Strictly

I found Judge Rinder very off putting with the face he was pulling, a shame really as he is quite a good dancer. Did not like Ed Balls Charleston. He needs to learn to smile and why did he have to bring politics into it when he was being marked by the judges!!

I think Matt Smith is going out with Lily James who was in Downton and War and Peace.

Maggiemay60 he was smiling. That's as good as it gets. In the news this morning his son was appealing for people not to reject him as he had caught his father crying after he lost his seat. How pathetic.

You're quite right Ketty. That will teach me to rely on doctor Google.

I liked Ed's Charleston and thought Craig was particularly mean. Also MaggieMay I thought it was Len who brought up the politics, Ed just made a riposte.

I have some admiration for anyone doing Strictly, and particularly older people. It takes some nerve - and a lot of determination - to compete against much younger and more lithe contestants and to expose yourself to all sorts of comments about your figure and general appearance.

I was a bit perplexed by Craig's comments tonight. I realise it is his role to be the counter-balance to the other, more encouraging, judges and to give an unvarnished expert's opinion, but I didn't think Ed Balls or Naga Munchetty deserved the very harsh comments he made about them.

Much as I dislike him, I think Ed Balls did well doing the Charleston, I am always impressed by those contestants who have absolutely zero experience of performance and how much they can learn. I also like The tiny gymnast girl and hope she goes far.

Ed Balls is a joke ( but he did have balls to do that ) still don't like him and think politicians doing this reality stuff is pretty crass
I thought Naga was better than the harsh comments she got, she looks so much better with her normal hair I thought
Love Judge Rinder ( agree the face pulling is awful) but what a little mover
I think Lesley Joseph looks awful but admire her stamina same age as me I thought she was nearer 80 whoops, but I couldn't dance like that when I was 30 I think the cougar business is a bit sleezy, definitely needs softer hair
The rest sort of fade into obscurity except the gymnast who I d never heard of but is good

I thought Ed Balls was good which takes a lot for me to say as I hate the man. He is an ex MP, let's hope it stays that way. Think Rinder is brilliant. With regard to the faces, some of the professional dancers do that all the time, BCole for one. Kim from Enders is wonderful to watch.

Ed Balls will live in the memory of teachers., as I remember. Nothing to do with dancing of course, so will judge him on that.

Ed Balls was the surprise of the evening for me. Much better than I thought he'd be.

It often takes me by surprise when MPs become ex-MPs to find that, after all their political posturing and apparent arrogance, there's a really a nice person underneath. I think Ed Balls may turn out to be one of those people. I do wonder though how he got talked into something so far outside his comfort zone. The money must be good!

Maybe he wanted a complete change? Understandable. Good effort I thought. He's a nice change from all the showbiz types. Good luck to him. I suppose he'll be in the jungle next?!

Ed has surprised me, seems a nice guy, many people in politics are not what they seem in their professional roles. Hope he goes on for a while, he shows that the average man can excel. Wish I could dance as well as he is, in fact ATM, I just wish I could dance.

LullyDully I agree Ed Balls could've made more effort to lose weight before the programme started. He's known for months (and so have we - sigh) that it'll be physically demanding. There's been unavoidable media attention on him for all that time and as the start drew nearer, I couldn't help thinking he still looked a bit stout. It's commendable to hold your head up and defy 'fat shaming' when you're in politics but if he's likely to very disappointed if he's voted off, he's shot himself in the foot rather.

well said Eloethan!
Just read through this thread after a week away and have never read so many jugdgemental comments from people who are the same age as Lesley Joseph or around the same age and feel they can be cruel about - her looks, her body, her dancing and some say I could not do what she has done.!! Just listen to yourselves . . . .

Well done Lesley !!! - who cares if you look your age and you dye your hair -- at least you try and don't sit on your bottom grumbling.!

Her hair and makeup are not a good look but her stamina and flexibility are amazing she puts me to shame .

She can move, but I think the camera man might be kinder and avoid the close ups! Is it me or does Anastasia have very short legs for the length of her body?

Women as their own worst enemies here. LJ dissected on her looks and all "at her age". Would you be doing the same over a chap of the same age?

Don't watch it now, 'cos O think that some of the 'antics' are just soft porn. Mutton dressed up as lamb also comes to mind.

I am full of admiration for Lesley Joseph, too. If I could do half of her routine without running out of breath and not having a heart attack, I'd be happy!

Perhaps after Strictly is over she could think about a different hair colour for I think that the black is very aging but presumably it was her decision (to carry on her TV persona, perhaps?) so should be respected.

I'm afraid I am in the dislike of Ed Balls camp but grudgingly admire his appearance on the show.

My favourites thus far are Daisy, whom I think is so beautiful (sigh and wishful thinking back fifty something years!) .... and a good dancer and Will Young, whose personality shines through and I expect his dancing to improve as the weeks go by.

Would anyone know how the 'personalities' and the 'professionals' are paid? I have always been curious - do they receive a flat fee no matter how many weeks they are actually on the show, or are they paid for each show?

Strictly is a huge commitment in time and obviously, one could not accept other work during the programme's run, so I just guess that there is a flat fee for the duration of the show and if someone is knocked out early, they have a holiday on the proceeds of the weeks they are not rehearsing/dancing/performing!

Gosh poor Lesley Joseph all those catty comments. I'm the same age and could not keep up with the gruelling work on Strictly. She is thin and does dye her hair, maybe a less black to be would suit. However, these ladies can't get it right can they ? Have a go at an old lady who looks one way, then at someone like Ann Widdicome who is her polar opposite. Plump and poorly dressed. So what, good for them.

I agree DaphneB, I thought he was brilliant & came across really well. I hope he gets voted in for many more weeks.

I am 70 next month, I do Line dancing and I'm nackered after an hour, but our teacher who is the same age had a 2 hour class prior to ours and never gets tired. If you are active all your life you don't just lose it at 70 unless you get arthritis and your hips or knees go. Lesley is fit but very slim people tend to look older in the face ( as these skinny celebs, royalty and models will discover!).
It was a pity Ed Balls was dressed like that for his dance, it accentuated his beer belly - he would have got away with it in a DJ. As for Craig - I think he went too far, his mark was cruel and unwarranted even for him, Darcy seemed genuinely shocked. The only good thing is it might have triggered a lot of sympathy votes from mature women. However, Ed is bound to be in the bottom two and with Craig on the bench is almost certain to be voted out.

Good to see the sisterhood is as supportive as ever :sarcasm:

I have to agree, yes she has a great figure, but they do make her mutton dressed as lamb at times. Think what they are trying to do is carry over her character from Birds of a Feather and recreate it...it is not working BBC, it is actually cringeworthy and they should not do that to her.