Like all reality shows, success leads to greediness. Strictly Come Dancing is back for a sixth series that will now run a mammoth 14 weeks. That's 120 minutes of the main show at the weekend and 150 minutes of weekday companion series It Takes Two every week -- from now until Christmas.
Overkill? Most probably. I can usually guess who will be semi-finalists by Week 5 (and already have a fair idea just by browsing the line-up), so I hope things don't drag as much as they threaten to. Well, as long as Lilia and Ola stick around, I think I'll get by...
Last year, I offered an alternative weekly review of SCD for my fellow heterosexuals who don't like to admit they like watching Strictly every Saturday and Sunday. Yes, it's very camp and not the kind of thing you'd admit to liking down the pub, but a combination of hot women and sexy moves is surely worth turning in for...
Week 1 was "Boy's Night", but it's always ladies night where I'm concerned...
CAMILLA DALLERUP & Tom Chambers
The gazelle-like Dutch dancer made a strong start with a green top, frilly mini-skirt showing off those stick-thin legs, and a tumble of blonde hair. Fun, quick, wiggly and smiley, Camilla's definitely hot-stuff – even if she's one of those pro dancers that can't move a muscle without grinning into the camera. She looks to have a decent dance partner in actor Tom Chambers, so will fortunately be around for while. I hope.FLAVIA CACACE & Phil Daniels
The Cleopatra-alike won last year with Matt DiAngelo, so now she's had to take a bullet and be partnered by EastEnders' Phil Daniels – screen dad of DiAngelo. Disappointingly, Flavia went for the refined, floaty ball-gown look. Elegant, feathery boa, hair-up, slow and barely any hint of flesh.LILIA KOPYLOVA & Don Warrington
My personal favourite on the show, the delectable Lilia. This girl could melt Red Square in mid-winter with her tight, hot little body. Orange dress with hot-pink bits, tussled skirt, showing plenty of shapely leg during a very funky dance. She's been partnered with Don Warrington, who had seriously timing issues, so I'm very worried she'll be leaving the show FAR too early. Just like last year. Please don't let that happen, voters!ERIN BOAG & Austin Healey
I've been too harsh on Erin. She always looks quite old on the show, but in last week's preview she actually looked her age for once. Here, she was another dancer who went with the elegant look, which is frankly a disappointment for me.HAYLEY HOLT & Mark Foster
A sexy Kiwi who's new to the show, wearing a lime green dress with a frilly bottom and open-back. A bit of a let-down given her obvious potential, and her rather curt personality bothered me. One to watch, definitely, but this wasn't a great start for me.KAREN HARDY & Gary Rhodes
At least with Karen you get total confidence and passion in the dance, which always helps make her shine. She was on good form here, in a tinfoil-like dress with open-back. Lots of wiggling bottom action to the upbeat track, showing lots of leg. Good stuff, even with those weird facial expressions. Not sure Gary Rhodes has the potential to keep her around for very long, though – particularly if his "perfection" only delivered this performance after weeks of practice!KRISTINA RIHANOFF & John Sargeant
Lilia has a bit of competition from Russia, but only if you like the older woman. Okay, she's not that old. In fact, she's rather hot, but kept that well-hidden with another long dress and '20s-style glamour. Still, nice to see John Sergeant might keep her in the competition for a few weeks at least.OLA JORDAN & Andrew Castle
Holy cow! Kitty got a catsuit! Ola makes an early bid to cause heart palpations in every man watching! A dark leopard-print latex-like dress that must have been sprayed on, lots of cleavage, open-back, and showing off every inch of her wonderful curves. The sight of her bum shaking will live long in my memory. I always knew she had it in her, but now Lilia has real competition as the poster girl of the show. Totally fantastic!THE GROUP DANCE
The celebrity women didn't dance in pairs this week, but there was a group dance to "Lady Marmalade" to whet your appetite. I was kind of disappointed by Jodie Kidd, Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon, but Christine Bleakley looked amazing and really seemed to be enjoying it. It also helps to see someone usually perched on a sofa suddenly gyrating around your screen. Keep an eye on her next week.
THE DANCE-OFF
Flavia and Lilia (two of my favourites) found themselves in the bottom two, and both kind of deserved to be there. My heart was in my mouth at the prospect of Lilia going so early (as she's the heart of the show and best choreographer, for my money), but Flavia was chosen to leave after Len's casting vote. Not a good situation, as Flavia's also a backbone of the show, but it was the lesser of two evils to see her go. There's a chance Don can sort his timing out and get dancing properly with Lilia, whereas Phil Daniels is never really going to amount to much.
So there you have it. A decent start to the series, although quite worrying to see people vote (well, not vote) two of the sexiest girls into the bottom two like that. The show is always so dull without Lilia, Flavia, Karen, Camilla and Ola. Whatever happens, whoever they're partnered with, they need to stay in – and hopefully compete in the semi's!
20 September 2008 -- BBC1, 6.10 pm
21 September 2008 -- BBC1, 8.00pm
