Forum Topic

Poor Poor Anton!

What did he do to get partnered with Ann Widdecombe for this year's Strictly?I suppose it had a sort of ghastly inevitability.My tip: a final that includes the destiny child woman and felicity kendal.

Sara Nathan ● 5851d49 Comments

I prefer the X so dont watch Strictly (anyway Im at work),,but it seems strange that they have Michelle Williams as a competitor as she did a stint in Chicago as Roxie Hart.

David Archer ● 5851d

What you mean she is a pro? A lot have some dance experience I suppose - but no ballroom.Real nerds will recall that nice goalkeeper doing terribly wel on dancing on ice having been a ace speed sketer in his youth - but no-one seemed to mind.

Sara Nathan ● 5850d

Why would she do it? I suppose they must be paid well because it takes up so much of their time, but she must know she is only there as the clown. Watched it on iplayer. Poor Anton, his heart must have sunk as he knows he has no chance.

Becky Bell ● 5850d

I don't think he deserves any special sympathy! He will get bags of publicity and in any event, he needs to redeem his image after his previous "blunder" when he had to wriggle out of his alleged "racist remark" about his previous dancing partner.

Pamela Kay ● 5846d

He so often gets the older biddies who exit in an early round...but I agree- maybe he is being punished for that faux pas.

Sara Nathan ● 5846d

I think he rather likes the early exits.  His ballroom is great but he's not so good at the latin.If anyone can get Anne round the floor with a reasonable waltz, Anton can.  (Please tell me they've given her a waltz, not a cha cha cha!)Sadly I will have to record tonight's show as I'll be at my own ballroom class in St Martin's Church Hall.

Gill Hothersall ● 5831d

I'll be out too but can't wait to see the first programme. How sad is that?Anne W doing the cha cha or tango does make the mind boggle horribly.Did like Matthew Parris's suggestion when asked earlier this week what David Miliband should do next: He replied "strictly come dancing" wouldn't that be fab?

Sara Nathan ● 5831d

I have never watched SCD. The thought of z-listers doing the military two step leaves me cold. My aunt and uncle were champion ballroom dancers and their house was full of trophies. I wonder what they'd make of SCD.However, I would shoot the BBC costume deisgner for the Anne Widdecombe outfit. She is a large lady and that bolero jacket makes her look gigantic and draws the eye down.(Blimey-Im turning into Gok Wan!)

David Archer ● 5831d

Meeow David.  Actually, in my Trinny & Susannah mode, I can tell you that all she really needs is a good bra.

Anne Brown ● 5831d

With Rigby & Peller now so close to TVC, there's really no excuse is there.

Sara Nathan ● 5831d

Ha Ha!  I like the ladies who used to be in John Lewis, Oxford Sreet.  Anyone who uses a tape measure generally doesn't know how to fit a bra.

Anne Brown ● 5831d

urgh but can you imagine how sore her shoulders and neck would be heaving them up higher!  Probably more comfortable where they are!  Or perhaps she coulp pop to Bravissimo in Ealing!

Jen Morty ● 5831d

But surely X produces its fair share of z-listers? Personally, I think this year's line up are not z-listers, Jimi Mistry was in East is east and 2012! I love him and really hope he brings home the trophy for Flavia! I think Anton is never going to win, he is not very good at Latin and looks largely embarrassed during routines, also he had a decent contestent last year which means a bum one this year. I also have a feeling he is being lined up to replace Bruce.I am more annoyed that they kept Anton and got rid of Darren and Iain.

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5831d

Did they get rid of them or did they opt out? I would have thought the professionals might get rather fed up with it after a few years...although it is paid work of course.

Sara Nathan ● 5831d

Well Ann Widdicombe (sp?) brought a smile to my face whilst I sweated at the gym,  actually I think I was giggling.  As expected she was no dancer but there have been worse and she was funny,  in a good way,  when she got the judges comments.

Jen Morty ● 5830d

Did I hear my name mentioned tonight when Brucie introduced the orchestra?

David Archer ● 5830d

Yes, I thought so too, David .

Becky Bell ● 5829d

Rigby & Peller/Bravissimo won't go up to her back size - they don't go up to mine and I think (hope!) I'm a bit smaller than her.Can't go wrong with a Triumph Doreen, an unglamorous name for an unglamorous bra but it keeps everything from moving too far south!Anyway, back to Strictly - David, you don't know what you're missing.  My hubby is an ex-competition dancer and it's compulsory in our house.  You do get to see the pros dancing as well, and the judges' bitchfests are legendary.

Gill Hothersall ● 5828d

Still miss Arlene though...I'm surprised Rigby etc doesn't do supersized bosoms - i thought that was what they were for.

Sara Nathan ● 5828d

I miss Arlene too. She was treated very shabbily IMHO.I recommend Bravissimo in Ealing for the larger woman!

Chris Hurley ● 5828d

Maybe I would have got into it Gill (after all I love Dancing on Ice) but as I work every evening, I try to limit the number of programmes I record otherwise Id be up to the wee hours trying to catch up.

David Archer ● 5828d

Larger cup sizes, no problem, plenty of places do those.Larger back sizes - no one wants to know.Bravissimo don't go up that far and R&P have about 3 in my size on their website.

Gill Hothersall ● 5828d

You should go in a talk to R & P though - often websites have an incomplete or just different offer: I was looking for a mini fridge for student daughter and the Tesco website claimed to nothng remotely similar....but Bar Hill superstore had them in stock. It might be the same with brassieres...though ovvie not at Tesco!

Sara Nathan ● 5827d

simplyyours.co.uk are worth a browse for Busty Betties.

Olga Sidoryk ● 5827d

Oh come on, I can't believe with all the money the costume department spends on those dresses that her bra is an oversight, surely from a practical point of view they must be better in that position, if they were any higher they would look like nuclear war heads and Anton wouldn't get anywhere near here.

Kevin Bell ● 5826d

Sorry, that should be near her, not near here

Kevin Bell ● 5826d

It's a good point whatever!

Pamela Kay ● 5826d

Just got round to watching Saturday's edition - what a hoot!Actually Anne W looked as if she was havig more fun than in her whole life which was rather charming....don't think she'll be first out.I think my money would be on Peter Shilton or Paul Daniels - both dreadful.The one I would vote off however is Alesha - she has NOTHING to say. I boycotted last series because of the Arlene-dumping and may not be able to bear all of this one. What a shame. And so sexist to have a pretty girl because she is and three expert men.

Sara Nathan ● 5826d

I thought her waltz was rather sweet actually.  I do wish she would stop putting herself down, though.  In her Radio Times column next week, she describes the salsa as 'a jolly stomp'.  Hmmmm...

Gill Hothersall ● 5825d

Just about to watch on iplayer but not out yet.  Do we think Felicity Kendall has had a face lift?  I do,  and am I the only one who finds her annoying?

Jen Morty ● 5823d

Just saw a smidgen on Claudia's prog and Pamela Stephenson is fabulous,  so light on her feet.

Jen Morty ● 5823d

Ann W according to Bruno her footwork was "unique and compelling."  Highly amusing,  Ann W seems to be having a hoot,  her and Anton did lots of comedy in the routine.iplayer is marvellous as you came skip the boring people!

Jen Morty ● 5823d

Who do you reckon are the "boring people"?I don't get to watch it on sky+ til tomorrow

Sara Nathan ● 5823d

scott someone or other no idea who he is,  Michelle? The American one again no idea who she is.  Have no interest watching Paul Daniels! Older chap Shilton?  no interest.To be honest I didn't want to get sucked in like past yeras but saw Ann W last week whilst at the gym and this week was curious to see how she would do and I find Anton funny so in watching them I saw the others. I  like Patsy Kensit,  Pamela Stephenson.  Watched Felicity Kendall and Kara Tointon who both did good routines.I hope Ann W stays in as she is certainly entertaining especially how she deals with the Judges; Craig!

Jen Morty ● 5823d

Well the Sunday night programme is a dog's dinner and no mistake: no Brucie  and two women just doesn't do it for dance - and Caludia not suited at all and no dance off so it all seems superfluous anyhow...and the long drawn out exit strategy plus Robbie Williams again after last week and that must have been just edited in.Really the structure and grammar of the programme are wholly wrong.I wonder if they will tweak it before next week.Plus Goldie was certainly no weaker than fourth so his expulsion seems mean.

Sara Nathan ● 5822d

I agree it was sadly poor,  dragged on and frankly dull.  And what in Gods name was Claudia wearing?  Her dress was like a Princess Di maternity number circa 1985!  She is a pipe cleaner and it made her look fat!

Jen Morty ● 5822d

Yes, odd choice of dress for a ballroom. I like Claudia though, I think she'll be around more as she matures. That programme could have been done in five minutes, as it was mostly repeated footage.

Becky Bell ● 5821d

Quite - and the lack of dance off means that a palpably bad result -  at least Anne(unremoveable surely) Paul and Peter were MUCH worse dancers - happened in week one.

Sara Nathan ● 5821d

Absolutely rubbish results programme! It's bad enough when they have 10-second pauses between announcements, but to split the whole thing into three sections, then make the final two couples stand around (no dance-off), until the final result, is ludicrous. What with that, a so-so dance from the 'show dancers' (uncomfortable concept) and a 'bonus' from Robbie Williams, I can see that the live Saturday audience will have enjoyed the extra excitement during the recording, but the Sunday night TV audience is very poorly served. I shan't bother to watch live again, just record and watch the final 5 minutes - there's nothing else there worth watching!

Lorna Dodd ● 5821d

Yes, think the show dance was a little average. And tis a shame the judges do not get a say in the final two as inevitably this means Anne could be around for a long time! If one of the really good dances goes, it will be most upsetting!

Shao-Ying Ben-Nathan ● 5821d

They didn't have a dance-off originally.  When Dancing on Ice started, they had a skate-off, so Strictly pinched the idea.  The judges often didn't like having to do it though - I wonder if they insisted it was dropped this time?  As it is now, they can blame it purely on the public.I agree Robbie's 'song' was dreadful and the dancers were wasted, but the earlier number was good.  It's great to see some quality dancing from pro dancers.

Gill Hothersall ● 5821d

Reported today-''Ann Widdecombe has reportedly vowed to stay on Strictly Come Dancing despite the death of her brother.­Malcolm Widdecombe passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. He was in his early 70s.The former vicar apparently managed to watch Ann's salsa on Saturday's show from hospital but lost consciousness later that night.''

David Archer ● 5818d

Probably the best time she's had in her life. Easier to keep going if the death was long-expected, and why not.

Becky Bell ● 5818d

Odd priorities though - would you want to dance etc when in immediate mourning for a brother? Especially if you have no immediate(husband, kids) family of your own.

Sara Nathan ● 5818d

No husband and kids so maybe that is exactly why she wants to continue,  to keep herself busy.  Everyone deals with things in different ways.  Didn't Kelly Brook continue when her father died?  Ann W's brother may have wanted her to continue,  who knows,  but I would not judge her badly for her decision.

Jen Morty ● 5818d

I agree - best to have something to keep her busy.  Although it is of course sad news for Anne, the way it was phrased did give me a bit of a guilty giggle.  Seeing her salsa and then losing consciousness shortly afterwards ...!

Gill Hothersall ● 5818d

No husband or kids... Funny how those who choose these feel sorry for those who don't want them.

Becky Bell ● 5817d

I don't feel sorry for her having no husband or kids.

Jen Morty ● 5817d

Me neither - it's her choice. But it does mean she has fewer family to cherish - maybe she wouldn't anyhow - who knows - but that might mean she would feel the loss of her brotehr acutely. Didn't imply more than that.

Sara Nathan ● 5817d