Hamza was a revelation. Having always seen him budled up against the lements as a wildlife cameraman it was no surprise he'd be quiet and work hard but we could have had no idea he'd move so well.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@barry island 100% agree. I love getting to know them. I don't watch soaps, reality TV, kid's programs, I haven't watched comedy in God knows how long so unless a comedian has been on Richard Osman's House of Games I'm not going to know who they are. I hate sport, don't listen to the radio and have next to no idea about music from the past 20 years. Don't really know any social media celebs either unless they've been in one of Joe Sugg's videos (only started watching those after his appearance on Strictly). The chances of me knowing who all of the contestants are are slim to none. What media people consume has changed over the years and Strictly reflects that.
When it comes to picking celebrities the BBC have limitations.
1) The celebrities have to want to do it in the first place. 2) The celebrities who want to do it have to have the space in their schedule to take part. 3) They need to cover as many demographics as possible to maximise viewership. 4) Budget. The BBC don't have bottomless pockets so you're not likely to see Scarlett Johansson strutting her stuff.
I don't know that a lot of people dissatisfied with the line ups would be able to pull an A list line up under such limited criteria. As for people with previous dance experience, if it was such a big advantage the finals would only ever have people with that experience and no novices. Since that isn't the case, it's not half as relevant as it's being made out to be. I don't know that 15 people with two left feet would be that interesting to watch, having those with dance experience (who were actually quite good at it, not everyone who went to ballet classes was the next Margot Fonteyne/Rudolph Nureyev waiting in the wings), gives us some good dances whilst the others catch up.
@AnniD If that's when they're showing the launch show I wonder when the first live show will be. Last year they were late with the launch show because of the Queen's death but first live show was the day after on the 24th. Could be that they're planning the final for the 23rd December or if not, they may add an extra couple to the final or have a double elimination one week. I guess all will be revealed soon enough, the launch show is being filmed on 6th September!
@februarysgirl , the final is set for 16th December. I must admit l thought the launch show was a bit late, but as far as l can find out, that date is correct
They seem to have more couples in the final than they did when it was first launched. Also on occasions someone leaves through injury/illness. 🤷♀️ But I must admit @AnniD I thought it usually started earlier than that. At the speed this year is going, it will be here before you know it 🤣
I'll let you into a secret I'm a 69 year old working class white male with no talent for dancing and have watched strictly since it started, have voted for various dancers since we had to phone up and Bruce would thank us for voting, when it was announced that there would be a same sex couple I thought I don't know about that but as it was two women it didn't seem so radical as in the past girls used to dance together at social dances without any sexual connotations, when two men danced together I thought I don't know about that but hey it turned out to be just as normal as the girl partnership, when people with disabilities took part I thought I don't know about that but really enjoyed watching Ellie Simmonds what a star she was, the BBC was supposed to Inform, educate and entertain well watching strictly has certainly entertained and educated this old man.
Posts
When it comes to picking celebrities the BBC have limitations.
1) The celebrities have to want to do it in the first place.
2) The celebrities who want to do it have to have the space in their schedule to take part.
3) They need to cover as many demographics as possible to maximise viewership.
4) Budget. The BBC don't have bottomless pockets so you're not likely to see Scarlett Johansson strutting her stuff.
I don't know that a lot of people dissatisfied with the line ups would be able to pull an A list line up under such limited criteria. As for people with previous dance experience, if it was such a big advantage the finals would only ever have people with that experience and no novices. Since that isn't the case, it's not half as relevant as it's being made out to be. I don't know that 15 people with two left feet would be that interesting to watch, having those with dance experience (who were actually quite good at it, not everyone who went to ballet classes was the next Margot Fonteyne/Rudolph Nureyev waiting in the wings), gives us some good dances whilst the others catch up.
@AnniD If that's when they're showing the launch show I wonder when the first live show will be. Last year they were late with the launch show because of the Queen's death but first live show was the day after on the 24th. Could be that they're planning the final for the 23rd December or if not, they may add an extra couple to the final or have a double elimination one week. I guess all will be revealed soon enough, the launch show is being filmed on 6th September!
But I must admit @AnniD I thought it usually started earlier than that.
At the speed this year is going, it will be here before you know it 🤣
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.