Strictly Come Dancing - Semi Finals Part 1



So here we are on a Friday yet again! It's part 1 of the semi finals and we have 5 couples left fighting to get through the final. 2 eliminations on Sunday and they were dancing for their places. Tonight they all danced normally, and then came together for a Swingathon.

Strictly Come Dancing - Alesha Dixon Admits To Over-Marking

Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon, who took part in the show 2 years ago and won, has admitted she over-marks the contestants.

Strictly Come Dancing - Week Eight (Blackpool!)

This week the show has moved to the home of Ballroom, Blackpool! It's always a good show here and this year was no different! Here's the opening of the show which was brilliant!

Let's take a look at the Blackpool leader-board:

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani – 38
Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan – 37
Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev – 35
Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe – 32
Felicity Kendal & Vincent Simone - 30
Patsy Kensit & Robin Windsor – 28
Gavin Henson & Katya Virshilas 27
Ann Widdecombe & Anton Du Beke – 13

Matt Baker finally got a 10! And not just one but 2! And well deserved they were. He was terrific. Scott Malsen took another tumble but not has dramatic as his last one. Pamela Stephenson climbing back towards the top where she belongs after an amazing performance which you'll see further down! Dear, oh dear. Ann Widdecombe. 13 points. 1 from Craig Revel Horwood. Does this not tell you something love? GO AWAY. 


Time to look at the best and worst dances:


Best:





Matt is one of this year's celebrities who is constantly good and usually within in the top 4. While some of his previous dances should have gained him a 10, they didn't until now! It was well deserved because this was a great dance!






Yaaay. Pamela is back! This was fantastic! More 10's well deserved. Great acting here between herself and James Jordan. I love their partnership. Great job Pamela.





Kara caused her partner Artem a serious injury in the rehearsal and they come out with this? Wow! He looked in a great deal of pain in the VT before they danced so god know what was going through his head when they were doing it.  This was brilliant by the way. I really like Kara. I didn't at first but now I do. I also heard Artem is 42? True or false? Great job guys!




Worst:




"Overwhelmingly Awful" - Craig Revel Horwood.


So what did you think of Blackpool's show? Who will go tonight?


Make sure you watch the results show tonight and check back here afterwards for my thoughts!

Strictly Come Dancing - Arlene Phillips blasts Judges

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has blasted her former colleagues. 


The 67 year old choreographer has criticized the judges for judging some couples on entertainment and effort, while judging other on technical ability. 


Speaking to The Sun she said:


Every time Craig starts talking technically, Bruce interrupts and covers up anything that's negative that Craig might say. I think at that point I might be jumping on the desk and shaking my arms. It does seem that Craig is the only one that really cares about technique. Even Len Goodman, who is a master ballroom dancer, seems less concerned about technique and more concerned with performance. Are they being advised to score on technique? On the ability to master the dance? Or is there a new guide? For me it's quite surreal and obviously playing by a different set of rules. I'm sure some people found Ann's dance amusing and if that's what the criteria is, if it's the amusement and entertainment factor, then everyone needs to be told they can play the same game and have a good time. But it's a mixed bag of rules."


She continued:


"There is no 'you are the winner' or 'you are the number one' in a lot of schools. They try to make every child feel like a winner and it feels a little like that - by entering you are a winner. I love Strictly when the heat is on. When the demands are there and the judges are on one side and the viewers on another and it's like Mount Vesuvius erupting. But now it's less so. It's a 'good on you' for walking on the floor and attempting a dance. As a judge I'm demanding. I'm free with my comments when I see something I love, but I'm quite demanding with people. It's every judge's choice to mark how they feel, but I'm more with Craig." 


Phillips was famously sacked from the judging panel back in 2008, in favour of younger Alesha Dixion who won the series, in the previous year. 


What do you think about this? Do the judges judge the competition correctly? 

Strictly Come Dancing - Week Six

God, they really want to in this don't they? Everybody seems to be actually getting better week by week and that doesn't tend to happen alot really. What a good show this was though. However, just like last week, someone has made a terrible tumble down the leader-board. speaking of, let's have a look shall we? 

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev – 36
Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani – 35
Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan – 33
Jimi Mistry & Flavia Cacace – 32
Michelle Williams & Brendan Cole - 30
Felicity Kendal & Vincent Simone – 29
Patsy Kensit & Robin Windsor – 29
Gavin Henson & Katya Virshilas 29
Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe – 28
Ann Widdecombe & Anton Du Beke - 17

Oh dear. Natalie Lowe is going to be fuming. Remember Scott Maslen being at the top of the leader-board with a whopping 39 points last week? Well now he's second from the bottom. How embarrassing! The thing is, it wasn't that bad. He didn't deserve a 4 from Craig Revel Horwood. Happier news however, Pamela Stephenson made a good comeback. And a lot of couple did very well and got their highest scores to date!

Let's take a look at the best and worst dances of the night:

Best:

Kara is getting so good! That first 10 of the series must have really spurred her on! She's great!

Matt has been constantly good and there was no change here tonight. Excellent! 

Worst:

Poor Ann. She is hilarious and it is entertaining and I love her, but come on. Time to go soon don't you think. There'll riots if good people start to go like Scott or Matt over her. I don't know how she feels, but I feel like she's treat like a joke by the judges, especially Bruno Tonioli who constantly makes nasty comments about her weight. 

Make sure you catch the results show tonight, and for interviews and make stage gossip, as always watch Claudia Winkleman on It Takes Two, BBC2 6:30 weeknights.