[Barry.]

Originally Posted by Livia

I didn't hate anyone. Although I'm not sure what Ellie Goldstein's going to bring to the party.

I really hope she doesn’t get the sympathy vote if she’s not good. If she’s good then that’s a different story

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Barry.

I really hope she doesn’t get the sympathy vote if she’s not good. If she’s good then that’s a different story

With no disrespect to the girl, she's not good. She's box tick. I have nothing against her, I wish her continued success and a happy life... But there is only one reason the BBC selected her.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Barry.

I really hope she doesn’t get the sympathy vote if she’s not good. If she’s good then that’s a different story

Tbh, it didn't stop any of the other disabled contestants from other years doing well off of a sympathy vote.

I mean hasn't the worst performing disabled contestant on Strictly been 10th place? Which still means that they were at the very least more popular than five other people.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Tbh, it didn't stop any of the other disabled contestants from other years doing well off of a sympathy vote.

I mean hasn't the worst performing disabled contestant on Strictly been 10th place? Which still means that they were at the very least more popular than five other people.

Both Rose Ayling Ellis and Chris McCauseland were really good dancers and deserved to win. Other disabled contestants, Johnnie Peacock, Jody Cundy etc. Did well but just weren't good enough to win. Ellie Goldstein has no coordination or control, that was clear from the few minutes of dancing I saw on Saturday night. She's there to make others feel better. She can barely control herself in interviews and I can hardly understand her. God love her, she's going to try, but I just can't watch it. It's like when organisations like Chicken Shed turn up on Britain's Got Talent and we have to watch kids with Downs Syndrome leap about and then get a standing ovation. Just...no. If she improves week on week I will willingly apologise for what I said. But I don't think I'll have to.

[Vanessa]

I'm sure they will all improve. Really excited for Saturday

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

Both Rose Ayling Ellis and Chris McCauseland were really good dancers and deserved to win. Other disabled contestants, Johnnie Peacock, Jody Cundy etc. Did well but just weren't good enough to win. Ellie Goldstein has no coordination or control, that was clear from the few minutes of dancing I saw on Saturday night. She's there to make others feel better. She can barely control herself in interviews and I can hardly understand her. God love her, she's going to try, but I just can't watch it. It's like when organisations like Chicken Shed turn up on Britain's Got Talent and we have to watch kids with Downs Syndrome leap about and then get a standing ovation. Just...no. If she improves week on week I will willingly apologise for what I said. But I don't think I'll have to.

I strongly disagree with Chris, I feel like there were a fair few that were better than him last year. And Rose just did the same dance every week (which tbf to Chris, he was far less guilty of doing that) I would personally argue that John, AJ, and arguably Rhys were a lot better than Rose was in her year.

And tbf to Ellie, whilst I do agree with what you're saying about her, I honestly feel that performance wise she'll probably be as bad as most of the disabled contestants end up being on Strictly imo. Exception being Tasha last year, and even she tended to be overscored sometimes.

I said it last year, the disabled contestants should be given a spin-off version, it would be much fairer to both the disabled and the non-disabled. The non-disabled contestants would benefit because they're not potentially losing out on votes because they're not disabled, and the disabled contestants would all be on an equal footing with each other.

And from a fan perspective we get a new badass Strictly Show, instead of the judges treating Ellie with kiddy gloves, because I agree with you that I think she'll make the judges and public feel better if they 'cheer her on' regardless of anything else going on in the Show.

Apologies for the tangent.

[Nicky91]

not all people disabilities ended up winning though, only Rose and Chris were exceptions


i think this Ellie will have same fate as her paralympic swimmer namesake: Ellie Simmonds, could also see a Susan Calman 2.0 in her honestly, maybe if she has the entertainment factor



she'll be lucky to last to a 8th or 9th place somewhere like that, when the real competition begins, when most deadwood are gone

[Nicky91]

launch show isn't entirely pointless, we get to see who immediately gets on well with each other in terms of the pairings, and the group dance of course


and i'm saying it, i don't see Ross as a ''first out'' and i think his cha cha next saturday to california gurls will be good fun

[Strictly Jake]

Watched this tonight. Actually the cast aren't quite as bad as I thought they were on paper. Vicky is my current favourite.

[Mystic Mock]

But basically a disabled version of the Show I think would be fun to watch.

I would be up for watching it anyway.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

But basically a disabled version of the Show I think would be fun to watch.

I would be up for watching it anyway.

…we’ll agree to disagree or we’ll just disagree, Mock…but then my world and experiences are probably very different in knowing and having worked with some Down Syndrome children who have been part of mainstream schooling and not special schooling ….and knowing how much they can flourish in that environment …and this isn’t comparable to something like a competitive sport/competition…it is primarily an entertainment show and as I say, there have been ‘boxes ticked’ with everyone chosen, I would say…interestingly I saw one article, which I only read the first few sentences of …but it was analysing the small opening show/celebrity dancers and the one that it felt was the ‘least skilled dancer’ from that small section, wasn’t Ellie…the person it was definitely could be said to be a box ticker as well, just different categories of boxes ticked…

….anyway, as I say…Ellie is my sweepstake and I’ll champion her until she’s voted off ……

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…we’ll agree to disagree or we’ll just disagree, Mock…but then my world and experiences are probably very different in knowing and having worked with some Down Syndrome children who have been part of mainstream schooling and not special schooling ….and knowing how much they can flourish in that environment …and this isn’t comparable to something like a competitive sport/competition…it is primarily an entertainment show and as I say, there have been ‘boxes ticked’ with everyone chosen, I would say…interestingly I saw one article, which I only read the first few sentences of …but it was analysing the small opening show/celebrity dancers and the one that it felt was the ‘least skilled dancer’ from that small section, wasn’t Ellie…the person it was definitely could be said to be a box ticker as well, just different categories of boxes ticked…

….anyway, as I say…Ellie is my sweepstake and I’ll champion her until she’s voted off ……

That's completely fair Ammi.

And for all that I'm saying, I did personally dislike two people (at least) more than I did Ellie on Launch Night.

So whilst I am personally just very fatigued with the bias towards disabled contestants on Strictly, I am still trying to judge her as an individual.

I do feel though that she's going to struggle on the Show to follow the dances.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

That's completely fair Ammi.

And for all that I'm saying, I did personally dislike two people (at least) more than I did Ellie on Launch Night.

So whilst I am personally just very fatigued with the bias towards disabled contestants on Strictly, I am still trying to judge her as an individual.

I do feel though that she's going to struggle on the Show to follow the dances.

…I guess that I’m just very fatigued as well but with different aspects…/…we’re just two old fatigues … box ticking is such a label that takes away all identity and individuality from someone…and if it did/does apply…?…then I absolutely believe that it applies to every celebrity from every season, it’s just all different boxes that are ticked is all and all different levels of dance ability, also…and all to create a blended entertainment show…and as well as dance skills/progression…?…different aspects of each personality and celebrity will vary in their appeal to individual viewers/public members…that’s the way of the world ….

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…I guess that I’m just very fatigued as well but with different aspects…/…we’re just two old fatigues … box ticking is such a label that takes away all identity and individuality from someone…and if it did/does apply…?…then I absolutely believe that it applies to every celebrity from every season, it’s just all different boxes that are ticked is all and all different levels of dance ability, also…and all to create a blended entertainment show…and as well as dance skills/progression…?…different aspects of each personality and celebrity will vary in their appeal to individual viewers/public members…that’s the way of the world ….

I understand what you're saying, but I honestly do believe that the disabled contestants have been pushed by the production of Strictly more than any other demographic in recent times imo.

Regardless of what ends up happening with Ellie.

[Nicky91]

the week 1 songs and dances

Karen and Carlos - Jive to One Way or Another by Blondie
Vicky and Kai - Cha Cha Cha to Best Of My Love by Ella Eyre
Alex and Johannes - Viennese Waltz to Cry Me a River by Michael Buble
Chris and Nadiya - Samba go Unbelievable by EMF
Ellie and Vito - Cha Cha Cha to yes, and? by Ariana Grande
Jimmy and Lauren - Quickstep to Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis
La Voix and Aljaz - American Smooth to Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan
Ross and Jowita - Cha Cha Cha to California Gurls by Katy Perry
Stefan and Dianne - Foxtrot to Neighbours Theme by Barry Crocker
Lewis and Katya - Jive to Get Ready by The Temptations
George and Alexis - American Smooth to Stargazing by Myles Smith
Thomas and Amy - Paso Doble to Better Without Honor or Humanity by Hotei
Harry and Karen - Cha Cha Cha to Push It by Salt n Pepa
Balvinder and Julian - Samba to (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty by KC & The Sunshine Band



so we got 9 men, 5 women split

[Nicky91]

the top 3 in week 1 i predict

Ellie & Vito

Alex & Johannes

Lewis & Katya



the bottom 3 in week 1 i predict

Thomas & Amy (LOL him getting simon rimmer'd )

Jimmy & Lauren

Chris & Nadiya (one foot out of the competition with that questionable trash music choice )

[Nicky91]

but shame on those producers for putting poor Stefan in the comedy duffer category with that neighbours theme






Jimmy stitched up with a song which has ''chelsea'' in it, similar trash music choice

[Nicky91]

could still see there being a replacement, but only the reveal done live in tomorrow's show, something sensational for the media tabloids as well


but i was always expecting the replacement not to show up in the songs and dances list, which would've been too random, and a replacement deserves a bit more attention than just randomly being placed in there


also adds up to Nikita's low profile on social media, not commenting even about Dani's withdrawal, either he is too much in shock about her injury, or being told by production to keep a low profile, for the big surprise to the public



Tillie Amartey's response to the media at a gala, ''i would never say no to strictly'' felt rehearsed that sort of comment not exactly a denial, but no confirmation either, just a neutral scripted comment

[Strictly Jake]

Amber Davies is replacing Dani! She already has a lot of dance skill which with her performing like tomorrow will help her to learn fast!

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Strictly Jake

Amber Davies is replacing Dani! She already has a lot of dance skill which with her performing like tomorrow will help her to learn fast!

yes Amber with Nikita, they will be doing a waltz tomorrow, but not known yet which music choice