strictly come dancing : Most liked Posts

Based on audience support, Chris or Sarah is winning this. We were asked to cheer for our favourites while waiting to go into the studio and the difference between them and everyone else was noticeable. Also the guy forgot to ask about JB which says it all about his chances.

Tess’s prompter says “Pete and Y’vita” whereas Claudia’s says “Pete and Jowita” which made me laugh. Phonetic spelling is clearly necessary for Tess.

On that note, I know we all make fun of Tess’s presenting but I was surprised at how much time she spends in the results show going over the script when she’s been doing this for years and could get away with not prepping heavily. She was sat behind me and, for most of the taping, she was highlighting and reading through the script and her cue cards until she was needed to film. Presenting doesn’t come naturally to her but I appreciated seeing a glimpse of how much effort she puts in behind the scenes.

Kai and Nadiya made a noticeable effort to never be stood near each other in the Clauditorium when they were watching each dance. I didn’t spot them even vaguely near other once.

Vito, Johannes and Nikita are all as lovely as you’d hope. The first two were stood near us waiting for the results and were so lovely at interacting with us all as we sent them good luck thumbs ups. And I got to walk past Nikita and quickly chat to him backstage. He’s even more handsome in real life and just as nice.

Vernon Kay is bloody lovely too. He was by far the most enthusiastic celebrity there. He was the first to cheer for everyone and call out at the judges if he felt they were being too mean. I thought he might not be that interested in the show but he was so into it! He knew so many of the production staff by name and lots of them came over to see him either on the floor or backstage. Plus, when Tess rehearsed her first link, he cheered so loudly for her which was very sweet.

Speaking of supportive partners, Joe Sugg was the first person on their feet at the end of Chris and Dianne’s dance which was also very sweet. And Dianne had such good awareness of Chris throughout the whole show. They have a production assistant with them for moving around the studio but Dianne always made sure to be with Chris guiding him even when she was changing position for watching the next dance. You could see how much trust is there and they’re a solid partnership already.

(Her and Chris’s new goal is to stay in the competition until her parents come over because Mark is more excited about seeing Chris dance than Dianne. I could almost hear this thread rolling its eyes at the mention of Dianne’s parents but we’ll see if it makes it to air tonight.)

Kai, Johannes and Gorka were the threes pros who seemed to spend the most time watching each dance and shouting support down to the couples when they were waiting to start but so many of them made the effort to do that. Again, I know we make fun on the ‘Strictly is a family’ thing but it’s no wonder they feel like that so quickly because that is the vibe. The pros were loudly rooting for one another and Sarah, Sam and Pete were the celebs I spotted routinely doing the same.

Claudia is even funnier and more chaotic in real life. Her jumpsuit and heels were uncomfortable from rehearsal and she had no qualms in letting us know that. She’s a terrific presenter. I also got to spot her vaping as she was scrolling Instagram and eating M&S chocolate buttons backstage which was fun.

I don’t know how much of it will get cut from tonight’s show but Nikita totally messed up his bit and Aljaz was crying with laughter by the end. He explained they’re dancing to Hips Don’t Lie next week and then sang a totally different Shakira song instead. Nobody clocked it until the end of the segment when they had to refilm. It was then discovered that Nikita has no idea what the song actually sounds like as he was put on the spot and sang the most tuneless rendition of Hips Don’t Lie I’ve ever heard.

There were no partnerships that clearly weren’t getting along but the level of support that was given/needed while waiting to dance definitely varied. Whereas the likes of Punam and Gorka, Tasha and Aljaz, Montell and Johannes, and Sarah and Vito spent time talking and preparing together, others like Shayne and and Nancy and Toyah and Neil were more of the high five and prepare in position separately sort. I guess it’s partly personal preference but there were certainly some partnerships that felt far more like partnerships already.

The production crew are amazing. They’re so slick at changing the sets and I was mesmerised watching them build each one in the few minutes they had to do it.

It was such a fun night and they’ve got me drinking the ‘Strictly is a family’ kool-aid now