BBC Announces Strictly Dance Pairings

The pairings for this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing have been announced as the show hit our screens in all its glittering glory this weekend.

The 14 celebrities were partnered up with their professional dancers in front of the cameras allowing viewers to see their uncensored reactions for the very first time.

Lulu looked more than a little apprehensive about drawing Strictly bad boy Brendan Cole, jokingly backing away from him, before he threw the musical icon over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift to lead her off stage. Rory Bremner on the other hand was clearly delighted to be paired up with Strictly stalwart Erin Boag.

Strictly favourite Anton du Beke will be dancing with Italian temptress Nancy Dell’Olio, whilst Robbie Savage hit the jackpot with his partner Ola Jordan.

Former MP Edwina Currie is partnered with Vincent Simone and Jason Donovan will be taking to the floor with Kristina Rihanoff, who was clearly delighted by the partnership.

Australian actress and singer Holly Valance will be competing for the title with last year’s winner Artem Chigvintsev whilst The One Show host Alex Jones is sure to put up some stiff competition with her partner James Jordan.

Russell Grant’s partnership with Flavia Cacace was clearly written in the stars as was the pairing of towering boxer Audley Harrison and statuesque dancer Natalie Lowe.

McFly drummer Harry Judd will be dancing with Aliona Vilani, Dan Lobb has won the hand of Katya Virshilas while Anita Dobson will be waltzing with Robin Windsor.

Completing this year’s line-up is the “single and ready to mingle” Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey with this year’s only new professional dancer Pasha Kovalev.

The couples will now have three weeks to practice before their first live performance on either Friday 30th September or Saturday 1st October. Half the couples will take to the floor on the Friday with the remaining seven dancing on the Saturday. The couples will perform either a Waltz or the Cha-cha-cha.

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2011: Pairings revealed – Lulu & Brendan Cole, Anton du Beke & Nancy Dell’Olio on Unreality TV

Anton Du Beke never expected ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ to be so successful.

The 44-year-old star admits he thought the programme would be ridiculed the way its predecessor ‘Come Dancing’ – which ran on and off between 1949 to 1998 and featured competing ballroom dancers – had been when it was first suggested in 2004.

He said: “The success of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ was an enormous surprise. No one knew how popular it was going to be.

“’Come Dancing’ had been ridiculed for years, so when the BBC approached the dancing business with the idea for its new show, everyone said, ‘Here we go, another gag at the expense of ballroom dancing.’

“Eight years on and I think it has just had the best viewing figures ever, near 12 million. All the bosses at the BBC are sitting in their offices thinking, ‘This turned out rather well’.”

However, Anton – who danced with former politician Ann Widdecombe in the most recent series of ‘Strictly’ – and his professional partner Erin Boag agreed to join the programme after realising how seriously BBC chiefs were taking it.

He added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “Erin and I got involved because we didn’t want to be on the outside wondering what was going on, and we realised after the first meeting that they were serious about it and it was about to be one of the big Saturday night shows, with Bruce Forsyth at the helm.

View the original post Anton Du Beke never expected ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ to be so successful on Unreality TV

After Saturday night’s big Strictly Come Dancing reveal, Ann Widdecombe warned her partner Anton Du Beke that he will have a tough time teaching her how to dance.

The former Tory MP has previously admitted that she sees herself as the ‘pantomime act’ from this year’s lineup saying:

‘I am the pantomime act [this year] but is there any reason why one shouldn’t try dancing. Is there any reason why someone shouldn’t try something that they have no hope of winning.’

Her defeatist attitude continued through to when she first met professional ballroom dancer Anton. Chatting backstage about the journey ahead, Widdecombe told him:

“I have no sense of rhythm. I can’t do footwork for the life of me, I’m always behind everybody else in time and today I forgot at least three steps.”

Anton jokingly replied:

“I personally think all those things are slightly over-rated.”

Insiders have claimed that Anton had not wanted to be paired with Ann but added that bosses inflicted him with the worst dancer on the show, as a punishment for last year’s race row.

What do you think of Anton and Ann’s pairing? Do you think they stand a chance of making it to the final? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Ann Widdecombe warns Anton Du Beke ‘I have no sense of rhythm’ on Unreality TV

Insiders have suggested that Strictly come Dancing professional Anton Du Beke did not want to be paired with Ann Widdecombe, because she is too short and a bad dancer.

The 44 year old ballroom dance champion, was thought to be hoping for a glamorous partner like Patsy Kensit, or Felicity Kendal but on Saturday night’s launch show was teamed up with former Tory MP Ann.

Some say that the pairing was conceived as a way to punish Anton for his part in last year’s race row. In September 2009 an article in the News of the World claimed that after an application of fake tan for the show, Du Beke told his then partner Laila Rouass, “Oh my God, you look like a Paki”. Du Beke offered an unreserved apology and the BBC were forced to issue a statement saying:

‘Racially offensive language in the workplace is entirely unacceptable. Anton was right to apologise quickly and without reservation and Laila has wholly accepted his apology. Everyone is very clear that there can be no repetition of this behaviour.’

On his reaction to his partner on the 2010 series, an insider told The Sun:

“Of all the female dancers to end up with, Anton would have been dreading Ann. She’s about a foot shorter than him and hopeless at dancing.

“He would have wanted someone sexier like Pasty Kensit so this is a real slap in the face for him. But I think if he’s honest with himself he kind of deserves it as he caused a real problem last year.”

However Anton told the newspaper: “I’ve got the most wonderful partner in Ann and I’m very excited.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Anton is a very experienced dancer and great teacher – perfect for Ann.”

We can’t imagine why he wouldn’t be happy. If Ann is the new John Sergeant, as many have tipped her to be, Anton may be able to make the final of this year’s series…a feat he has not yet managed!

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Anton Du Beke didn’t want Ann Widdecombe on Unreality TV

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly trying to get rid of professional dancer Anton Du Beke before the 2010 series kicks off.

Planning a huge revamp for the autumn dance show, producers are said to be planning to replace many of the current pros with American dancers, however sources claim that they would prefer Du Beke to quit of his own accord.

“Our preference is that Anton decides he’s had a few good years on Strictly and wants to try something new,” a source told The News Of The World.

“We’d rather not get into another messy situation like we did with Arlene. But if he makes it clear he wants to come back then we’ll have to have some tough conversations.

“All the old guard of professional dancers need to be aware this show is changing for the better.”

Bosses are also said to be planning to oust Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova and Erin Boag.

An insider revealed: “The producers are in the middle of a complete overhaul of the show.

“There’s a lot of pressure for it to be completely relaunched. We lost the battle with The X Factor last year. That means changes have to be made and some very popular personalities from the show will go.”

Do you think some new faces would be a bad thing for Strictly this year? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Bosses want rid of Anton Du Beke on Unreality TV

Disgraced Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke, has been rowing with his partner Laila Rouass again, just weeks after he called her a ‘p**i.’

The Sun reports that the pair first argued on Saturday. It was a row so fierce that the pair missed their rehearsal slot and a BBC executive had to be called to calm Laila down.

A source said: “She got so upset she ended up in tears in his office.”

Their second row occurred when Anton made a crude comment about her backless catsuit. After achieving a low score for their samba Anton said: “Pop the frock on back to front – we’ll all have a lovely time.”

Tess Daily exclaimed: “Anton! Behave please.” And host Bruce Forsyth told viewers: “He’s a fool.” The source said: “Laila was stunned.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Laila and Anton are getting on great.

“Rehearsal schedules are always subject to change on the day for any number of reasons from issues with costumes, hair, make up, injuries or script changes.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing: Anton Du Beke and Laila Ross fighting again on Unreality TV

BBC bosses are said to have stepped up security around Anton Du Beke after his recent race row.

After this week’s attack on Leona Lewis, Strictly insiders are reportedly worried that another member of the public will lash out at Anton, who called his dance partner a Paki earlier this month.

And an insider told The Sun: “The BBC is worried about things getting out of hand with the race row.

“There are worries that someone may try and have a go, in light of what happened to Leona this week.”

The source claimed that bosses will strategically place plain clothes guards in the audience, during tonight’s show.

He said: “They are keen to keep things under control so their normal security team is separating into two.

“Existing security will now be placed in undercover clothes in case anything kicks off this week.

“They didn’t realise how angry the public were about it at first, and want to take precautions in case there is any sort of mob atmosphere.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing: Anton Du Beke gets security guards on Unreality TV

Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood has come out in defence of professional dancer Anton Du Beke.

Du Beke has been attacked in the media over allegedly racist comments made to Laila Rouass during dance rehearsals.

Craig, told New magazine: “I’ve known Anton for years and years and years, and he’s not a racist. I’ve never heard him say anything like that before and it’s so unlike him.

“He’s such a nice bloke and I think this is a case of something being taken out of context and snowballing into a massive thing.”

He added: “Anton has apologised and Laila accepted it, so I think we all just need to move on. They need to just get on with the dancing.”

“I think that because they’ve had so many talks, it’s going to make their relationship stronger and make them more fiery in their dance.

“I think they will work together and pull together and be serious contenders for the winning prize.”

View the original post Craig Revel Horwood says Anton Du Beke is not a racist! on Unreality TV

X Factor presenter, Dermot O’Leary, has admitted that he was shocked when he heard about the racist term used by Anton Du Beke, and branded his choice of words ‘unacceptable.’

Dermot told The Mirror:

“I don’t want to trade low blows to Strictly but the thing about The X Factor is it does show modern Britain and a lot of positives to do with British society.”

He added: “There are two words said in the English language that anyone that has lived here for any amount of time knows are unacceptable.

“You wouldn’t even have it in you to say or think about those words. And one of those is the P-word.

“You can understand why there’s such a fuss about it.

“I agree there is no place for it in the TV industry and I was left scratching my head a bit when I heard.”

View the original post X Factor: Dermot O’Leary calls Anton’s remarks ‘unacceptable’ on Unreality TV

Strictly Come Dancing professional, Anon Du Beke, has apologised on live TV for calling his dance partner a ‘paki.’

Appearing on BBC Two’s ‘It Takes Two’, Anton said he felt “stupid, embarrassed and mortified.”

He added:

“I feel embarrassed. It was a stupid thing to do and a stupid thing to say.

“I’d like to reiterate my apology to Laila and to everybody on the show and to everyone who watches the show. I’m mortified about it.”

View the original post Anton Du Beke apologises fror racist remark on Unreality TV