Strictly Come Dancing 2009

Anyone going to watch?

There are a lot of new faces. I read that they dumped Karen Hardy and Camilla Dallerup has quit!

They also got rid of Hayley Holt, who was new last year.

Plus, does anyone else thing that it's a bit ridiculous switching Arlene Phililps with Alesha Dixon? One is a dance professional and the other is just a winner of SCD. I mean, I didn't much care for Arlene, she annoyed me, but why not then replace her with someone more knowledgeable in the profession? Alesha is just going to be a soft spot and a bit of a sore thumb amongst all the professional men.

I'm going to watch!  I'm not happy about Arlene though.  I kind of liked her and there's no way Alesha Dixon will be able to stand up to the mean men. I liked Karen Hardy too.  I don't like change.  I'll still watch though.

I've just seen this article on the BBC News website: Arlene to return as dance judge

Apparently they're making a British version of So You Think You Can Dance, starting here in January and Arlene will be one of the judges, along with Nigel Lithgoe ('Nasty Nigel' from the original Pop Stars series and current judge and exec producer on So You Think You Can Dance in the US). If only I hadn't given up dancing a few years ago, I might have tried to audition for it (I studied ballet for 17 years, but I'm very stiff and out of practice now) - I'm totally obsessed with the US show!!

I can't wait! Martina Hingis! Wheee!

I am bummed about Arlene, though. I liked her (most of the time). I really don't think Alesha will be able to cut it. Pah. Did they think going for eye candy would get men to tune in? 'Cause it won't.

If they were going to get rid of people, I am sorry to say I would have preferred it was Brucie. That man needs to retire.

If they were going to get rid of people, I am sorry to say I would have preferred it was Brucie. That man needs to retire.

I couldn't agree more!

Anyone watch it? What did you think?

I'm liking the new contestants and thought that some of them were actually very good considering it was the first night.

I did not think too much of Alesha. I like her as a singer and a personality but not as a judge. The judges are supposed to be helpful in giving advice on how to improve and she was just to vague with her critique. I thought she fell flat.

And do we really have to start every show with "it's nice to see you... to see you nice". I'm so bored with it already. I actually feel annoyed when he does it.

I watched it.  I agree about the Brucie comments; he can go!  Shame about Arlene, at least she was a professional dancer and added substance to the show rather than being a piece of eye-candy. 

I couldn't be bothered watching but might watch the results show tonight. They should get rid of Len Goodman as well as Brucie. I thought Darcey Bussell was going to be a judge too, but turns out she's only a guest judge. The really need someone who knows a bit more about the technicalities of dancing. Did you know Bruno Tonioli was choreographer for Bananarama?

I don't mind Alesha as a dancer or even as a singer but she just doesn't cut it as a judge.  That was a bad move, BBC.  
I wasn't sorry to see Martina Hingis leave.  I doubt she'd ever loosen up and I'm not a huge Mathew fan. I don't know why such a fuss was being made about the boxer beforehand because he really can't dance.  He's going to be a worse partner for Christina than John Sargent was, imo.

I thought Alesha gave too many points to Martina and Matt. I think she did it because Matt was her dancer. Part of me wanted them to stay just so I could see if she would do it throughout the show.

I'm a bit dissapointed in this years show.

Is it me or is Len Goodman being a bit harsher in his comments & points, perhaps to make up for Arlene not being there? I found Saturday night's show a bit boring. Not a very interesting bunch of celebs this time around either.

I think he's just turning grouchy old man. He was like that a lot last year.

But Craig will always be the bad guy, even if he is pretty camp sometimes. Dahhhhling.

I finally got round to watching it, and I'm annoyed about Martina Hingis being gone already. She was the only reason I was excited about it this year, so I'm not sure if I'm going to keep watching. There were so many worse dancers - in fact, I'd have put her in the middle of the pack, if not slightly higher. I thought the worst ones were the boxer and that awful Lynda Bellingham. Were they just extra kind to her because she's older? I also really don't like Rav. He's kinda creepy.

As for the judges, Alesha was exactly as I thought she'd be. Pleasant but substance-less. But I do love Len. Sorry!

OMG, I never liked Anton du Beke much (too smarmy) but he is even worse than I thought:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/a180468/bbc-urged-to-sack-du-beke-over-race-jibe.html

I wonder if they will sack him and if so what will happen to Laila? Will she get a new partner?