Looks like I had a lucky guess with Claudia backstage (though it was the obvious sensible move!) Claudia knows the show inside out, and knows the celebs and their professional partners from It Takes Two.
(So far I think Claudia is doing the backstage stuff a LOT better than Tess usually does... But that wouldn't be difficult...)
I guess it would have been Vernon, had he not been contracted to ITV.
No. Don't even joke about things like that.
All this talk of presenter changes, we are forgetting that Jade Johnson is now probably out of the show for good so it will be interesting to see if we get a two couple final this year or if they drop a show (unlikely).
Looks like I had a lucky guess with Claudia backstage (though it was the obvious sensible move!) Claudia knows the show inside out, and knows the celebs and their professional partners from It Takes Two.
(So far I think Claudia is doing the backstage stuff a LOT better than Tess usually does... But that wouldn't be difficult...)
And Tess does the main show better than Bruce
Has to be said I'm actually interested in this programme this week - Tess is doing Bruce's job so much better and Claudia fits in perfectly! To be honest I'm not a fan of all his silly little jokes and I'm not feeling like they're missing this week! I'm also liking the female partnering!
I'm also surprised by how many contestants are injured - this week alone I've counted at least four (I believe)...
The SCD audience aren't really a fan of change and tonight was a great opportunity to trial the show without Bruce. He has said he takes it year by year and isn't sure if he'll be back the next. Tonight is really working imo. I thought it would be odd with 2 women but for a female skewed show I think it actually makes good sense and adds a little bit if balance especially with a male dominated panel. If Bruce decides not to return, then rather than draft in a male replacement, the safe option and probably most accepted would be to do exactly what they are doing tonight- minus Ronnie. He is only there for novelty value. I haven't watched for years but the show feels a lot more fresh tonight than it did when I stopped watching.
All this talk of presenter changes, we are forgetting that Jade Johnson is now probably out of the show for good so it will be interesting to see if we get a two couple final this year or if they drop a show (unlikely).
What if Laila drops out as well? They might not have a choice then.
Also very strange to hear the band doing a fast version of the couples' entrance music. Possibly the original Laurie Holloway arrangement, though I don't remember it well enough to know. I just remember the original was faster, and I'm not even sure whether it changed when Dave Arch took over, or before that.
All this talk of presenter changes, we are forgetting that Jade Johnson is now probably out of the show for good so it will be interesting to see if we get a two couple final this year or if they drop a show (unlikely).
Or they'll just screw the voting process up in the semi-final again and have all three go through. I think for one reason or another though (usually drop outs) they've mainly had two couples in the final anyway.
Hmm - not sure about that. I still find her a bit one-dimensional - and it's interesting they felt the need to recruit Ronnie Corbett to provide the gags and a bit of sparkle.
Tess was fine as far as it goes - but she doesn't have any real wit or depth for me - and I still find her slightly "dead eyed".
Having been to a Strictly studio show - Bruce has an amazing presence live in the studio, and although there is a warm-up man, Bruce keeps the audience "up" throughout the show. Be interesting to know how much interaction Tess had tonight. (She was invisible on the show I went to - even during the recording breaks - which gives you a hint to which show I was at!)
I thought Tess did a good job last night, although Ronnie wasn't really used, except for walking down the stairs at the beginning, talking to Brucie (not) and at the end. Not that fond of Claudia, but she was alright, if a bit eager, jumping ahead sometimes.
Well given the sheer volume of accidents and illness this week it was a pretty good show.
I think Tess handled the mechanics of the show well enough, but that just shows how much of it is the same every week and straight off the prompter.
Brucie's absence was very noticeable where the contestants come to the panel for critique. Its not about his little jokes (which only number a handful each week), but about how he interacts with them all and leads the proceedings.
Some may remember that another of his catchphrase is, "I'm in charge!" - and that sums up where he adds value to the programme.
No disrespect to Tess - I'm sure she's very lovely - but she's quite, umm.. businesslike in her style. Just occasionally she's got a look in here eye that she's a little embarrassed by the banter, or where someone veers off script. She's more likely to say, "moving on!" than play around a little. But she was professional and capable enough to get them through a big live show.
Claudia was great - if I had to criticise i would say she was too much the other way from Tess, sounding completely gripped by the dances and costumes and events - but if anything I think the exposure on BBC1 might draw more people into It Takes Two - which is the full-on Winkleman experience. I love her to bits. She's brilliantly spoofed on the Impressionists (along with Davina McColl).
For those who missed it, here's a snip of Ronnie C's entrance on Saturday - I swear I thought he was going to take a tumble down those stairs. Made me cheer, though.
Glad his contribution was capped at the short time it was - it rather looked as if the autocue was too far away from him or, more likely, that he wasn't actually reading it. Not something I would memorialise in a video clip...
Tess did well, however her smile does turn on very quickly. She had a stony face as she came into shot after Claudia handed back and after a second to notice the charm was all on.
Just a thought ... If Bruce was to leave ... There's a newly spare septuagenarian who has previous Come Dancing experience that could present easily ... Sir Terry Wogan.