Life just got a whole lot sparkly!!

Finally! The blockbuster everyone was waiting for! You have outdone and outdanced Travolta and everyone else here tonight. BEST. DANCE. EVER!

Len Goodman on Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani’s Tango – Strictly 2015

The glitter ball is twinkling, the sequins are sparkling, the music is beating and someone’s stook Claudia in a pair of pyjamas – it can mean only one thing!!!!

Strictly is BACK!!!!

Now I need to start with a bit of an apology this week, I try not to make my posts too parochial however, as some of you will know I’m a total Strictly Come Dancing, (the equivalent of dancing with the stars in the US), super fan so, this week is a bit of a UK centric indulgence – sorry!

Despite the spectre of COVID 19, by some kind of BBC magical logistic Juggernaut the show will go on and last week we were treated to a small morsel of what’s to come in the shape of the launch show, the show where we play the “who’s going to get who” guessing game. This year I was on fire, it’s started well!

But, with all the COVID 19 restrictions how on earth has the show managed to get to our screens? Well, it’s actually really interesting, no, really it is! For a start This summer all the professional dancers and some crew isolated at home for 2 weeks and were tested twice for Covid-19 during this time. After their isolation and once all their tests had come back negative, they moved into a hotel near the Strictly Come Dancing studio and were able to safely live and work together as one household.

The hotel was exclusively taken over by our Strictly team and had strict Covid protocols of its own. Over the next few weeks, the professional dancers successfully rehearsed and then filmed all the incredible group dances for this series.

But, but…… How can the couples break social distancing by dancing together? Well, they are using clever approaches to bring our the Strictly couples together.

One such approach is the creation of Bubbles. Each couple has formed a support bubble. Meaning, one half of the bubble is a single adult household living alone, while the other half may remain with their household. This means they are permitted to have close contact with one another. The bubbles are exclusive and the couples are not able to form other bubbles with anyone else whilst they are in the competition. Each couple will follow Government guidelines on social distancing with anyone who is not in their household or support bubble.

Anyhow, on with the show and a rather promising cast for Series 18, hurrah! If the group dance on the launch show is anything to go by, we could see an impressive standard this year, added to which there are surely fewer work and social pressures than in past series, meaning more concentrated time in the training room.

So, who stood out for me last weekend? Well, they all looked great, even, dare I say it, Jacqui Smith, however the four I liked from their initial interviews, reactions and their trip around the dance floor!

Clara Amfo – The Radio 1 DJ and social justice advocate is this year’s Strictly superfan – and arguably had the best response among the new cast upon finding out who her partner was going to be. Yes, that is the reaction that gorgeous Aljaž deserves frankly! Definitely has great musicality, so should be one to watch.

Max George – The token boy band representative, this time from The Wanted. Started off a little wooden but soon picked up his feet as he sashayed around the floor. A nice bit of eye-candy for the house wives of Great Britain. Nice pairing with fiery haired Aussie Dianne Buswell, who I love!

So much has been hyped about the next couple I was expecting a bit of a let-down but no, Strictly’s first ever same sex couple, boxing legend Nicola Adams and Russian task mistress, Katya Jones looked fabulous together! I’m sure Katya is relishing the role of lead in their dances however, as Nicola advances, and I’m sure she will, she may want to take the lead and let’s face it, who’s going to argue with her!!

JJ Chalmers, tv presenter but genuine war hero, who as a member of 42 Commando Royal Marines when he was blown up by an IED. He suffered facial injuries, lost two fingers and his right elbow disintegrated. But like a true hero went on to win a gold and two bronze medals in cycling at the Invictus Games in London 2014! With his partner, Amy Dowden who is the sweetest girl ever and I love her, they looked really good moving animatedly around the floor.

So, don’t even THINK about calling me between 7:25 and 9:15pm tomorrow evening, your call will be ignored as I ease into series 18 of my build up to Christmas!!

What’s on this week?

Head & Eyes – CATWA HEAD Catya v4.5

Hair – Stealthic – Brink

Skin – [the Skinnery] Amber (Catwa) toffee BB

Body, Hands & Feet – Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V5.2 + [ session ] BOM Addons

AO – Vista Animations *HUD 5.33*-ERIKA AO NOFACE CURVY-V21

Shape – [the Skinnery] Amber (Catwa Catya) Shape modified

Nails & Rings – **RE** Elektra Nails & Rings - Maitreya Bento

Face Piercings – ^^Swallow^^ Indira

Egyptian Outfit – UNA. Osiris, currently on offer at the Halloween Shop and Hop

Boots – Eudora3D Briar Heels (Maitreya)

Pictures taken at the beautiful Deir el-Bahari