Strictly Without Brian!

Look I know it's not politics and I know that on the day that the final Big Brother* starts I am in the midst of a serious selection process for Edinburgh Central, but I would be true myself, my blog or you my readers if I didn't say:

BRIAN'S QUITTING STRICTLY

Yeah Brian Fortuna is quitting the show after the producers wanted to bring in changes meaning that some of the pros would only be there as professional-only show dancers and not in the mentoring role that they have had since the show was brought back to our screens.

What are Cardiff Blogger and I to do now that Brain is on the West End Stage? Are season tickets available for Burn the Floor?

Burn the Floor is the show that he and his 2009 Celebrity semi-final partner Ali Bastion will be hitting the West End with while one of the the choreographers of that show Robin Windsor is joining Jared Murillio (principal dancer in the first two High School the Musical movies) and Latin champion Artem Chigvintsev a So You Think You Can Dance graduate.

Actually....you know....having just searched Google images I think there is plenty of fresh new male totty coming in to keep everyone happy. I may have to show you later.

Update: As promised a few pics and gratuitous chest exposure.

Robin Windsor

Jared Murillo

Artem Chigvintsev

*And this is not a casual reference to the Channel 4 programme.

Comedian Jason Wood Dies Aged 38

A few years back I caught Jason Wood at the Pleasance during the Edinburgh festival. It was a very enjoyable night but sadly one that none of us will ever live through again as the 38 Comedian, who was also the first person to ever be voted off Strictly Come Dancing, died in his sleep on Saturday.

For those who did see him or those who didn't here he is at what he did best; making us laugh.



And this his 2007 showreel.



Jason Wood 1972-2010

Strictly Come Jailhouse Rock

The frontrunner for most of this season's Strictly Come Dancing Ricky Whittle, star of Hollyoaks, found himself behind bars last night on suspicion of assault. It is an unusual case of fact imitating fiction as Ricky's character is Calvin Valentine the cop who has been led to the other side of the law by resident bad guy Warren Fox.

The incident which occurred in the small hours of this morning involved a collision between a motorist and a male Pedestrian in Liverpool's Duke Street. It is not clear how his arrest will affect his appearance on Saturday nights show, even if he were to be released on bail, the BBC may well prevent the star appearing on the family entertainment show on Saturday night.

The show has already lost one of this season's favourites for the final Jade Johnson when the long-jumper suffered ligament damage in her knee during the dress rehearsal 3 weeks ago, hours before the live show. That was the same week that Ronnie Corbett appeared as the purveyor of Bruce Forsyth's catchphrases while the host was invalided with flu.

This week is the Charleston and Rock week, it may be that if found guilty Ricky may be facing some jailhouse rock.

Update: As Caron has pointed out in the comment Ali Bastian , Brian Fortuna's partner is also on the injurt list with a bad foot.

Barack the Jugdes Have Spoken

No, not the Chief Justice making the 44th President retake the oath. Although that was one judge who did have to speak to rectify the misspeak he may have inadvertantly caused.

However, these judges will please Caron and Will for The Times has asked Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli to comment on the First Couple's efforts on the dancefloor at the Inaugural Balls.

Mind you there isn't much surprise from either. Craig condemns them for being over simplistic and marks low 3s and 4 while Bruno is gushing about the story and the romance and gives the President an 8 and the First Lady sev-EN but an overall 10.

Footnote: You have to love Twitterfeed. There was me in my haste at the end of lunch must have saved a blank version of this. But it was already backed up as a Facebook note.

Jim Murphy Wants Sackings and to Decrease Unemployment

Scottish Secretary didn't have that good a night on question time last night. Whilst he attacked monetary stimuli as not saving people's jobs he failed to take any blame for the the banking sector failings despite Labour, and more crucially Gordon Brown being heavily involved in that line since 2007. Then to cap it all he want 4 more people to lose their jobs speaking on the John Sergeant scenario he said "I think we need to get rid of the judges rather than John". I mean there's off message then going off you own message.

But how long are Labour going to continue to blame the USA for everything regarding this latest situation. We had a chancellor, now Prime Minister, Telling us that the days of boom of bust were over. Fact is there was no buffer being built up in the good times in case any issue came up to alleviate the economy should bust be on the horizon.

Even Jim Murphy admitted last night that certain economies were in better shape that the UK is at present to face this crisis, but seemed adamant to not take any responsibility despite 11 years of Labour for this situation. However, his foreign policy experience may well rank with that of Sarah Palin as he also listed China, who currently are the world's lender of first resort, as being in financial crisis.

Maybe Labour, and indeed the whole banking sector, could learn a little from Sir Ian McKillop chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland. At least he has put his hand up and made his apology for his share of the difficulties.

Sergeant Quits: Children in Need May Lose Out

****NEWSFLASH****

Political correspondent John Sergeant had put away his sequins, will click his dancing shoes for one last time on Satruday but will no longer be asking for the votes of the public. The reason is that the political correspondent has walked away from Strictly Come Dancing claiming winning would have been "a joke too far". Heaven forbid that he would ever have got that far, but there you go.

The man himself said he saw "no viable 'stop Sergeant' candidate". However, one possible downside of John walking away from the dance floor, may be that the BBC reimburse those who called to rang to keep Sergeant in the contest. A proportion of this money was to have gone to Children in Need so if as a result of him walking rather than being voted off the BBC are obliged to reimburse this money that will be a big hole in the money the show has garnered thus far.

His partner Kristina Rihanoff who has been hauled across the floor like a sack of potatoes or as the recycling being put out according to judges and celebrity fans will have one last excursion with him on Saturday but he will not be up for the vote.

Strictly Come Mandy

It appears that Lord Voldemort of Hartlepool and Foy is dying to get on his dancing shoes on a Saturday night.

Yes not content with being the Spectator's poitical 'newcomer' of the year the Labour peer is jealous of John Sergeant for being able to appear on Strictly Come Dancing every saturday night. While the economy may be the burning issue for most people, the Business minister while on BBC Breakfast was asked about the political correspondents appearances on the show and said:

"I was cheering for John Sergeant on Saturday with, I have to say, a degree
of... envy."

He went on to respond to a follow up would he compete in the show if asked he said, "It would be nice to be asked." Now if anyone should be capable of spinning the public vote in their favour more than John Sergeant has done so far this season it may well be Tony Blair's former spin doctor. Although if he really is as good a dancer as he boasts he may not need to rely on public support as much as John has had to in recent weeks.

Strictly Ridiculous

So the march (as his Paso was described) of John Sergeant goes on. Yet again the political correspondent was the worst on show on Saturday night, but he was spared the dance off yet again. Instead that fate went to Cheri Lunghi and Lisa Snowdon with professional partners James Jordan and Brendan Cole.

The Saturday before this weekend when Caron was out enjoying a well earned weekend off after Glenrothes, I texted her how appalling John was and that now was the time for him to go. He survived and again this week when I finally caught up with Mr. Bond only to come back and watch my recording of the show.

We're getting to the crunch end of the show. Yes John has survived thus far on charm and personality but now he really is starting to knock out the real contenders and good dancers. I'm sure even John is starting to feel guilty every time he defends him still being in the show by saying that the public have voted to keep him in. He must see that far better dancers are now suffering due to his continued tenure on the show.