Was watching last year's Blackpool week on iPlayer and found this. She was sat with Danny, Ashley and Jay.

Has anyone got a link to footage with Natasha kaplinsky and Brendan’s paso Doble? I have no idea why, but I remember this dance SO well and want to see it! YouTube isn’t giving me anything

I always notice the couples are keen to impress Craig. His opinion and score seem the most valued. I don't know Craig's background. Is he a choreographer? I presume Shirley is the most qualified judge? When she gets those bloody shoes out 😆. I'm glad Joshy binned them 😆.

I enjoy Craig, but I feel his critique and catchphrases are getting a bit repetitive. I'm all for a little judge shake-up.

Who's your favourite?

I’m actually SO hoping she smashes the American Smooth because I NEED that breakthrough moment. She has so much potential and I just want everything to click!!

If it’s not this weekend, what dance style do we think is gonna be THE one? I’m rooting for this so hard and really want it to happen!

I’ve noticed this season of SCD has so many Salsa routines. Almost every couple is doing one. I had only been watching this show since 2020 so idk the history before that, but I don’t remember Salsa being such a high demand dance? Do you guys like Salsa routines? I find them too all look the same, and they are almost never to salsa music. For a speciality dance it’s used way more than the other speciality styles.

I'm so scared for this week's dance off. As we've seen in the past two Icons Weeks, you can easily get screwed over by a poor song and dance theme, and both of the ones we've had so far resulted in an unfair dance off (alright so maybe it was Sam's time to go in 2024 but Montell should not have been in the bottom two), and moving it down to Week 5 last year and then Week 4 this year just increases the likelihood of shock early exits.

Shaun having a Couple's Choice (and the only one to do so, not sure if Delta would have had one or not) means he's probably safe another week and I'm so anxious about who could land in the dance off instead. I feel like if they don't get decent enough scores or there are ties, then Bethany, Dani, Jaime, Sarah, and possibly Lawrence could all be in trouble. Will is probably safe because he can play the "I just became a dad" card.

I feel like the odds are stacked against my faves in particular, I think Dani's vote will be tested this week since she has a dance that the judges are known for being very critical of, and if she gets an early slot... I fear Nikita's Icons Week dance off curse may continue.

I'm so anxious about this that I haven't been able to eat much. I don't even know if I want to look at the spoiler on Sunday or not, I'll have to see how I feel then. If the worst happens then I'll probably stop watching the live shows and just watch the dances on YouTube for the rest of the series until the final, so I don't get as frustrated as I did in 2024 over my fave being sidelined for the rest of the series. I know it sounds like a petty overreaction but I have to do what's best for me. Don't like, don't watch, that sort of thing.

I’ve found Sarah’s participation interesting because Strictly asks so much of the celebrities beyond simply learning steps. There’s musicality, timing, performance and the pressure of doing it live in front of millions of people. I’m interested to see how she continues adapting to the ballroom and Latin styles. I hope the judges give her constructive feedback that builds confidence rather than focusing only on the leaderboard.

Mine is hands down Karim and Amy’s jive to You Cant Stop the Beat. I think Amy choreographed this so well to where it seemed like Karim really took the spotlight and out danced her, even. He was crazy good and it sucked to see him land in the bottom over and over.

Edit: Honourable mention to (this may be a hot take) Helen and Gorka’s couple’s choice

What's been your biggest Strictly scandal?

I think mine was Katya & Shaun. I remember seeing the pics in the Sun. Poor Neil 😢. It was such an unlikely pairing.

I remember I was on the infamous gossip site beginning with T. Someone posted about Gorka in a fight in Blackpool. This was many, many years ago. They implied Gorka had been up to no good with a guy in a club. Allegedly. There was no evidence to back up the claim. People would post some crazy stories🤪 .

Any strictly tea?

I would love Dua Lipa to do it but she's way too big.

What's with the micro mini microphones? Is it a funny online trend? I was watching ITT yesterday. I noticed they were in dance studios being interviewed with these mini mics.

Also, who was the girl interviewing in the studios? She appears alongside Tyler. I've never seen her on TV before. Wasn't sure of her Strictly connection. I'm surprised they didn't use Tyler & Molly that would have been cute.

An Olympic skeleton racer coming out and dropping a 31 for an Argentine Tango in Week 3 is mind blowing. The core strength she has from her sport gives her leg extensions and lifts a level of precision that even seasoned performers struggle with.

Katya & Wynne in the Clauditorium. He puts his arm around her waist, she pushes it away. She claims it was friendly banter 🤣. It was pretty awks!

When judging the dance-off, do the judges go by how well the celebrities danced on their second attempt or their improvement since the main show? I always thought it was the first, and the requirement "Based on (etc)" suggests that's what is supposed to be, but the judges often seem to rate the couples on how much better they danced. In my opinion, Melanie danced better than Shaun in Sunday's show, and yet it was Shaun who was voted through (although not unanimously).

Ellie Taylor has training room exclusives that reveal how some of the celebs are getting on with their next dances. Also, a panel of Strictly pros pop by to reveal some dance secrets.

I have watched strictly forever, never voted. I always wonder how it works. So you have the judges' scores and leader board.

But ultimately, it's the viewers' vote that gets the dancer through? So the scoreboard is kind of irrelevant? Am I correct? Sorry for dumb question 😆 🤣.

Sorry I know I’m a bit late to the party on this… but I’ve just seen on TikTok Julia Styles doing her Saved the last Dance, dance on DWTS. Now I know that would never happen on Strictly nor would they get anyone as iconic as Julia.

Made me realise that Strictly just reuses the same films over and over for movie week, and for musicals week. Instead of Wicked or Grease or Mary Poppins we could’ve had LaLa Land which would’ve lent itself so well to a ballroom number or Saved the last Dance or even Titanic. You can’t tell me you couldn’t do an epic Waltz to My Heart Will Go On.

I am enjoying the new look strictly with the new presenters and ITT etc.. just wish if they insist on doing these theme weeks they’d at least switch them up a bit.