expertise and knowledge over looks and age, and they got it. The BBC delivered, but it seems some people just aren't happy.

So what if she's a ballet star? Watch some of her clips online, especially Viva la Diva - I think you'll realise how much dance knowledge she has. And for those that criticise her tv manner - give her some time will you. Yes, I admit she was boring when she did the guest stint, but that was three years ago! The Beeb obviously know what they're doing, because she went through a vigorous screen test along with Hardy and Bruce.

So please, you hypocritical bunch of old bats, stop moaning about the same old thing. I personally think she'll be FAB-U-LOUS!

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia