Strictly, 2018

by **Lesallee** Tue Jul 31, 2018 3:00 pm

Some gossip.

by **Lesallee** Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:29 am

Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Graziano Di Prima
All three dancers will join AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Janette Manrara, Karen Clifton, Katya Jones, Kevin Clifton, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Oti Mabuse and Pasha Kovalev. When we return later in the year it will bring the total number of professional dancers to eighteen!
As announced earlier in the year, series one winner and 2017 Christmas champ Brendan Cole, will not be returning. A huge thank you goes to Brendan from all at Strictly for 15 amazing series. We wish him all the very best with his future projects.
Chloe Hewitt, who joined in 2016, will also be leaving this series. We wish her well.
Find out more about our new Strictly recruits...
Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima, an Italian Latin Champion, has represented Belgium at the World Championships and made the top 24 at the Latin World Championships (under 21). For the past three years 24 year old Graziano has toured the world with the dance company Burn The Floor. He says: “This is my dream come true! I still can’t believe I will be one of the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing. I can’t wait to give all of myself on the dance floor!”
Johannes Radebe, 31, from South Africa is two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three time South African Amateur Latin Champion. He is a dancer with the Afro Arimba Dance Company and has also been a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing South Africa for two seasons, both times reaching the final. He says: “Joining Strictly Come Dancing is one of the greatest achievements of my dancing career. It is such an honour to be chosen to be a part of an incredible cast and be part of one of the biggest shows that is celebrated worldwide. I cannot wait to get started and experience the magic with the UK!”
Russian-born Luba Mushtuk is four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship and Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion. She was ranked 2nd in the European 10 Dance Championships and was a finalist in the Latin European Championship. 28 year old Luba has worked extensively with Broadway and West End show Burn The Floor, was part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour and has performed on both Giovanni Pernice’s and Kevin and Karen Clifton’s tours. Luba joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 as an assistant choreographer contributing to a number of group routines. She says: “Words cannot express how thrilled I am to do what I love most on the greatest show on earth! I am super excited and so thankful for this priceless opportunity. I can’t wait to get started as a professional dancer on Strictly... bring on the sparkle!”

by **Lesallee** Thu Sep 13, 2018 6:54 pm

Oh my! Just saw this.

Just some sad news from my trip to Germany: Learned that a guy called Daniel ( he was the partner of Oti in the German show ) fell/jumped from a cruise ship last week. Canadian life guards kept looking for him, but had to stop the search. He hasn't been found yet. Feel sad for his friends and family and of course for Oti, too.

by **DeadManDancing** Wed Sep 26, 2018 4:05 pm

I'm not surprised Brendan has quit. He seemed strangely uninspired last season already.

Some remarkable routines on the first show, including Joe and Dianne (these Aussie red head girls have a way of jiving)! Odds against Otie (Samba in week one- what?) but she and Graeme made the best of it. Quite a few couples worth to keep an eye on.

by **Lesallee** Mon Oct 01, 2018 11:08 am

Lots of fb chit chat going on. Here’s one post from this morning.

I might get lynched here but i think that Anton should be axed from being a dancer and he should replace one of the ladies as a presenter. I really miss Bruicie and I think it needs a male presenter. (Queue the hate comments, I’m ready for it!)

by **Lesallee** Mon Oct 01, 2018 11:18 am

Just saw this.

So Anton has quit won't b in next series just annouced.

by **Lesallee** Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:25 pm

And here’s what Anton says:

by **DeadManDancing** Thu Oct 04, 2018 2:52 pm

If only a fraction of Joe's YT clicks translates into votes, an Australian redhead may finally win at a dance show.
1.7 million for week one, and one million for week 2 already...

by **DeadManDancing** Sun Oct 07, 2018 9:33 am

Just when you think you know which way the cat jumps, everything changes. When I read the announcement for Movie Night, I wasn't overexcited. I thought the theme was worn out, and then they come and do that. Everyone without exception delivered a great show, but especially Oti and Katya blew me away with what they pulled off. Both Graeme and Seann had only 15 points last week, and got 31/ 30 last night. Talk about improvement!
Impressive again: the leading ladies, Faye and Ashley. Whatever Giovanni and Pasha throw at them, they deliver.

Joe and Dianne dropped five points. Still not bad, but his ballroom technique needs some work.
Also worth mentioning: Kate Silverton. Who are you, Kate? I didn't have high hopes for her after that lukewarm ChaCha in week one. Then she did a slick Tango last week, and now a Jessica Rabbit impersonation that would make Sharna proud. Not even the little stumble at the beginning threw her off. 29 points is quite a separation from the middle of the pack.

BBC offers an all in one video that hardly leaves you time to breathe. Here it is.

by **Lesallee** Mon Oct 08, 2018 2:44 pm

Thanks for this brother.

by **Lesallee** Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:36 pm

Here we go everyone, this week'sdances and songs! ????????????????????????

• Ashley and Pasha will dance a Tango to ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ by Taylor Swift
• Charles and Karen will perform a Salsa to ‘Use It Up and Wear It Out’ by Odyssey
• Danny and Amy will Viennese Waltz to ‘I’ve Gotta Be Me’ by Sammy Davis Jnr
• Dr Ranj and Janette will perform a Paso Doble to ‘Cancion del Mariachi’ by Los Lobos
• Faye and Giovanni will dance a Rumba to ‘Chandelier’ by Sia
• Graeme and Oti will Jive to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen
• Joe and Dianne will Cha Cha to ‘Just Got Paid’ by Sigala feat. Ella Eyre and Meghan Trainor
• Kate and Aljaz will perform a Samba to ‘Africa’ by Toto
• Katie and Gorka will dance a Jive to ‘Why Do Fools Fall In Love’ by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
• Lauren and AJ will Quickstep to ‘If You’re Over Me’ by Years and Years
• Seann and Katya will perform a Charleston to ‘Bills’ by Lunchmoney Lewis
• Stacey and Kevin will dance a Foxtrot to ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ by Jeff Beck
• Vick and Graziano will Quickstep to ‘Can’t Hurry Love’ by Diana Ross and the Supremes

by **DeadManDancing** Wed Oct 10, 2018 1:52 pm

Cha Cha looks like the perfect redemption for Joe and Dianne. I also have high hopes for Seann's Charleston, because Katya is so incredibly creative.

Finally someone dances to one of my all time favorite songs, Africa by Toto! I hope the orchestra won't butcher it and Kate and Aljaz will do it justice.

by **DeadManDancing** Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:13 pm

One out of three. Joe couldn't improve his score (though he deserved more imo), Kate couldn't master the Samba (Aljaz should have made it simpler maybe), but Katya never disappoints! Seann worked his butt off in that Charleston.
Faye is a wonderful performer, but technically her Rumba was over-scored. Vick keeps improving, and so does Lauren. Just for her the scores don't reflect it yet.

Overall, the judges were a bit inconsistent this time. Joe's ChaCha was far better than Graeme's Jive; still they both end up with 26? No way.

by **Lesallee** Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:34 pm

I didn’t think Graeme and Oti had much chance but the last couple of outings have me re-thinking that opinion. Darn, this is good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp1i_600SQU

by **DeadManDancing** Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:59 pm

Yep, Oti is working on it. One of my favorite routines also. The other one: Joe and Dianne's Waltz. Graceful, charming, and connected.
Ashley is in a class of her own. She knows her body and how to move it. Stacey will never be able to keep up with her. No idea why the judges keep praising her. The Clifton haters on the BBC website are in full swing already...
Lots of ups and downs on the leaderboard this time; but I don't think it means too much in the long run.
I feel sorry for Vick. Blame Graziano for the elimination. Too much messin' about, if you know what I mean.

Alfonso on Strictly was fun! He's not Bruno obviously, so he kept it nice, simple, and encouraging. I've seen worse guest judges indeed.

by **Lesallee** Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:42 pm

Comment from a Strictly fb group.

Interesting that no one has mentioned Vicks professional partner Graziano my opinion is that he wasn’t up to the job. Poor routines etc I think Vick would of excelled if partnered with a seasoned professional. The routines were very average I’m not surprised she left and I think it was the correct choice as she was bottom of the leader board anyway. I doubt Graziano will return next year

by **Lesallee** Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:26 am

Some gossip floating around.

by **DeadManDancing** Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:40 pm

And then he was gone...

by **Lesallee** Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:55 pm

And not a happy camper either! Seems he won’t join in with the whole cast at the finale.

by **DeadManDancing** Wed Nov 14, 2018 3:01 pm

I hope they have someone for Amy to dance with in the finale, or I'll fly over and do it myself. What a shame.

by **Lesallee** Wed Nov 14, 2018 4:17 pm

You do that, brother! I’d love it!

by **DeadManDancing** Thu Nov 15, 2018 1:11 pm

I really wonder what happened behind the scenes. Like couples eliminated from DWTS appear on GMA, Strictly presents them on It Takes Two. Guess who wasn't there last monday...

by **Lesallee** Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:59 pm

All I’m picking up from the Strictly fb group is a lot of speculation. None too charitable towards Danny.

by **DeadManDancing** Tue Nov 27, 2018 1:39 pm

Time for an update. After Kate and Aljaz, sadly last Sunday Graeme and Oti were eliminated. That Quickstep was ambitious! I was surprised they were facing Ashley and Pasha, the highest scoring couple of all, in the dance-off. Seems good dancers generally have a problem with the viewers these days...
All dances in one:

by **Lesallee** Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:18 pm

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