Strictly Come Dancing

Oh yes that’s true. He did have a good year last year, probably why he opted for Jacqui this year, he’s probably knackered
( I’m sure he gets a say in who his partner is )

Sparklefizz

Anton's in his late 50s, I think, so maybe he would struggle with 12 hours a day of practice 5 days a week, and is happier for an easier ride.

Yes, Jacqui was very gracious in defeat.

He's 54 and managed very well last year with the hours of practice with Emma.They reached the final.

I felt for Jamie. He is very nervous and I'm presuming it is because of his foot injury during the first practice sessions last year.

Someone has asked how much they are paid. It was reported that in 2019 each celebrity would be given a standard £25,000 payment for signing up, but if they manage to stay on the dance floor until the end of October this then rose to £40,000.

Any star that made it to the quarter-finals sees their fee jump to £60,000; that figure then climbs to £75,000 if they last an extra week and get into the semi-finals. Strictly winner will be paid £100,000.

That bloke from 'The Wanted'...ooh!

Someone has asked how much they are paid. It was reported that in 2019 each celebrity would be given a standard £25,000 payment for signing up, but if they manage to stay on the dance floor until the end of October this then rose to £40,000.

So the basic is some people's annual salary...crikey!

Just watched the results show on catch up.
Yes, Jacqui Smith had no dancing skill whatsoever, but good on her having a go.
How many of us would want to make fools of ourselves clomping around on national tv?
She was definitely the worst, so will be interesting to see what happens next week.

I saw/read somewhere that there are a number of ways of deciding who gets partnered with who - things like height are taken into account, but the celebs/dancers get a day all mixing to see who gets on together. It would be a bit naff to put two people together who don't like each other.

Might explain why they look happy when the pairings are announced, at least they know they are training with someone they like.

It would be a bit naff to put two people together who don’t like each other

Perhaps it’s done differently nowadays, but in the earlier series, Brendon Cole seemed to really dislike his partners if they weren’t very good. He was awful to them if they made mistakes. Think his card was marked, as his attitude changed over time.

Blinko, he's winning me over!!

I think that's why Anton is one of my faves. He has such grace, and respect for his partners, despite nearly always getting paired with someone who was unlikely to make it beyond the third round.

I was pleased to see him in the final (or was it semi-final?) with Emma Barton just so he could have a chance to show what he could do. So often he's had to turn everything into a comedy routine just to get through their 90 seconds on the dance floor.

How many of us would want to make fools of ourselves clomping around on national tv?

We might for the £25,000 signing up fee

I seem to remember Helen George not getting on with her partner and wasn't Danny John-Jules said to have a bit of a temper?

There have been a few reports in the past of some dancers having a strained relationship with their professional. And of course there have been a few well publicised reports of some getting on rather too well.

Lulu and Brendan were a match made in heaven - not! I think she assumed she would be better than she was and he didn’t like the fact that she wanted to coast through.
I’m enjoying this season’s pairing so far, but don’t want any more ‘struggles’, ‘nans’ and ‘you don’t know how good you are’

I'm a bit confused! Do the celebrities have to stay in a bubble with their partner 7 days a week? Only one of them said something like, "when I come back to dancing on Monday" as though he were going home after Saturday night's show. Surely that doesn't work, especially in the latest lockdown?

I must disagree about Anton having respect. Perhaps he does with any current partner, but I have heard him many times making fun of previous partners’ lack of dance skills. And by name.

I quite like Anton but I have been to one of his live shows and yes he did 'make fun' of previous partners like Ruth Langsford. I think the year Lulu was matched with Brendan she really wanted to dance with Vincent.

I've seen Vincent and Flavia live. Absolutely out of this world.

Flavia and Vincent were my all time favourites. Their Argentine Tango was mesmerising.

Sparklefizz

^How many of us would want to make fools of ourselves clomping around on national tv?^

We might for the £25,000 signing up fee

Well, yes maybe.....?

Re Craig being nicer, I wondered if it is because he doesn't have to follow Bruno who may be annoying him.

I too have the impression that Lulu was a bit of a nightmare - another one who is full of her own importance I fear
I think if Anton 'made fun' of Ruth it would have been with affection, surely? They seemed to get on so well
Flavia was my favourite professional dancer - not so keen on Vincent However, my most favourite dance ever was Rachel Stevens and Vincent dancing the Rhumba to "You Do Something To Me" - just MAGIC to watch (and sexy!!)
(I often watch it on Youtube )

I think Anton is a bit "passive-aggressive". He makes fun of previous partners and actually names them but says it in a smiley way to make it seem a joke. However, the sting is there. He's a bit two-faced. I find his jokiness a bit irritating, to be honest, and hope he never becomes a judge.

I wondered if Craig was being nicer because of the pandemic, in that all the dancers and celebs have had to sacrifice quite a lot in order to bubble and to appear in the show.

I didn't like Vincent as a person but his and Flavia's Argentine Tango is breathtaking. I have seen them live.

Yes, merlot I think Danny John-Jules was said to have had Amy in tears more than once.

I often wonder what a few couples would really like to say to their partner when Tess prompts them at the end "So what would you like to say to ...."

I also think that some of the celebrities, who can’t dance and are voted out early on, are tempted to say,
“Actually, it’s been a nightmare! I have woken up in the night in a cold sweat, cannot for the life of me remember the steps, Anton/Amy/ Oti/ (whoever) have tried to be patient, but I know they wish they had some other partner. It will be a huge relief not to have to come in on Monday. I shall be glad to sit at home and watch it on my own sofa, while counting the £25000 fee!”

Vincent and Rachel Stevens’s rumba was exquisite, as was Artem and Kara Tointon’s the year they won. Kara looked fabulous the first time they did that dance and she wore a floaty pink dress.

Love it Calendargirl